Some thoughts on our discussion of Gov. Blanco's speech

First, let me say that I'm generally very pleased with the level of in-class discussion. Almost everyone has contributed in both sections, and we've gotten into some significant and interesting issues. If we keep that up, we'll be in great shape for the rest of the semester. (I am, however, less impressed with the blogging. While there have been a few people that have done some nice writing, in general there's been very little beyond the initial assignment.)

So, all that said, I keep thinking about our discussions Thursday of Gov. Blanco's speech. It was, again, a good discussion with broad participation, but the discussion in both sections ended up being (to my ears) much more about her presentation style and general choice of topic than about the actual content of her speech. We can debate all day whether she should have said more or less or whatever about Katrina, her life, blah, blah, but the fact is that she gave that speech and said those things, and our discussion (and the few blog posts on the subject) didn't really address her statements with much depth.

There were quite a few things that I thought might warrant discussion, most of which never came up. At the very beginning, for example, she said "Life is simply not fair". Is everyone comfortable/happy with that sort of blanket assertion? If so, do we just accept it, or do we work to change it? You were told to "Put yourself in a position to make a difference... No one is going to do this for you.". Do you agree with this exhortation? Why is this important (or not)? What are you doing (or not) to put yourself in such a position, and why?

Some other lines I found noteworthy:

• "Don't let stereotypes shut you out of any career."
• "You don't have to know everything, but you have to be willing to learn."
• "Ignore the false prophets - be true to yourself."
• "Stereotypes can be broken if we all work to defy expectations."
• "Focus on the value of diversity."

Lastly, what did she mean by "Be open to committed living"? What does that imply for you here at UMM? For you in this class?

Thoughts?

It would be good to post about Blanco on your blog

I would encourage everyone to post some sort of (thoughtful) response on their blog to Blanco's presentation last night.

Note that I didn't say "I require everyone...". You are adults, and ultimately you have to make your own decisions about how to get the most of your life here at UMM. I can make suggestions, but I can't (and won't and shouldn't) follow you around making sure you do everything I suggest. I think you ought to attend events, take notes, reflect and discuss things with the people around you, and post to your blog as part of a larger discussion. What you do, however, is ultimately up to you :-).

Some (limited) biographical info on Gov. Blanco

Our convocation speaker this year is Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Governor of Louisiana. She was actually scheduled to come this time last year, but Hurricane Katrina rolled in and she (quite understandably) felt she needed to remain in Louisiana. Her convocation is 7pm, Tuesday, 5 September, in Edson Auditorium. Attendance is required for all FYS students.

Her life history is very interesting and quite unusual for someone at that level in any field. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years, and then a high school teacher. To quote the Governor's official bio

Governor Blanco began her career as a public servant in 1984, when she became the first woman ever elected to represent the people of Lafayette in the state Legislature. Five years later she was elected to the Public Service Commission, where she became the first woman to serve as a Commissioner and, later, as the first woman to chair the Commission (1993-94).

She then served two terms as Lieutenant Governor and was elected Governor in 2004.

The official bio doesn't say much beyond what I've said here, but it's also worth noting (especially in the context of our course topic) her cajun heritage, giving us that nice segue into some cajun music to start the course with.

For an alternative bio, check out her entry in Wikipedia. Note the announcement at the top that "The neutrality of this article is disputed." Going to the "talk page" for the entry reveals an interesting (if sometimes tedious and mudslinging) discussion that raises some important points about what it means to be neutral in this sort of writing. While that discussion isn't always at the highest level, it does provide a nice example of a careful, critical reading of a text, and spending some time reading both the entry and the discussion would be worthwhile.