smilewithsh's blog

I agree with aphorisnt and I also find myself thinking about today's conversation and processing today--and this whole semester. I too feel as if there are times I didn't really allow for absolute and complete porosity of my life, my thoughts, my pursuit of the knowledge and learning we were doing in context to the class and the space that was created with this 360 dynamic.  I was used to compartamentalizing. I was scared to used Serendip, to have my voice and my words being so naked and out there. What if I was wrong? But then, I kept thinking of the progress I felt I had gained in my own experiences. I hesitate even know to bring it back to my own experience. It seems too centric of me, me, me. But that is also the only way I could frame being in this 360. Today, when we were writing, I was at a loss for words. I found myself too facing the tiger, language failing me. But I remembered, I remembered that when all is said and done, when everything has happened, when we plan and go about life, no matter what the end result is, no matter how hard or difficult or twisty and curvy the path may have been to get where you are, my mother always reminded to take a step back to say alhumdullilah. Thanks be to God. Thanks doesn't become to cover the sentiment and connotation of alhumdullilah. In it's purest form it's aknowledging the existence and utter nature of this world as being just the way it is. Sometimes, I think about how our environment shapes us. What does is truly mean to be "eco-literate" ?

I think when it comes to creating a platform for conversation, there are many aspects to remain mindful of to ensure some sort productive dialogue. However, even that phrase, “productive dialogue”, I feel can have a layered meaning.  Sometimes, even an incredibly problematic, unproductive, skewed, or even downright absurd dialogue in regards to any topic, not just meat-eaters vs. vegetarianism, can have so much value. I find value in knowing how I don’t want certain conversations to go. I find value in having experiences that make me realize what I think isn’t right, or productive, or problematic. For example, I read the The Lives of Animals with Jenna, and whenever we would get to a part the either shocked us, bothered us, intrigued us, etc, we would show one another and discuss it.  Through trying to follow Elizabeth’s argument and point of view, and disagreeing and feeling frustrated at points with the strange deadlock dichotomy between vegetarianism and meat-eaters, I was able to gather and form my own ideas in where I could perhaps place myself on this spectrum of this debate.  I agree with Kelsey’s sentiments of perhaps we place too much emphasis on dialogue sometimes, and perhaps in a way where the emphasis is more so on the end result of the dialogue, rather than the experience itself. Simply reading this excerpt, “However, there are still animals we hate. Rats, for instance. Rats haven’t surrendered. They fight back.

It seemed as if the weather was beckoning us to ditch the vans and go for a nice walk in the sun. It’s amazing how dependent my mood has become on the weather, but I loved walking off campus with the rest of the group and David to Harriton house. I could feel spring just around the corner, trying to come out. I made a sheep friend, that we named Sheldon! He was very sweet and he loved posing in pictures with us. We even took a selfie with him! Or should I say “shelfie”. His friend was a little sassier, and we named her Petunia. After wandering around for a little and observing. I sat down on the ground and closed my eyes and just listened to the sounds around me. David pointed out the signs of “humans” still in nature, when we would hear the occasional sound of a car, or the sound of machinery.  But there were points where it was quiet enough to hear the trees rustling and the soft sounds of the sheep and the not so soft sounds of the chickens could be heard. I kept thinking about how tall the trees were and how happy they looked. I’m glad they were standing tall and strong, after a tough winter.  I loved this impromptu trip, I loved David’s willingness to take us somewhere locally, and I definitely intend on making a trip back to Harriton house soon!

S.A

S.A.

            “I contend that this sense of deep connectedness, of being saturated with nature, yet unique and separate, is one of the core gifts of middle childhood. The sense of continuity provides the foundation for an empathic relationship with the natural world. The sense of separateness provides a sense of agency, of being able to take responsible action for the natural world. The deep bond creates a commitment to lifelong protection. The next question might be, Are these experiences really specific to childhood?” (Sobel, 15) Sobel comments on the idea of connectedness and separateness.  Both different feelings that work together to form a sense of commitment and care for the environment.  From a personal standpoint, my “seperatedness” and “connectedness” would mix and mingle from the different places I would be in growing up and the back and forth between a very spiritual environment and a ‘natural’ one.   

Shamial

2/15/14

This is something interesting I came across that reminded me of what Anne showed us the first day of class!

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/nobuttsorg_anticigarette_butt_pollution_campaign_rabbit

Shamial Ahmad

ENG 216: Re-Creating Our World

January 25th, 2014

Home and Belonging

            ‘”Where are you from?””  This question no matter how often it may be asked of me always throws me off a little bit. Where am I, Shamial as a person from? Well, that could be a lot of places. I could be from the city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle that replaced my parents native land of Pakistan when they migrated to the United States. I could say I’m from New York City since that was where I was born. OR perhaps I could even say I’m from down south. Andalusia, Alabama, my home for 5 years; population 9,000.  My most distinct memory of Alabama was the pond in our backyard that I would throw things in my when parents weren’t looking. There was just something appealing to 5 year old Shamial seeing rocks, sticks, and one time my Juicy Juice juice box, be at the  top of the pond and then sink to the bottom.  And the most wonderful swing I had hanging for a large tree in our front yard.  I also vividly remember that tree having fallen on top of our garage when Hurricane Opal came through. We moved a little after that.