A+reflection

"People who live in relatively peaceful and stable parts of the world, who eat regularly and keep warm in winter, and who have many opportunities to exercise their human needs for creativity, enjoyment, friendship and the acquisition of knowledge, are very privileged historically speaking." (Grayling 2005, pp. 10-11)

The page is simply an acknowledgement of circumstances. Whilst not discounting worthwhile outcomes borne from hard work, just being at the NAFSA conference suggests there's an element of good fortune in our lives that we should not take for granted. The 'big picture' take on this is that I, for example, have never personally experienced war. I have never been hungry. I have always had shelter. I have always had enough money. I have been supported in my learning in formal education settings //over decades// and it has hardly cost me any money. Mobility characterises my life. I have travelled overseas on close to 50 occasions and in doing so I have flown six miles high over some politically unstable and turbulent countries where poverty, overcrowding, hunger, lack of fresh water, violence and little formal education is the daily experience of most people. I am indeed a fortunate person. Despite all of this, I still have my biases and prejudices and tend to use stereotypes when I meet people for the first time. I recognise that these things are part of who I am. They often surface in my reactions but I endeavour to not let them dictate my responses. I have learned that there are many ways to see the world. Mine is but one and it is from a position of privilege.

This is a good starting point and something to pause and reflect on ...

Grayling, A. (2005). //The heart of things: Applying philosophy to the 21st Century//. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
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