Talking Point # 10 - Johnson

What Can We Do?
Becoming Part of the Solution
Allan G. Johnson

Author's Argument: Johnson argues that we must be aware of the problem in order to include ourselves in the solution. He also suggests that we should all think about trouble as everyone's responsability and nobody's fault.

Quotes:
1. "Very often those who have privilege don't know it, for example, which is a key aspect of privilege."

This quote reminds me of McIntosh. Now I understand that sometime people with privilege don't know it, or like McIntosh will say it's unearned. However, I think that there are people who are aware of their power and they use it for their own benefit.

2. " But privileged doesn't equate with being happy. It involves having what others don't have and the struggle to hang on to it at their expense, neither of which is a recipe for joy, personal fulfillment, or spiritual contentment."

I never thought of privileged as something negative or unhappiness. But now I see what Johnson means in this quote and I agree with him. Privilege can't affect not only those people who don't have it, but also those who are more privileged by our society.

3. "In thinking about change and our relation to it, we need to develop a similar ability in relation to time that enables us to carry within us the knowledge, the faith, that significant change happens even though we aren't around to see it."

I agree with this quote. I believe that change does happen even when we are not around. Sometimes we don't bother to change things because we think that we won't be around to see it. I believe that beside been aware of the problem we also have to change the way we think in order to become part of the solution.

Comments/Point to share: This article was a bit long, but it was easy to read. In my opinion, it was somewhat similar to his first article that we read. However, I thought it was a very interesting article and I really enjoyed reading it. I also think that it was a great article to end this class and I really like the title, "What Can We Do?" I think that we can do a lot especially as teachers. The SL was a great opportunity for us to be aware of the problem in our schools and by been aware of those problem hopefully we will be able to become part of the solution. I just want to end with this quote.

"To Better one Life Is

To Better the World."

Alan Shawn Feinstein