Truth, sorta

Francis was definitely right. We don't really remember much of what we hear. The notes I took from class yesterday don't really outline anything important. I have some key quotes, but nothing really springs "facts" into my head, other than the fact that we dissected the weight in truth that facts may or may not hold. Emotions are all I can remember and I believe that I can relay what it is that might have made me feel them.

At first, I was uncomfortable. I don't really care about heat too much because I can get used to heat, its temperature changes, as weird as it may sound, that really affect me. Going outside made me sweaty somewhat, but I didn't mind too much because it was so nice outside. Only good can come from fresh air...for the most part.

As the discussion began I noticed hesitance in our group. The difference between this class and my last class, Sex and Race in plays and Films, is obvious, but there is promise. Our classmates are open and opinionated, but not insensitive. We can have our ideas and our feelings and the consensus is one of acceptance, its the confidence to share our thoughts isn't really developed yet. Some might disagree, but ask yourself, were you the one confident? I felt comfortable, not confident, but I could see others holding back, which is fine. You can't tell everyone your secrets too early. I think TCKs can appreciate that more than most.

There were a few events that left "emotional" memories. I left the class with a sense of foreboding, not so much negative, but of genial apprehension. That might not make sense, but I was questioning what was in store for us as a group. What sticks out most in my mind is our discussion of truth. The idea itself is something I feel passionate about, and I can safely assume that most people who have given a rats ass to think would question what "truth" really means to them. That brings my mind to another thought.

Honestly, our discussion of journalism and the state of it today, definitely sparked thought. Francis's openness is something we all have to embrace. He's our teacher and it could be argued that his responsibility is to open himself first, but for this class to succeed we all have to become the teachers. Amazing stories and adventures aren't what people need, but passion and emotion. When someone talks with conviction, I could hear the emotion in his voice, they spread that feeling to other people. No matter how logical we as humans believe ourselves to be we are creatures controlled by our emotions. No scientist does their work because they feel dutied to do so, their motivation is their passion for the "truth" and the exploration of what fascinates them.

I disagree with Francis on some level. The emphasis on dates and numbers in history really unsettles me. Denying their influence isn't what I'm doing, its just what those dates and numbers mean that is throwing me off. I HATE memorizing things. It is something I loath. I remember dates and key numbers because they matter to me, they hold emotional importance. The only way those dates can be remember is for them to be remembered in the way they need to be remember, as actually emotional events involving real human lives like our own. I can't remember the name of my classmate who said that she learned history best when her class reenacted events, but that is such a powerful experience in making history your own. If we can create a emotional response in someone regarding a date or number then it will be remembered. Our feelings are remembered so much more vividly than anything else. As a matter of fact, I would feel confident in saying that the more emotion or passion we have about an event the more vivid it is when we recall it. If we can force people to make a fact their own then they will have no choice in remembering it or not.