As a continuation of today's conversation, you are invited to comment to the following points of conversation:
21 Comments
Peter Fink
10/12/2017 03:07:45 pm
I believe we should do more to involve people with opposing views in our conversations, and let people explain why they believe what they believe
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Luke
10/13/2017 05:06:47 pm
I agree. I would like to understand why people at the opposite end of the spectrum believe what they believe. I think it's hard for people who have conservative view points to voice their opinion because as I know I often tune them out. They are also outcasted and instead of people asking why, people talk behind their backs. I think it would be interesting to have a conversation with these people. It can only create understanding and that is what moves society forward.
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Owen
10/12/2017 03:14:05 pm
Students who hold strong conservative political beliefs and express their views in class are often mocked, not taken seriously, or ignored. I have a friend who holds many conservative viewpoints, and students often groan or shake their heads whenever he starts to speak, regardless of what he is going to say. People at Cleveland like to put on a mask of acceptance and tolerance, but the truth is that people often don’t respect people with other viewpoints. Instead of mocking and ignoring people with other views, ask them why they believe those views- their responses are often well thought out and intelligent.
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Braden
10/13/2017 04:35:10 pm
Exactly, it is like somebody said, Cleveland is very accepting if you look like us, talk like us, and think the same things as us.
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Luca Gregston
10/13/2017 01:29:39 pm
I think it is important that all viewpoints are in the conversations because we can learn more about what others feel about the topic and try to find compromise in discussing politics and make people feel less polarized. Politics should not be about polarization but trying to do find common ground and fixing are present day problems. We need to remember that not all conservatives think alike. Many have different views than Trump or the Republican party.
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Jamie
10/13/2017 07:14:34 pm
I think that in regards to religion, students at Cleveland are more sympathetic and opening to people whose religious beliefs are often attacked in the media, such as Muslims. However, a "mainstream" religion such as Christianity may be looked down upon if the person following that religion speaks their mind too loudly/strongly.
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Linnea R.
10/16/2017 10:38:49 pm
I agree. People following a "mainstream" religion seem to be grouped together and subjected to general assumptions and stereotypes - most often ones that come from the media, which tend to be negative. Then, whatever was said in the media becomes the only thing that some people hear about that religion. Instead of making assumptions, we should realize that there are many different branches of faith within one "main" religion and that not everyone shares the same beliefs. One religion is not superior to another.
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Tiffany Vo
10/17/2017 08:43:10 pm
This makes me think about a previous class when Ms. Hughes brought up fashionable religions. Buddhism was brought up as an example, and I agreed with her. I hate that I do but I agree. Another way to look at mainstream religion is that they are a part of group of things protected under the umbrella titled, Things Westerners Have Declared "Cool." What frustrates me is how one group whose opinions are highly valued than others in society can take things from another culture (in which those elements of their culture were once what the "superior" group would tease/exclude them for having) and make it trendy. Cleveland is definitely open to new ideas and beliefs, sure. A few also seem to be incredibly ignorant about the historical connotation behind the new beliefs and ideas they take in. In simple terms, the mainstream sucks.
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Jasper Whelan
10/14/2017 12:26:27 pm
Even when not having a direct or conversation, our reactions still have an impact. The way we comment on and mock a newsclip can be certainly intimidating. As soon as we hear something we don't like, I see it being shutdown without a second thought. We tear it apart, and nothing stops us from doing so. The person or group that we are reacting to is not there in the room with us, and in most cases this means that we do not have to consider their feelings or emotions as we would in a normal conversation.
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Erica Luu
10/14/2017 12:36:03 pm
I do not think Cleveland is an open environment to beliefs and ideas. There are many students that have strong religious beliefs and or unpopular political views, and they all face issues with being able to express them. We may put up signs about being accepting or inviting to all people and all ideas, however in reality it does not seem like so. I know of a situation that has been brought to attention to the administration of the school that deeply effects students of one identification. However, the administration has made jokes of it and avoided addressing the issue at hand. I feel as if the students who hold deep religious views or conservative views are all silenced from expressing their opinions.
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Ms.Hughes
10/14/2017 02:39:04 pm
Thank you to those who have posted thus far, and thanks to those who will weigh in. What do all of you think about sending this forum thread to the CHS administrative team? Or the school climate team? The latter is a group of teachers/admin working on making the school a more inclusive, tolerant, communicative, and functional place of business (education being our business).
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Ian
10/14/2017 07:09:55 pm
Cleveland is not a community that is open to all ideas or beliefs. From what I've seen anybody who does not have liberal beliefs are seen as intolerent and not given a chance to speak or explain they're beliefs.
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Elsie
10/15/2017 12:31:31 pm
I do not think that Cleveland is as open to all beliefs and ideas as we like to think we are. Most of the climate at Cleveland is very liberal and liberal people tend to pride themselves in being open to all ideas and beliefs yet when an idea that is not liberal is brought up, the same people who say they are open to all beliefs will attack that idea. I have seen this less with religious beliefs and more with political beliefs.
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Ellie
10/16/2017 02:19:52 pm
I do however think that this is extremely apparent in the religious beliefs too. In many ways people believe that being liberal and religious can not go hand in hand. So when someone says that they are religious, no matter the religion, people associate them with the people of religion that mainstream media shows us. And the majority of the time the media is showing the negative things that happen in religion, and as a result people of religion are being shut down in our Cleveland community, because there are assumptions being made about them, assumptions that put them in the same boat as everyone else which isn't necessarily true.
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Lyle
10/16/2017 06:22:30 pm
Cleveland tends to be characterized by a very liberal political climate. I think we often make the mistake of thinking that just because we're liberal we are accepting of everyone. However, this is obviously not the case, it takes more effort than saying you're accepting of others to actually be accepting of others. You have to actually make an environment where people who may have minority beliefs or views aren't just tolerated, but given room to freely express their ideas and opinions as any one in the majority would. I think Cleveland lives in this impossible dreamworld where we believe that tolerating or at least not showing our distaste in others' views is enough, but it's not.
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Rosa Christen
10/16/2017 08:37:31 pm
I agree. The few times I've actually had a logical conversation with someone with more conservative political views, I've discovered that a lot of their frustrations and beliefs spawn from the same issues that my more liberal beliefs spawn from. Through this rational I actually have been able to, on several occasions, reason with them and get a better understanding of why they believe what they believe. And, a few times, I've actually changed my mind about some things as well as changed a few minds myself.
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Sarah
10/16/2017 07:47:35 pm
While I do not think Cleveland is necessarily a place where all beliefs can be shared openly without anyone being shut down, I think that we are also hard on the administrative teams and a lot of our student body. It's important to keep in mind that there are people working very hard to fight against the very deep threads of hatefulness and oppressiveness in our society. I think by looking at ONLY the bad sides of this topic, we miss the people working so hard to change it. That is not to say we don't have problems that need to be talked about, and I agree that those should be prioritized but we need to also keep with us the positive aspects.
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Cleo
10/16/2017 07:51:44 pm
Even in classes like HOTA or Gov, where the teacher is meant to speak in an unbiased way and not show support for one candidate over another, I find that a level of bias definitely makes it into the teaching.
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Claire M
10/16/2017 09:33:09 pm
Because we only see extremist views in media, we struggle to differentiate that extreme intolerance and close-mindedness from the average deeply religious or conservative person. Part of this idea is perpetuated by the way we often watch videos in class of people who identify with one of those groups saying hateful or ridiculous things. We should watch more videos that contrast these ideas, especially ones that show that deeply religious or conservative views are not automatically ridiculous or based out of intolerance, by showing people who identify under these groups who are making intelligent statements and offering different perspectives.
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Ava Sandler
10/16/2017 10:50:23 pm
I do not believe that Cleveland is open to all beliefs and ideas. The Cleveland school environment is generally liberal, and because of this, we assume we are open and accepting. This is however not always the case. It is hard to accept and understand an idea that is not the popular opinion here at Cleveland or anywhere. At our school, if someone has a more politically right winged or conservative view, it could be very difficult to share this openly. Since Cleveland has mostly liberal attitudes within its school culture, accepting all religions is a part of that. I do believe, however, that it is still challenging for the religious minority to feel completely accepted and valued. It is important that our school continue to address these issues.
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Nick Paesler
10/17/2017 07:48:02 pm
Cleveland, to me, has always been a very accepting environment to the liberal ideals and values in the United States. Cleveland, and Portland, in a greater sense, hold the majority of left-looking citizens and students. Cleveland is also diverse in the sense of interests and backgrounds, however, 'usual' followings exist on religion (or lack thereof). I have to say that Cleveland would be somewhat of a difficult place to express conservative views as the majority of the student body reflects liberal views. I do see that as a barrier in the school climate. Cleveland wants to be, and should be open to all beliefs and ideals, however, at the same time the majority beliefs and values seem to tower above the minority beliefs and values.
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