Welcome to my new blog!
Even though I have once again well and truly retired from teaching, I find that I am as anxious as ever about the welfare of the Youth of Zion. So I wanted to create a place for a sort of ongoing class discussion: no lectures (just some links), no assignments, no tests, NO GRADES! A sort of virtual über classroom.
I have begun by contacting all former students whose e-mail addresses I have. If you are reading this and know of former classmates, please let them know? I have also invited my children and their spouses, and the children of some of my friends. In other words, people under the age of, say, 45 who are used to me. The young folks. I realize that it is possible for this to reach some of my ancient Freshman English students who are older than I am. If that is you, just take your arthritis medication and play along.
Here are the rules:
- You will expect, of course, a good dose of The World According to Thayer, but the point is class participation.
- Please feel free to comment upon anything that interests you. Sign with your name or an alias so that others may respond to you.
- I will moderate the blog comments to maintain what I feel to be a positive ... dare I say uplifting? at least encouraging ... tone.
A few more guidelines:
- Critical thinking required, of course.
- Controversy welcome, though no contention (see 3 Nephi 11:29 and 4 Nephi 1:15) please.
- Questions, queries, doubts, concerns are welcome and potentially appropriate.
- However ... I will post NO LDS-bashing, no Church-bashing of any sort. You don't have to believe, but if you don't like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you won't be happy here. In fact, due to the observations in the third bullet above, your comments may not appear on this blog even though I love you a lot.
- In the political realm, we should in general discuss ideas, policies maybe, but not people (except to praise, quote, recommend). This is going to be tricky, but we'll see how it goes. What I mean, specifically, is that I don't intend this to be a campaign debate forum.
- We are no longer inside a BYU classroom, but the Honor Code still applies.
- The Thirteenth Article of Faith also applies. We seek after whatever is virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy. In other words, alarming can be good; alarmist not so much.
- I expect you might want to split off into individual conversations or group discussions. I won't follow you there unless invited. And even then maybe not. Feel free to invite people to your personal blogs.
- If you're looking for true love, please post your vita or a nice, concise, well-constructed one-page resumé. (Just kidding. I mean post an unretouched photo. [Just kidding.])
Okay, let's get started.
Watch and respond to this: Interview with a Russian Defector.
Or to this: Harvard LDS Student Faces Questions.
Or just introduce yourself and share something that interests or concerns you at the moment.
Or throw out a provocative question.
I'll look forward to hearing from you!
Faithfully your DDT
Excellent! I am in. My mother-in-law used the video of Rachel Esplin in her seminary class. I was impressed by how gracefully she responded to the somewhat pointed questions she was asked. I'll need to watch the interview with a Russian defector later; I'm on campus and big brother doesn't like some sites.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with the interview with Rachel Esplin. She answered so well and I think that she very fittingly represented the young Latter-Day Saint population. She got me thinking, perhaps not about things I would be discussing intellectually, but about what is missing in my own life. I'm her age, I'd like to have the same assurance of faith.
ReplyDeleteI love this blog! Awesome. The title "Perfect Brightness of Hope" is my favourite scriptures, actually! The commandment to have not only hope--but a perfect brightness of hope! That requires daily, actual, and practical faith in Jesus Christ. We need it as a commandment, for in hard times, when it is hard to remember that it is our prerogative to be hopeful and of good cheer, it cuts right to the center of what we have to do to get back on track! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great discussion blog! I very much enjoyed watching Rachel's responses. I thought they were very bold and straight forward. Especially when the interviewer asked some interesting questions (ex. on the garment, etc). I think there are some of those questions that I personally would shirk to answer or feel uncomfortable but that was a great example of boldness.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of it, I am not sure if you have seen this response by the church on the most recent HBO thing: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma
Unfortunately I can't watch your first video since I both live on campus and go to school on campus, hence the only internet I get is You Tube blocked by BYU.
Sevak
We'll have to find a way for you to see the Russian defector, Sevak, because you'll have a better perspective on that than most of us can. As for the HBO thing, I've just seen the program, and I have to admit that I'm stunned. I'm not concerned about damage to the Church, but I am more deeply hurt than I imagined I would be. Of course, I couldn't imagine they would do what they actually did. I know the temptation will be great to discuss the content. The real question is how we will respond. Time for a new assignment. I mean blog post.
ReplyDeleteDonlu, you clearly give people far too much credit.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm not sure there is much to discuss regarding the content. Depictions of sacred ceremonies either uplift and edify, or they do not. If they do, then we should be thankful for the grace of those doing the depicting. If they do not, then I think it's clear from the scripture that we should give unto the offender our cloak also.
P.S. I remain thoroughly unconvinced by March assertions that you'll remain "well and truly" retired by the time fall rolls around.
Ah, Christian. You just can't imagine a fall semester that didn't begin with you sitting in my class for a couple days. But this time I mean it. You'll see.
ReplyDeleteThe creators of "Big Love" obviously don't mean to be edifying vis-à-vis the LDS. They favor the good-guy polygamists, for obvious social and constitutional reasons. So, I guess I'd better see what I've got in the closet. Though I have several coats, I've actually got only one item that could be called a cloak ....
Obviously, I don't have any respect for HBO or their broadcast, but if I can find a silver lining, it serves as a stark reminder that I am part of a truly peculiar people. I've grown up in an LDS generation less "persecuted" than others, and spending years absorbed in BYU/Provo/Utah Valley culture can lead one to forget how peculiar we really are. It reminds me that inside and outside "the Valley," we stand for something different and uniquely wonderful. That's my comment for today's class. (Which I am really enjoying.)
ReplyDeleteAbout that first link:
ReplyDeleteThe description of the tactic is pretty sound, I think. It seems to be what happened to the Nephites, at least.
About HBO:
It's definitely a serious bummer, but I think it's something best resolved as the church suggests; Because when members of the LDS community get all riled up, onlookers get even more curious. Offensive: perhaps. Insensitive: definitely. A big deal: not really. 'Cause, I mean, in the end, it's not going to affect my eternal salvation.
On the second link:
I very much like those clips. My sister showed 'em to me a bit ago. I think that she really handled the (somewhat leading) questions remarkably well—like, 'apostolically', (if you'll excuse my coinage). She did great. I also encourage everyone to read the comments on the movie.
The other videos are pretty interesting, too.
So, uh ... yeah. *thumbs up*
Thanks, Sister Thayer.