Students upon whom we try to impress the importance of clear communication would not have been able to look for an example to the roster of current presidential candidates last night.
The Democrats spend time talking about Bush’s expansive notions of presidential power, the mistakes of the war and the dangers and illegalities of Guantanamo and waterboarding. Republicans tend to stress the importance of stability in Iraq and the necessity of adjusting the legal posture of the US in the face of the threat of terrorism. Most on both sides agree that the Justice Department needs some serious rehaabilitation after Attorney General Gonzales’s politicization of that department and his eager, crass participation in efforts to legalize torture.
All these issues were central to the debate over the confirmation of new A.G. Michael Mukasey. He was confirmed last night by a slim but comfortable margin. But the following Senators/candidates decided not to weigh in officially, and simply did not cast a vote either way: Clinton, McCain, Biden, Obama, Dodd. To me that silence speaks volumes.
Silence Speaks.
For years I have tried to impress, when teaching systems analysis, that the the space where nothing exists should speak to one as strongly as where nothing exists.
The question; why is nothing there?
The same should apply to speech. What has not been said should evoke the the question; why?
It is hard to overcome the inhibitions that have been established in students. Time after time in discussion with my students I ask, "What's missing?" Little is said. Why? Perhaps lack of knowledge or curiosity about the subject; perhaps lack of courage; perhaps unwillingness to stand out; perhaps a lack of confidence in one's ability to ask questions.
An old friend of mine, now gone, Bob Neuschel, taught me the phrase "inspirational dissatisfaction." That is perhaps we we need in instantiate in our students.
Maybe, Ryan, in the debate is the basis for doing that. Or, if the students are not so politically inclined, pick something from the popular culture as the basis for and analysis of what's missing, why that should be the case, and what conclusions may we draw from the omission.
Anyway, your post reminds me that I need to do more in this area. Thanks.
Oops.
In "For years I have tried to impress, when teaching systems analysis, that the the space where nothing exists should speak to one as strongly as where nothing exists." the second "nothing" should be "something."
For some reason (gremlins at work) this error appeared after rigorous proofing and, more critically, after the submit button had been pushed.
Sigh.