I spent today at a discourse analysis workshop at Victoria University recommended to me by a colleague from Auckland who came down for it. It is always fun to be a student for a day, and I thought this could be of use to my own work.
I thought some of it was a bit esoteric and I questioned the real value of some of the examples we discussed. Of course, my perspective has never been research for research's sake, but rather, research that can further social justice, so things like interviewing a professional photographer who chooses to live in a camper van, while somewhat interesting, doesn't hold much meaning for me.
Some of the highlights for me were the opportunity to chat with other cultural groups in attendance. There were two other people from the US there - one Ph.D. student and one lecturer; and I also spent time with a group of Iranians as my colleague Adel moved to NZ from Iran 25 years ago. And a couple Canadians.
Conversations with the two from the US were somewhat confirming, as I have often been told by US citizens that I - um - out there; don't make sense. Both of the folks I talked with from the US confirmed my feelings. I wish I did not feel this way. Basically, I do not feel that the US now is the same country I grew up in and loved and respected. At least since 9/11, I have felt a growing sense of anger and hate toward the "Other," whether that Other be in politics, race, culture, religion. Many in the US, though they have not done any research or engaged with people they have claimed sweeping stereotypes about, have such strong irrational opinions about the Other that one cannot engage in healthy debate with them. During the GW Bush era, I was made to feel like I was not a American, as there was such a strong anti-intellectual fervor, and it was only more pronounced by the McCain/Palin pair in 2007. That coincides with a much longer tradition of "America: Love it or leave it" that I think is so anti-American. To me, one of the things I find most important about the US is that citizens can critique the country, its attitudes, and its policies without being thrown into jail, for instance. But citizens contradict this by suggesting that if one does not agree with the majority discourse, then they are somehow anti-American and ought to leave the country.
Earlier this week, I had a meeting with a Vic uni lecturer who just spent two weeks in Florida. She said she was struck by three things: 1) the amount of consumerism. 2) the mannequins in stores of women and the emphasis on beauty; and 3) the treatment and attitude towards American Indians. I agreed with her on all counts.
The Iranians I spent time today with were all so intelligent. They told me there is a tradition in Iran to care greatly about education. My colleague Adel is working on a Ph.D. about racist discourse. The other Iranian man I met told me his fears about finding employment, as he is completing his doctorate and has not been able to find work. On my part, I have had so many people tell me I should go for a job here, as I could certainly find employment. I would love to!! On the other hand, I felt grief that my Iranian colleague who has been here and paid for his education here could not find work. What is that about? Sadly, there is racism everywhere.
I am feeling disappointed? sad? worried? about my job in Florida, as my courses are ones that the state (and more and more, the whole country) is trying to extinguish - courses on social, cultural, political, historical, and economical issues affect the state of public education in the US. This requires plenty of critical thinking, and this is something that the state/nation does not want to encourage. I worry about what I will return to, as so far, my courses are not filling for the fall.
