Today our illustrious fellows finished their first week of Humanity in Action. Despite sleep deprivation, a still-tenuous understanding of New York City geography and, for some, wicked foot injuries via shoes poorly designed for walking, the fellows arrived at Brooklyn’s Packer Hall for a day of discussions and presentations on the subject of race.
We began the day with an introduction to German and Dutch experiences with racism and tolerance, respectively. We found out that Germans are more European than everybody else (sorry, I meant “Pro-European”) and that the Dutch are finally getting enough news coverage. On a more serious note, the two presentations showed the struggles European societies have had with racism and integration—not all that far from the American experiences we hear about from the speakers.
Also provocative was the PBS documentary “Faces of the Enemy”, which we watched and discussed in detail. The documentary discussed the depiction of the “enemy” object in propaganda materials as depicted, largely, by political cartoonists and government-contracted artists. From case to case, one becomes convinced that all “enemy” depictions, regardless of nationality or political approach, share similar feral qualities which render them inhuman and therefore “easier” to fight. After separating into small groups, we discussed the psychology behind these representations, the potency of these cartoon symbols and ways in which one might be able to resist these influences through reasoning and critical examinations. By the way, this group of bloggers is better than THAT group of bloggers.
In the afternoon, we realized that such group-identity is both explicitly and implicitly held view. We have since decided that we will put up a rotating screen saver with pictures of other bloggers to widen our perspective.
We left the presentation with an open question as to whether or not tolerance of the intolerant is a good thing, or is it just perpetuating the same kind of problems? Damian Stanley’s presentation offered optimistic details of how we can become more tolerant, but at the same time presented alarming statistics showing that while we have become less explicitly intolerant we are often just as implicitly intolerant. Is it progress if people still hold intolerant views (even if subconsciously), though they do not express them explicitly? Would we be better off if people raised their intolerances and better allowed us to address them?
The last presenter of the day was Hunter College’s own, professor Jessie Daniels. Dr. Daniels explored the imposing presence of hate groups on the internet. She also included an extensive presentation on cloaked websites. Cloaked websites are websites with a subversive message hidden behind a façade of wholesome intent and graphic design. Dr. Daniels focused her presentation primarily on white supremacist websites, about which more information can be found at her website http://jessiedanielsphd.com/.
And now for the weekend- and an entire day FREE. Take care of your amygdala!
(Katharina, Kayla, Jedrek, Jason)
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Asylees and Monsoons
Wednesday, July 11
The fellows snapped sprite and lively out of bed this morning (well, some), showered briskly and dressed to impress. Anders especially, as noted by Purnima, was adorned with a tie the likes of which have rarely been seen. It was time to head to the US Department of Justice Immigration Court to observe asylum hearings. Asylum is a legal status granted to foreigners who have entered the United States (in some cases illegally) under the condition that they prove a “well-founded fear” of persecution if they were to return to their country of origin. It is a process similar to that undergone by those seeking refugee status with the key difference that the individual has already entered the country and is asking to remain within its borders.
Due to confidentiality we can not mention individual cases, but generally asylum cases are based on the credibility of the defendant seeking asylum as determined by the sitting judge. An interesting factor in asylum cases is the wide discretion of the judge (which raised issues for many of the fellows because recent statistics have shown that some judges are much more liable to grant asylum than others). Many of the fellows found the experience to be incredibly impressionable. (Perhaps we have some future law students within the group?)
For lunch fellows went their separate ways (especially Purnima who somehow lost her monthly metro card in the process). Eventually we all wound up at Central Station at the headquarters of the International Rescue Committee, a group which assists refugees internationally to establish themselves in the United States. Their work is very admirable because they are a humanitarian group which effectively deals with many of the political and legal tangles encountered in the process of bringing refugees to the US.
Just before a widely anticipated pool party a monsoon swept through the streets of New York City. This put a damper on the festivities momentarily (although Galen, Thomas and Hollis thoroughly enjoyed skipping through puddles and jumping over the rivers running through the roads). Though the party had to be postponed and we were carried in different directions by the tides, we quickly regrouped and enjoyed learning more about each other over good 'ole American beers.
The fellows snapped sprite and lively out of bed this morning (well, some), showered briskly and dressed to impress. Anders especially, as noted by Purnima, was adorned with a tie the likes of which have rarely been seen. It was time to head to the US Department of Justice Immigration Court to observe asylum hearings. Asylum is a legal status granted to foreigners who have entered the United States (in some cases illegally) under the condition that they prove a “well-founded fear” of persecution if they were to return to their country of origin. It is a process similar to that undergone by those seeking refugee status with the key difference that the individual has already entered the country and is asking to remain within its borders.
Due to confidentiality we can not mention individual cases, but generally asylum cases are based on the credibility of the defendant seeking asylum as determined by the sitting judge. An interesting factor in asylum cases is the wide discretion of the judge (which raised issues for many of the fellows because recent statistics have shown that some judges are much more liable to grant asylum than others). Many of the fellows found the experience to be incredibly impressionable. (Perhaps we have some future law students within the group?)
For lunch fellows went their separate ways (especially Purnima who somehow lost her monthly metro card in the process). Eventually we all wound up at Central Station at the headquarters of the International Rescue Committee, a group which assists refugees internationally to establish themselves in the United States. Their work is very admirable because they are a humanitarian group which effectively deals with many of the political and legal tangles encountered in the process of bringing refugees to the US.
Just before a widely anticipated pool party a monsoon swept through the streets of New York City. This put a damper on the festivities momentarily (although Galen, Thomas and Hollis thoroughly enjoyed skipping through puddles and jumping over the rivers running through the roads). Though the party had to be postponed and we were carried in different directions by the tides, we quickly regrouped and enjoyed learning more about each other over good 'ole American beers.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Moving Jason
Jason today had to move his kitchen stuff from where he used to live near Columbia to the Hunter College dormitories. Which left us with a half-torn box with pans and dishes that had to be transported by subway and carried for about two to three miles.
Jason got a little slippery from sweat, me from the oil that covered the pans. Even New Yorkers where a little confused about what was going on, especially when I began offering them Jasons utensils for one Dollar a piece. No one bought anything, though. What Jason doesn't know up to now is that his pan actually was so heavy that I just left it in the train. But I scratched his name into it, so maybe he can get it back...
Ingmar
Jason got a little slippery from sweat, me from the oil that covered the pans. Even New Yorkers where a little confused about what was going on, especially when I began offering them Jasons utensils for one Dollar a piece. No one bought anything, though. What Jason doesn't know up to now is that his pan actually was so heavy that I just left it in the train. But I scratched his name into it, so maybe he can get it back...
Ingmar
Four speakers in one day!
Today was our second day of program and the first day of getting there by ourselves. Peter Schuck, professor at Yale Law School, opened the day with his talk on "managing diversity in America." By pointing to several aspects of American society, he showed how America is quite unique managing and regulating diversity. Among these aspects were separation of powers, federalism, and civil rights law. Many of us raised questions about the role and value of affirmative action in diversity. Talking about diversity in America naturally incorporated discussions of immigration and American values of individualism.
Our next speaker Arthur Brooks gave us a lively presentation on the joys of "giving." Brooks draws a connection between giving money and financial and personal well-being. Brooks with a background in behavioral economics provided statistical evidence giving will NOT make you poor. (For every dollar you give you will get $3.75 back) Scientific studies of the brain proves that the act of giving releases chemicals that make you feel good. Fellows questioned the extent of his claims and argued that he does not discuss the role of taxes as a contributor of social welfare such as common in most European countries.
After a short five minute break Burt Neuborne, a law professor of New York University, gave a passionate lecture on the American constitutional tradition. What followed was a two hour condensed law school education on American constitutional tradition. Neuborne said, "Add a little water to what I said and you can save three years of going to law school."
Dalton Conley concluded the day with a talk on "race, assets and the American dream." Conley highlighted major discrepancies between African American and whites in housing, assets, and education. He made an important distinction between wealth and income. Wealth of the parents is a predictor of education, unemployment rates, wealth of the children, while income is not a predictor at all. He stressed the importance of disadvantaged ethnic people becoming home owners which would contribute to their building of assets.
Nina, Diana and Ingmar
Our next speaker Arthur Brooks gave us a lively presentation on the joys of "giving." Brooks draws a connection between giving money and financial and personal well-being. Brooks with a background in behavioral economics provided statistical evidence giving will NOT make you poor. (For every dollar you give you will get $3.75 back) Scientific studies of the brain proves that the act of giving releases chemicals that make you feel good. Fellows questioned the extent of his claims and argued that he does not discuss the role of taxes as a contributor of social welfare such as common in most European countries.
After a short five minute break Burt Neuborne, a law professor of New York University, gave a passionate lecture on the American constitutional tradition. What followed was a two hour condensed law school education on American constitutional tradition. Neuborne said, "Add a little water to what I said and you can save three years of going to law school."
Dalton Conley concluded the day with a talk on "race, assets and the American dream." Conley highlighted major discrepancies between African American and whites in housing, assets, and education. He made an important distinction between wealth and income. Wealth of the parents is a predictor of education, unemployment rates, wealth of the children, while income is not a predictor at all. He stressed the importance of disadvantaged ethnic people becoming home owners which would contribute to their building of assets.
Nina, Diana and Ingmar
Monday, July 9th
Blog Posting, Monday July 9th
On the first day of the 2007 Humanity in Action American Program the fellows received an introduction to the organization from Judy Goldstein, after having been welcomed by Matt Hirshberg, our new Program Director. Besides advising the fellows to be cautious with the red lights and engage in a bit of investigative spying on New Yorkers and their dogs, Judy spoke about the nature of the different programs, the challenges facing Humanity in Action, as well as the upcoming plans for the establishment of HIA centres in Europe and the US respectively.
Following Judy, David Machacek spoke about the core of HIA by referring to Cass Sunstein’s article “The Thin Line”. He reflected on the natural inclination of human beings to obey authority, and posed the question “What happens when authority loses the moral compass”? David argued that what HIA sets out to do is to find young individuals with high moral thresholds, bring them together, and form a collective responsibility. In relation to the American Program, David pointed out 5 dimensions that are of particular importance in our dealings with diversity. 1. Immigration and Citizenship, 2. Race and Ethnicity, 3. Religion, 4. Economy and Law, and 5. Civil Society. He professed the hope that the fellows will leave the program not only more convinced of the moral values that we attain to, but also that they will have developed the capacity, the knowledge, and the network to react on time when authorities steer away from the moral compass, while holding each other accountable in this endeavour.
After getting to know each other on a more personal level through an introduction exercise the group watched the documentary “Four Hours at My Lai” and afterwards split into small discussion groups. Each group had to look into the psychological dynamics that caused different characters in the movie to react as they did. The aim was to identify which personal and situational mechanisms make a person a perpetrator, a bystander, or a “hero”.
We concluded with presentations by the French and Polish fellows. Alix, Halimatou, and Soraya presented an exposition of secularism in France. In the French context secularism is viewed as the primary means to ensure progress and freedom, while religion should be reserved for the private sphere. Asia, Jedrzej, and Pawel gave a presentation on the central role of religion in Poland, in this case meaning Catholicism, and its strong influence on Polish political affairs, both nationally and regionally.
The first day was productive and constructive, and holds great promises for the coming weeks.
Nailah & Julia
On the first day of the 2007 Humanity in Action American Program the fellows received an introduction to the organization from Judy Goldstein, after having been welcomed by Matt Hirshberg, our new Program Director. Besides advising the fellows to be cautious with the red lights and engage in a bit of investigative spying on New Yorkers and their dogs, Judy spoke about the nature of the different programs, the challenges facing Humanity in Action, as well as the upcoming plans for the establishment of HIA centres in Europe and the US respectively.
Following Judy, David Machacek spoke about the core of HIA by referring to Cass Sunstein’s article “The Thin Line”. He reflected on the natural inclination of human beings to obey authority, and posed the question “What happens when authority loses the moral compass”? David argued that what HIA sets out to do is to find young individuals with high moral thresholds, bring them together, and form a collective responsibility. In relation to the American Program, David pointed out 5 dimensions that are of particular importance in our dealings with diversity. 1. Immigration and Citizenship, 2. Race and Ethnicity, 3. Religion, 4. Economy and Law, and 5. Civil Society. He professed the hope that the fellows will leave the program not only more convinced of the moral values that we attain to, but also that they will have developed the capacity, the knowledge, and the network to react on time when authorities steer away from the moral compass, while holding each other accountable in this endeavour.
After getting to know each other on a more personal level through an introduction exercise the group watched the documentary “Four Hours at My Lai” and afterwards split into small discussion groups. Each group had to look into the psychological dynamics that caused different characters in the movie to react as they did. The aim was to identify which personal and situational mechanisms make a person a perpetrator, a bystander, or a “hero”.
We concluded with presentations by the French and Polish fellows. Alix, Halimatou, and Soraya presented an exposition of secularism in France. In the French context secularism is viewed as the primary means to ensure progress and freedom, while religion should be reserved for the private sphere. Asia, Jedrzej, and Pawel gave a presentation on the central role of religion in Poland, in this case meaning Catholicism, and its strong influence on Polish political affairs, both nationally and regionally.
The first day was productive and constructive, and holds great promises for the coming weeks.
Nailah & Julia
Friday, July 6, 2007
Welcome Fellows
Welcome to the Blog of Humanity in Action’s American Program 2007
The 2007 American Program staff wishes to launch this blog by extending a warm welcome to all of the fellows. We hope you have had a good journey to the Big Apple and are as excited as we are about the coming weeks. The program features a great list of scholars, professionals and organizations covering a wide selection of topics related to human and minority rights. We will address these issues in a challenging manner, which will stimulate constructive and thought-provoking discussions.
The pupose of this blog is to offer participating fellows, senior fellows as well as others interested in the American Program a forum to interact, reflect on and exchange experiences and thoughts concerning the program. Throughout the program the participating fellows will be responsible for posting reflections, pictures and impressions of the different days on the blog. The fellows have been divided into groups. Each group will be responsible for two postings. The fellows will receive information on the groups and posting dates shortly.
We invite those who are not participating to share their thoughts, comments and reactions on the postings freely. Through the postings and the interaction with you readers, we hope this blog will become the digital component of the American Program experience.
We are looking forward to embarking with you on what is sure to be an intellectually, emotionally and socially intensive journey. We hope you will embrace it fully and do your best to contribute to it.
Best wishes,
On behalf of the American Program Staff,
Nailah and Julia
The 2007 American Program staff wishes to launch this blog by extending a warm welcome to all of the fellows. We hope you have had a good journey to the Big Apple and are as excited as we are about the coming weeks. The program features a great list of scholars, professionals and organizations covering a wide selection of topics related to human and minority rights. We will address these issues in a challenging manner, which will stimulate constructive and thought-provoking discussions.
The pupose of this blog is to offer participating fellows, senior fellows as well as others interested in the American Program a forum to interact, reflect on and exchange experiences and thoughts concerning the program. Throughout the program the participating fellows will be responsible for posting reflections, pictures and impressions of the different days on the blog. The fellows have been divided into groups. Each group will be responsible for two postings. The fellows will receive information on the groups and posting dates shortly.
We invite those who are not participating to share their thoughts, comments and reactions on the postings freely. Through the postings and the interaction with you readers, we hope this blog will become the digital component of the American Program experience.
We are looking forward to embarking with you on what is sure to be an intellectually, emotionally and socially intensive journey. We hope you will embrace it fully and do your best to contribute to it.
Best wishes,
On behalf of the American Program Staff,
Nailah and Julia
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