Critical reflection: No longer speechless
Which points and concepts relate to aspects of your community experience, the mission of your partner, and/or the experience of people you are working with?
In Cornel West’s work, The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society, he shows the complexity and irrationality of social issues relating to race in small communities and across the world. West demonstrates that democracy is on unstable ground by stating, “The conversation matters because the preservation of democracy is threatened by real economic decline. While it is not identical to moral and cultural decay, it is inseparable from it. Even though the pocketbook is important, many Americans are concerned more about the low quality of their lives, the constant fear of violent assault and cruel insult, the mean spiritedness and cold heartedness of social life, and the inability to experience deep levels of intimacy” (212). This concept relates to my service learning experience because the students come from low-income families that struggle to fight against the economic and cultural decay society is facing today. These families work jobs that pay for the bare minimum, leaving their children to fend for themselves in academics. Through the AVID program, these students are given the opportunity to take their education into their own hands and to contribute to the democratic society.
West states, “The roots of democracy are fundamentally grounded in mutual respect, personal responsibility, and social accountability” (212). These three aspects are values that AVID students hold and utilize throughout their four years in high school. The author continues by showing that the current state of the democratic process does not give homage to the hard work and dedication of the parents of these students. They work in order to keep their household steady and their family happy and healthy. However, much of their work is dismissed, “Parenting is a non-market activity; so much sacrifice and service goes into it without any assurance that the providers will get anything back” (213).
West brings up many points that relate to my service project. He allows the reader to see their place in a democratic system as well as the struggles that many others face.
Jane Goodall writes that it is “impossible to overemphasize the power of the individual in the shaping of the values of a society. . . In human society, the legacies of a Hitler or a Jesus, a Gandhi or an Ayatollah Khomeini, are testimonies to the impact they made during their brief years on earth. . . Every single one of has, I believe, a significant part to play in the scheme of things” (9). This idea correlates with the ideas raised in West’s work by stating that the power of the individual holds weight in a democratic society. West alludes to this idea when he shows that history is filled with stories of the elite, rather than the common people of the era. Also, he shows that ordinary people do not carry the same weight as those who have more recognition. With this, both authors show that no matter how small one may feel in a large community, by doing their part and speaking out, they are valued by the whole.
What does it mean to be part of a larger, democratic community. What happens if we don’t struggle/question/strive as individuals but wait, instead for someone else to do it for us?
To be a part of a larger, democratic community, one must do their part to not only participate in decisions and share their opinions, but also speak for those who do not a voice. For a democratic society to thrive, each person must be able to contribute to the whole equally. West states, “Democracy is also about giving each person a dignified voice in the decision-making processes in those institutions that guide and regulate their lives” (212). However, if we continue to keep silent and let those who do not have a voice struggle, we are not fulfilling our role in a democratic society. If we wait for someone else to make the changes necessary, we could be waiting a lifetime for changes that could be implemented now with our help. Waiting for someone else to lead does not allow for us to be a part of the democratic society nor does it let us explore the opportunity of helping those in need. This program allows me to do my part in helping those in my local community gain a better understanding in the classroom and beyond.
