Offend: to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury.
So says Merriam-Webster. Our society is obsessed with not offending. I don't want to stir the pot, or offend someone. Well let me say something about how I feel about this. Have you ever been offended by something enough to say 'That is outrageous! Something needs to be done!' Has is made you feel uncomfortable? THEN DO SOMETHING!! How would society change if no one was offended? If everything was tickety-boo how would we advance as a compassionate society. If something offends your sense of dignity then you need to do something. Don't rely on others to fix the problem. As Ghandi said 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' Get offended and then get active. Get offended at how your students are being stymied in their quest for knowledge and then do something. Would you confront a parent that wants to pull their child from school because 'I made it without education?' Apparently not many in my class would. Only two of us..myself and someone else. How sad is that? One girl would...'to a point. I would send an email and set up an interview at school.' Do you think a disinterested parent is going to take the time to read an email from the teacher or to drive all the way to the school? Doubtful. What if you are in a remote community that doesn't have reliable email? GASP!? No email? What fresh vision of hell is THIS!? You need to get in their face, you need to become an advocate and a champion for the lives in your care. Stir the pot. And watch the world change. I leave you with this:
Another cause of dullness is imitation. You are made to imitate by tradition. The weight of the past drives you to conform, toe the line and through conformity the mind feels safe, secure, it establishes itself in a well oiled groove so that it can run smoothly without disturbance, without a quiver of doubt. Watch the grown up people about you and you will see that their minds do not want to be disturbed. They want peace, even though it is the peace of death; but real peace is something entirely different.
J. Krishnamurti
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