endsthegame (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2019-07-04 12:42 pm
endsthegame) wrote in fandomhigh2019-07-04 12:42 pm
Entry tags:
Practical Philosophy, Thursday
"I'm seeing a lot of familiar faces," Ender said, as he sank down on a blanket with a bottle of water on the school lawn. "To those of you who were in this class last time: welcome back.
"To those of you who weren't, welcome. This is Practical Philosophy. We don't have text books, and we don't discuss the great thinkers, unless they happen to come up for discussion. This class is here for us to reflect on the things that happen around us, the things that happen to us, and how we view them. I'll raise a topic every class, if possible, but the floor is always open for us to talk about anything that's on your mind."
He sat back. "This is an active class, so I expect you to participate. But we might discuss topics that make you uncomfortable, or that hew close to something you feel strongly about. Know that it's always fine to do nothing but ask questions of, or otherwise engage with, your fellow classmates. Being a little uncomfortable is important for all of us to grow, but not to the point where it causes you real distress."
He considered the class.
"As for today, well, last weekend was Pride weekend. It's a celebration, in a way, of those of us who don't quite fit into a normative mold of sexuality or gender, or both. But it's also a gesture of defiance to a world that still too-quickly tries to eradicate everything that falls outside a narrow band of human experience."
He took a swig of his bottle of water and screwed the cap back on. "I'm going to tell you up front: the humanity and the right to exist in freedom of people who don't fit in this band - straight, cis, and in this part of the world, white - are not, and will never be, up for debate in this class," he said. "But I am interested in your thoughts. What is considered the norm where you're from? How are those outside of it treated? How do you feel about that?"
"To those of you who weren't, welcome. This is Practical Philosophy. We don't have text books, and we don't discuss the great thinkers, unless they happen to come up for discussion. This class is here for us to reflect on the things that happen around us, the things that happen to us, and how we view them. I'll raise a topic every class, if possible, but the floor is always open for us to talk about anything that's on your mind."
He sat back. "This is an active class, so I expect you to participate. But we might discuss topics that make you uncomfortable, or that hew close to something you feel strongly about. Know that it's always fine to do nothing but ask questions of, or otherwise engage with, your fellow classmates. Being a little uncomfortable is important for all of us to grow, but not to the point where it causes you real distress."
He considered the class.
"As for today, well, last weekend was Pride weekend. It's a celebration, in a way, of those of us who don't quite fit into a normative mold of sexuality or gender, or both. But it's also a gesture of defiance to a world that still too-quickly tries to eradicate everything that falls outside a narrow band of human experience."
He took a swig of his bottle of water and screwed the cap back on. "I'm going to tell you up front: the humanity and the right to exist in freedom of people who don't fit in this band - straight, cis, and in this part of the world, white - are not, and will never be, up for debate in this class," he said. "But I am interested in your thoughts. What is considered the norm where you're from? How are those outside of it treated? How do you feel about that?"
Re: Talk.
Re: Talk.
Re: Talk.
Norman considered that, considered who it was he had been at eleven, who he had been at six, and he nodded a little.
"I have no idea who I'll be in another five years," he conceded. "I definitely didn't think I'd be here making friends and participating in class discussions a few years back."
He had kind of low-key been making plans to follow in his crazy great uncle's footsteps and run off to hide from humanity - or at least the living portion of it - for the rest of his days. Maybe with less ranting and raving about the end times or whatever.
Re: Talk.
Re: Talk.
"It's less to worry about, I guess," Norman allowed. "Not thinking about whether I'll still be comfortable with myself in the future, I mean."
Re: Talk.
Re: Talk.
"I'll be sure to let people know if I figure out the trick to it," Norman replied, smiling faintly. "I guess we'll see what time brings."