Speaking Out, But for Whom?
Remember to read thoroughly the “Read Me First” post on this blog before responding to this post. You may discuss any—or a combination—of the following as long as it results in three (3) 5-7 sentence paragraphs.
Be sure to attach your name, and the person's name to whom you're responding, at the beginning of your responses. Comments that do not meet the minimum requirements will be deleted.
1. I’ll bet that many of you were not fully and completely “in the know” about the Catholic Church and its many rulings on homosexuals, or even gay priests. First, I would like you to consider and to discuss what it is like to be given a text where prior knowledge is required…especially when you might not have any prior knowledge related to the topic(s) being read.
•What are some good strategies to use when asked to write in response to topics with which you are unfamiliar—what should a student do in this situation?
•What do you do when placed in this situation?
•If the college cannot (and will not) change its level of reading selections, what might be some suggested solutions?
2. Next, other than your possible discomfort level with discussing subjects that touch upon homosexuality, what informs your own knowledge of homosexuality?—not your judgment or your beliefs, but your knowledge.
•Do you read books about what it’s like to be homosexual, or do you just listen to what your parents and friends have to say?
•But how much do they know about homosexuality?
•Do they personally know any homosexuals, or have they, too, formed their knowledge based on their beliefs?
What I’m getting at here is that one cannot evaluate anything intelligently if one does not know a topic. (But scurrilous lies and hearsay are not true knowledge; if they were, books would not exist and we would all still believe that thunder and lightning were forms of witchcraft.)
•So, you must ask yourself: “How have I come to know homosexuality?”
3. Finally, there is a very specific kind of judgment call that I will ask you to make; however, you yourself will be the focus here. After reading this article and answering these questions, hopefully you will have come around to the notion that you need to do several things before judging anyone/anything other than yourself: first, that opinions should ideally be informed by valid knowledge of a topic, in an academic setting anyway; second, that this activity can apply to anything, not just homosexuality.
So, right now you might want to begin asking yourself how much you really know about anything you’re asked to form an opinion of.
•Here’s the real question: what are some realistic things that you can do to prevent yourself from claiming, “I know nothing of this or that” in the future?
•How can you come to know things before you’re asked to write about them?
—Prof. Ferrante
posted by Garth Ferrante @ 10/15/2006 03:16:00 PM
21 comments
21 Comments:
To: Mr. Ferrante
fr: Karla Quintero
This article opens up alot of questions. for example, isnt this a free country and aren't you allowed to talkor write whatever you want i mean dr. Mott was just expressing his opinion on how homosexuals are seen and judge in society, but when they are pointed out in the chruch this one just keeps quite.
I agree with Carla when she says Dr. Mott was just expressing what he believes. He was practicing a right that everyone has and that is "Freedom of Speech."
last comment was Jean M.
In addition to what I have said I wanted to leave clear that not only this teacher risk position (which he lost by the way), but he got sudents to start talking about this issue.
Karla Quintero
stating my opinion in what I say in my last comment I wanted to say that is something to be admired
karla q
To Professor Ferrante
From: Vienna Mouzon
College is a place where students discover the unkown "other".I personally have a well rounded life so I know a little about alot.Just because I know a little about alot does not mean I know everything I am always willing to learn. If I was exposed to a subject I knew nothing about I would try and take the main idea and break it apart .I would find supported details in the paper to developed some level of understanding of the subject.
To Professor Ferrante
From: Vienna Mouzon
Well I personally have a gay male bestfriend and he shares his thoughts about his sexuality with me. I know a few other homosexuals and they talked to me about their experiences. From talking to these people they have made me aware of the battle they fight inside. The ones who are worried about the world's idea of normal often stop themselves from being gay to please others. My friend was gay and still is gay but she will not carry out the lifestyle because she does not want to be dismissed from her family. I asked why she would stop herself from being happy she said to keep her mother happy, I don't understand and I may never understand.
TO Karla
from: Vienna T. Mouzon
People are allowed to say and write whatever with some legal resrictions. This professor should have been fired if when he published the article he used Seaton Hall name. He used his name as a open gay man in america. He losted his job title for questioning the catholic church. He didn't question documents of the church he questioned the fact that children are being sexual harassed by the leaders of the church but being gay is wrong. He should take this issuse to court because this is a topic that needs to be disscused.
To Professor Ferrante
Fr: Jean Turner
Some realistic things that I would do if I am not familiar with a topic are reading up on the subject and getting feed backs from individuals. It is true that some subjects can become overbearing but if we are in college we have to open up to most things that are happening around us. For example, I never believed in homosexual behaviours, but I am willing and open to learning about it and I have found out that one has to be rational about certain things even if we dont see eye to eye on the subject.
In response to Karla, This is a free country, I agree with you, but the only thing Dr. Mott should not have signed his name with the title of Associate Dean because that implies that he is responding on behalf of the univeristy. However, his boss Dr. Smith could have allowed him to explain himself before he fired him from the position.
Jean Turner
To: Professor Ferrante
Fr: Mary Garcia
In this article there is alot of misunderstandings by the university staff members. Everyone has a right to feel a certain way about something. Dr. Mott's letter to the newspaper said what he felt. I do feel though that he should've kept it anonymous or just put his name without his title. For this reason it caused many staff members of the university to think he was speaking on the university's behalf. Dr.Mott was speaking for himself but it was taken in another way.
Response to Vienna,
You said one of your best friends is gay and that your have other friends who are gay. What I can't understand is that they have chosen to be gay, no one forced them into it - so therefore, why are they so concerened about PEOPLE, we go back again about worrying about people. Then that's telling me that your friends are not comfortable with it. Like I said, I am not gay but if one choose that lifestyle, I am not going to judge them - it could be that people were born gay but did not realize it until they are mature enough to acknowledge it.
Response to Karla
Fr: Mary Garcia
I agree with everyone being allowed to express themselves. In the case of Dr.Mott he did express himself, but forgot about the consequences when putting his title on the letter. When it comes to a professional stance you have to be careful of what you write to newspapers, especially if you disclosing your title. It can seem as if your speaking on behalf of other professionals in your job or the job itself.
The last Response to Vienna is from Jean Turner
Response to Karla
Fr: Mary Garcia
Dr.Mott did risk his position but it wasn't something he thought would happen. He thought it was allright to express his feelings, which it was. Did he for one minute think that by putting his title on the letter he would get fired? No, he didn't because his intentions were'nt to speak on behalf of anyone but himself. I do agree that alot of his students and other students were'nt happy about Dr.Mott getting fired. They even defended him when it came to his title being taken away.
Response to Jean Turner
Fr: Mary Garcia
I disagree with homosexuality being a choice. Homosexuality is not something that is chosen by someone. People who are gay are born that way it's just some realize it sooner than others. I'm a perfect example of this because I'm gay and I didn't choose to be gay. Since I was young I found myself attracted to females, but parents bring you up with the moral thing to do. So I always use to think it was all in my head when i felt attracted to a female. i even got married to a man thinking it was the right thing to do. I realized at the age of twenty-one that I was gay.
To Prof. Ferrante
From P. Sellers-Bradford
I am well aware about homosexuality and the many rulings on homosexuals, or even gay priests. But there is no excuse for Dr. W. King Mott to speak as though it was on behalf of Seton Hall by signing the letter and using his work title as well. He desired to write a letter about homosexuals, the Roman Catholic hierarchy and their hiding pedophiles within the priesthood but it was his responsibility to sign only his name. Although his comments may be true in a great sense, the opinion is his alone and not that of the university's. Could his behavior cause terrible repercussions upon the school and its funding resources?
The freedom of speech is a privilege and the concept does give people the right to say whatever is on their mind, even make their statements publicly. However, they must ensure that the public understands that it is only their opinion and they are not actually representing an organization’s. They should always endorse that document using their own name and omit their title. What chaos would we experience if everyone expressed their opinion without regard to others?
Anyone who understands journalism knows that it can be misconstrued that you are a voice representing the university if you do it in the manner that Dr. Mott did. As a parent of a child in school, I do not have the right to send a letter to the superintendent using the school letterhead. Neither do I have the right to sign a letter on behalf of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), especially if they had no knowledge of or formal action to approve the document. It is important that people, when using their freedom of speech, respect the rights of others at all points in time.
Response to Mr Ferrante
I think the best strategy to write in response to topics in which i'm unfamiliar with is to try to become more familiar with the topic, by researchin the topic or asking other people who may be a little more familiar with the topic than iam. In a lot of cases i'm given topics that i'm unfamiliar with and have absolutely no time to research for, so i have no choice but to guess and hope it wouldn't be too far off.
loreen Hanna
response to vienna
I definetely agree with you, of course i believe in freedom of speech but as long as they don't attack another person's point of view or beliefs. He doesn't have to agree with the rules and beliefs of the church but the least he could've done was respect them. Church is a respectable place that follows certain beliefs. I understand that he's concerned and feels that catholic churches are being unfair to gay people, but that doesn't give him the right to what he did
Response to Vienna
you said that you're gay friend chose satisfying her friend over her own happiness, i find that a little akward and unbelievable, i don't know whether it's a good or bad thing, most people put their own happiness before anything or anyone elase, because we live in a world where everyone is selfish and puts their self and happiness before anything,But at the same time freedom of choice is a right that she should take advantage of.In addition why would she want to hide something that she got no control over, i don't agree with what she did.
Loreen Hanna
To Loreen
From P. Sellers-Bradford
I agree that the best way to write about topics that you are unfamiliar with is to seek information from others that are more familiar. The church is not only a place of worship but also very resourceful in providing direction and information.
We all know that a number of priests and other clergy were identified recently by the news media that are pedophiles. It is also true that members of the church chose to hide the truth and moved sex offenders to another location. By doing so they left many children vulnerable to future attacks by these people because no one got to the root of their problem. Does not mean that all people who are homosexual wish to have sex with children?
It is wrong to judge the entire church family or all homosexuals because of the decisions made by so few? I understand Dr. Mott’s need to defend her homosexuality. But it was most important that she did not risk the university’s reputation while doing so.
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