It's almost insane to think how many implications Tannen has given towards our culture even within the first chapter of "Argument Culture." I found myself contemplating her words, agreeing with almost everything she said.
Almost immediately after finishing the chapter, I visited my Facebook page and noticed a post by one of my friends about the comment a religious Christian man, notorious for his claims about people bringing tragedies upon themselves, said about the people of Haiti. The video connected to the post exposed the story and the controversial words that the man had said, and included comments from those who disagreed with him. It completely ties back to Tanner's claims that something is either right or wrong in our culture, that we are more interested in conflict and saying that our own views are better than others. In the video, no reason was given for any disagreement; it was merely stated again and again in a snooty tone that the religious man must be some kind of a nut -- even that he was the "devil himself." Instead of listening to any reasoning on either side of the issue, views were dismissed and counted as absurd.
Very intriguing that Tannen can be so positively correct -- yet, she'd probably be annoyed with that very notion. Man, it's so hard to agree with her without doing the very thing she herself is against. Hmm.
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Yes, I've felt the same dilemma. Agree with her and you're in an argument. It works that way in class, too.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, she's opened my eyes to metaphors I often use . . . ones of argument with battle the underlying meaning. Argument as in a lawyer (which also involves beating the opposing argument).
Interesting about the video. I suppose that's the one you mentioned yesterday as prompting your idea for the report on Christianity in the media.
One element we didn't talk about yesterday is that the media often cover those who make extreme statements. Lots of Christian churches are flooding aid to Haiti with no trumpeting of that aid or of their views.
It's an interesting topic.
Gordon