Understanding Diversity

Running synonymous with Herzberg, Bickford and Reynold's article, "Activism and Service-Learning: Reframing Volunteerism As Acts of Dissent" and Linda Flower's, "Intercultural Inquiry and the Transformation of Service", one of the main similar discussions and arguments is: whats the line between volunteerism and 'forced' service? Similar to what we discussed in class the first day, the importance of activism shows "how students interpret this difference tells us a great deal about their understanding of the social-ideological workings of culture". It is integral to understand the importance of this because it brings about a new method of learning, a way to understand not just the community but ourselves in a deeper light. Growing up on the east coast, I attended various community service events, and just like Bickford pointed out it was, "Limited engagement, a superficial encounter". Even more synonymous with what we talked about the first day in class is Bickford's comment, "Writing about the community does not require the depth of understanding that writing for or with it does". It is not just about observation and reflection, it is about social activism. Understanding the root of the problems and the possible cures for it is not just a stimulating experience for the student and community but brings together a larger force at work: social change. However, so as long as the event requiring change doesn't directly effect the student's lives, activism will only be a flicker of a small flame deep within a college student's life at school. With no fuel to ignite the flame, the passion for social change will diminish just as the flicker of the flame will within the student.