we're back!
Once again we come to the end our an annual summer series, a time when we hear the varied perspectives from a variety of people. What a great group of writers and an insightful slate of topics!
From books to billionaires to examining human birthrights…
From life in the margins to life according to Josh…
There was indeed much to learn from and lean into. It is not just a joy but also wise to hear from other people.
Why?
I speak not of my brief season of intentional rest, but rather, why do we feature others? Why do we intentionally listen to other people?
… what an excellent question…
Let me answer that question with one of the more insightful statements I read during my writing respite. I was reading a story about Jason Arday, the youngest black professor appointed at Cambridge University, the world-famous public research university in Cambridge, England, founded in 1209. He was a professor of sociology of education, hired in 2023. He resigned from his post, however, two weeks ago, following allegations of plagiarism and false claims about both his personal history and professional research; these came from multiple major British newspapers. His case prompted conversations about all sorts of challenging topics — topics indeed worth wrestling with — about race, diversity programs, and the condition of higher education and health of the scholarly community. Arday, nine days after his resignation, was found dead.
Editorializing on the situation was Clare Ashcraft, the Bridging Coordinator and Media Analyst for the Intramuralist-recommended AllSides. She pointed out the plethora of diverse perspectives and their chosen focus in regard to who or what was most responsible for Arday’s tragic death. In that analysis, in addition to her earnest sensitivity to Arday, she was very clear. Presenting the diverse perspective, Ashcraft wrote:
I don’t deserve to be the arbiter of what is true more than anyone else.
That’s worth hearing again…
I don’t deserve to be the arbiter of what is true more than anyone else.
In other words, there is nothing about Ashcraft that makes her opinion best. Said more broadly — and in answer to the aforementioned excellent question — there is nothing about me, the guest writers, the listening audience, participants, etc. that make any single one of us the ultimate authority on a matter. We have different opinions, altered angles from where we sit and see, with fluctuating degrees of proximity. That means…
Just because we believe something strongly doesn’t make us right.
Just because we sit close to a situation doesn’t mean we see all things fully, accurately.
And just because our experience is authentic doesn’t give us the only accurate perspective.
Wise people honor other people.
Wise people listen to other people.
Wise people don’t allow difference to be the determiner of relationship.
And all of the above is still true even when it’s hard.
The reason we feature a plethora of guest writers is to model our commitment to listen well to other people.
Time to go forward, friends. We have much to discuss… to learn from and listen to, as well.
Respectfully…
AR
