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Perspective is a perplexing concept. The definition is the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer. By definition we all have our own perspective. Perspective results from our experiences in life, what we have been taught by others (often without question) and how the thing we are looking at impacts our life personally.
Perspective on BP in the gulf. I see it as a tragic accident (an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury) BP did not intentionally cause the accident and is not at fault (blame: put or pin the blame on) They are responsible for doing everything they can to clean up the spill and plug the break.
Listening to the President today he blames BP for the accident, he seems to imply that they knowingly did something wrong and are intentionally not doing everything they can to fix it. But in the same breath says that the federal government is in charge, and has been since the beginning. Of course that is my perspective. This is what I hear when I filter his words through the filter of my perspective.
Perspective on race relations. I read a blog called "We are respectable Negros". I do not see myself in what they write. I do not see my friends in what they said. I read it because I know my perspective is about me and only me and I would like to understand other peoples perspectives.
I want desperately to bridge the huge gulf of prejudice that separates me from some of my kids at school. Wonderful children who come to me and believe that I don't like them because of their color. Precious children who don't have a chance because they believe a majority of the world hates them. Do I blame their parents for this view? the world? I don't blame anyone, I just cry inside for what it does to our kids.
Every year I just sit down with all the classes and talk about it. I have had children Hispanic and Black tell me that they believe that white people don't like them.... So sad.... I agree that there are people like that in the world and I tell them I am sorry. I also tell them that not everyone is that way and I am not that way.
This year a little boy said that he believes I don't like him because of his color. I asked him why. "Because you're always getting on me". The other kids were shocked that he was honest and I told them that being honest is a good thing. We need to talk about it and I needed them to be mature and listen to the conversation. I then looked at the young man and said. "Do you really want the answer here in class, or in private"? He said here and I told him; I picked up the behavior checklist that we keep for classes and I addressed his behavior from that week. I asked if we had rules about certain things he had done. I asked him if I had given him warnings. To both questions he answered "yes." Then I chose a Hispanic boy int the class that sits near him and asked him if he thought I ever treated him badly. I asked the same question about a Black girl and a white boy. To all three he said no. Then I asked him why he thought then, that I picked on him because of his color but not on all these other children. He thought about it for a time and said. "I don't do what I'm suppose to". "Bingo", I said. I'm the teacher and it is my job to make sure everyone follows the rules so we can all have a safe place to learn.
For the next month I would ask him in private if he understood why I had called him out for his behavior when he would misbehave. He says he does. We hug now and we play around sometimes. He seems happier in class and I think he learned a valuable lesson and his perspective will be different from now on. He is just one... I have 50 more......
How do we go about changing a person or peoples perspective? How can we encourage people to stop listening to all the crap that people say and go out and learn about an issue. These are the thoughts that play over and over in my head.
That is my two cents. Always from my perspective of course. Lead by the belief that I should love my neighbor as myself.
