My thoughts on Henry Giroux's lecture...

My thoughts on Henry Giroux's lecture were a mix of both inspiration and excitement. I particularly enjoyed hearing his ideas and motivation on keeping the young population engaged in the path to social change. Phrases like "Taking responsibility for our responsibility" and "Intellectual terrorism" really stood out to me. Further, our understanding of the issues that we need to resolve must begin with us actually thinking about the issues in depth. By sitting and talking about poverty, for example, we cannot change poverty. But, by understanding the issues through (as Freire would call it) 'praxis', we can at least take a side. From this, the larger public issues can be related to our own individual problems, which personalizes different issues in a way that may inspire us to feel as though change is needed. I particularly enjoyed his comment on "individual inconveniences must become public issues" so that collectively transformation can take place. Addressing racism, classism, sexism, with our own experiences does have its place in a wider social change. Finally, I was pleased to hear more motivation regarding how crucial it is for social activists or people wanting change in general, to not give up or leave the cause because social transformation is not going to take place by tomorrow. It is the seeds that we plant (or that we are), which will grow to be sources of nourishment and hope for the generations to come!

Tanmay Dave