So, I was not expecting Socratic Seminar to go as it did. I definitely enjoyed the conversation and being able to discuss the book. I went into the class room thinking I was going to have all of this stuff to say and then once the conversation began, I felt very small. A large group of people is definitely different than a small group, like the ones we are in at our tables. I think the one thing that really challenged me was having to take the initiative to chime in. It was a little difficult with all the big personalities in the room, and when someone would really get pumped up and into what they were saying I would begin to question the thing I was about to say. One of the topics that I intended to chime in on was the topic of how much freedom one is willing to give up in order to feel safe.
I think that no one should be willing to give up any of their freedoms just to feel safe. I mean, once you start handing over your freedoms to the government then what stops them from just snowballing and collecting more and more of our freedoms. Our freedoms are what give the people power and what limits the government's power over the people. If safety is what people are looking for then the reality of it is that you will never be completely safe. You can give up as much as you want but then the power of your government is what will threaten your safety. Our freedoms is the foundation of what originally was supposed to separate us from the country our forefathers came from. The more we give up the more we are just backtracking into the type of society we originally rebelled our way into freedom from. If we begin to allow our government to establish more surveillance and more invasive technology then we will really be evolving into the society of 1984 and in that society, we won't have to fear the forces of other countries rather we will have to fear the forces of our own government.
I agree with what you are saying about all the big personalities in the room and how you questioned yourself about what you wanted to say. Their was all kinds of personalities and I was a little afraid of getting attacked. I also questioned myself before I said anything because every time I wanted to add in on the conversation it would change. So I feel like time was very limited.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I was the exact same way. I had so much things I wanted to say I just didn't know how to word it and if it'll make sense. It was a good way to hear everyone's own thoughts about the book and their opinions about it. I must say I was also a bit afraid of getting attacked.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement because I to have that problem because I am a very shy person that can't handle presentations and having to talk to people that I don't really know. Definitely I choose freedom over safety as my answer. I choose freedom because if it was safety, safety isn't always the garantee that you will be safe. Even though safety trys to keep us safe there will always be bad events that happens because of it. So if the government tries to take freedom away then there will always be those people who will rebel against the government no matter what.
ReplyDeleteDo you find it interesting that you are discussing freedom over safety, and all privileging freedom over safety...but on Socratic Seminar day, you chose safety.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone would have attacked you, I would have stepped in and stopped it. I know that's not as good as not being attacked in the first place, and I feel bad that you feel vulnerable. I want room 508 to feel safe to everybody, but you are right...there are big personalities in the room. I struggle every day, and I need your voices.