Love not hate? The KKK? Did I miss something?
If language use can and does shape reality, is it possible that through a change in discourse, that the KKK can change or is changing? Is it possible that we are seeing the evolution of tolerance, albeit slow, within this organization?
Now certainly there is a whole lot more to this discourse than meets the eye. Anyone with a basic knowledge of the KKK will undoubtedly remain skeptical of their motives and messages. But again, I ask, can the introduction of this rhetoric effect a “positive” change on a “negative” organization?
PT 2.
If anything, this class has made me realize just how susceptible I am to the effects of discourse. In no way would I consider myself gullible... more like dependent on the "powers" in my life to dictate my reality. We live in such such a media rich world that it's easy to become bombarded and overwhelmed and taken in by discourse.
So with new resolve, I vow to spend a little less time watching the TV and surfing the net and a little more time walking my dog (we have the best conversations...)
3 comments:
I feel the same way after taking this class. I didn't realize how much language and discourse affect almost every part of my day to day life. It's definitely something I pay more attention to now.
I have to agree that you don't realize the power of words until you really start to look at them. You have to analysis everything you read from the media, because they have there own agenda. But once you learn the tricks, your better able to see the bias in what you read.
I like how you leave the KKK at an open end. Can discourse take a negatively looked at organization and reverse or attempt to change its appearance to the world? We're always going to be skeptical though as is human nature and as much as any change may appear it will always hold a negative historical background. There is always hope in the world around us.
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