Reaching Out Across Differences (by Seth Naicker)
I have paid keen interest to this current presidential race. Being from another country, the whole process is quite fascinating and emotive, as gifted rhetoric and track records are flaunted for the public eye and reflection.
However, as much as the presidential race and electoral process in North America is capturing and intense, a person who is listening closely to the issues and policies presented will find him or herself quite confused by the arguments that are presented by candidates and speakers from both the Republican Party and Democratic Party.
In South Africa there are several political parties, whilst for most U.S. citizens there are only three choices. I have views and beliefs and I am sure that every other person has a thought or viewpoint about the way life should operate. But, amidst all the viewpoints and perspectives there must be a call for a celebrating of the other, whoever the other may be.
This past July, my wife and I facilitated our third delegation of project Heita South Africa on an experiential learning assignment. The assignment involved learning related to inclusivity, diversity, justice, and reconciliation. Delegates from Bethel University and networking partners within the Twin Cities over the last three years have been journeying on an experiential learning adventure.
Author Charles Marsh, in Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer, explains:
Bonhoeffer argues that the integrity of the other, the other's irreducibility to the I -- "to my thoughts and possessions" -- can only be realized in a social, ethical dynamic. When I am encountered by the dialogical other in ethical action, I am arrested in my own attempts to master the world; for in responding to the call of the Thou, I am taken out of myself and repositioned in relation with the other. I no longer control the other, nor does the other control me, but we both discover our individual and social identities in the place of our difference" (1994, p. 69).
Marsh's description of people engaging the difference in each other is very much what has transpired with our delegates journeying to South Africa. Differences are engaged between fellow delegates as well as people across the oceans in South Africa. As learners, project Heita South Africa delegates have been thrust into a place that called each person out of their comfort zones, out of grounded foundationalist thinking, into the wondrous arena of engaging the other, where as Marsh explains, one is encountered by the dialogical other in ethical action.
This notion of entering into dialogue with people who think and operate differently must not be taken for granted, for it is seldom put to practice and rarely becomes a reality. In this current presidential race and election fever, may people amidst all the politics seek to enter the dialogical space, where we see and understand that our humanity is bound up in one another.
Seth Naicker is an activist for justice and reconciliation from South Africa. He is currently studying and working at Bethel University, in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the program and projects director for the Office of Reconciliation Studies. He can be reached at seth-naicker@bethel.edu or smnaick@hotmail.com
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Comments
Thx, Seth...a correction and a comment...
"However, as much as the presidential race and electoral process in North America is capturing and intense..."
The presidential race and electoral process is actually only in the United States, not North America, Canada has our own national election on Oct 14. But you've learned well that most Americans essentially consider Canada the 51st state...
Nonetheless, that being said, it's interesting to note that today when it was announced that our candidates for Prime Minister would be having a television debate on October 2, there was an immediate outcry from Canadians that that's the same night as Joe Biden and Sarah Palin are having the VP debate. I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to what that means...
Posted by: canucklehead | September 9, 2008 1:08 PM
Dolores,
I'm not sure what you're saying, or why you chose to say it here. Are you commenting on the issue of diversity, of people who think differently learning to listen to one another?
Are you saying you've found the formula for determining acceptable Christian nature, to the exclusion of others?
Posted by: openeyes | September 9, 2008 10:44 PM
When I encounter phrases such as "experiential learning adventure" and "the dialogical space", I know that frivolous nonsense is expounded. Blah! - it's like gargling the contents of an ashtray.
Regarding the quote from Marsh, I note that Mr. Naicker has exploited the same to turn Bonhoeffer on his head. Like C.S. Lewis, Bonhoeffer argued that most disputes demark a common ground of beliefs shared by both disputants. For example, if Christianity requires that all wealth be shared, then Christianity also requires that there be wealth to share and that men labor to create wealth. Not surprisingly, Christians who dispute the first proposition agree with the second two.
The second two propositions demark the common ground while the first demarks the "diversity" between the disputants. Therefore, if the "dialogical space" solely comprises the disputed proposition, then it necessarily excludes the common ground and consequently cannot demark the space where some accord can be reached between the disputes, all "experiential learning adventures" notwithstanding. Arguing otherwise is to engage in intellectual chicanery, which to my eyes is the driving motive and purpose of Sojourners.
Posted by: Robert Bennett | September 10, 2008 5:28 AM
Robert Bennett: "Arguing otherwise is to engage in intellectual chicanery, which to my eyes is the driving motive and purpose of Sojourners."
I ask this in all sincerity: then why are you here?
Posted by: carl copas | September 10, 2008 3:33 PM
Seth, A great, concise and appropriate article. Excellent bridge building and networking. Congratulations for getting published in a valid new medium.
The very purpose our the present discussion in USA politics is unfortunately not at all for understanding the other side, but to overcome the other side. So there is little attempt to engage the other - just to speak past them, twist their words back on them and create trouble. It is doubly sad that the "Party of God" seems to be the most intent on this and in destroying the other party, rather than to learn a thing or to seek any middle ground.... it is just to meet, conflict, win points, and depart.
This election campaign process is a tragic display of dangerous people on their way to tear down what was a great nation before the blinder forces of cheap or misplaced nationalism took control of the leadership positions and have behaved to make national reconciliation possible among Christians of both major parties. And many Christian leaders seem to be part of the process rather than being any part of any possible reconciliation. It would take some serious repentance from all sides to make any kind of constructive discussion possible.
You have made a most astute comment. Who will hear you?
Posted by: Herb Klem | September 10, 2008 9:41 PM
In seeking to differentiate South America from North America, I should have taken account of North America comprising of Mexico, USA & Canada. I have a sister from Canada who would not be pleased with my over simplification of North America.
However, for the dialogical space that I address and have seen in action, I believe Jesus entered into such a space with those who were different to him, Jesus did so with tax collectors, and samarian woman.
The dialogical allows the recognition of difference but it is a space, that I believe God calls us to as we go about loving the other and surrendering our right to judge.
In a time when people will become heated and emtional about their differences, could it be that we will see the power of embracing the other and the difference and leave the judgement to God.
Let us continue reaching out across the difference, not ignoring the difference, but neither allowing for the difference to divide.
Seth Naicker
Posted by: seth naicker | September 11, 2008 1:14 AM
In regard to Mr. Bennett's complaint about "experiential learning adventure" and "dialogic space," I note that he engages in "intellectual chicanery" by reducing Seth's discussion of diverse people's identities and relations to a matter of propositions, which is not what Seth was talking about. Since propositions appear to be all that exist in Mr. Bennett's universe, I can understand his disdain for experiential learning involving the whole person. In the quote from Marsh, propositions are not the focus, and common ground IS present in the "social, ethical dynamic" of empathy and respect for the unique personhood of the Other. We might put it most simply as the Golden Rule -- that most universal of ethical principles.
John
Posted by: John Hatch | September 11, 2008 11:47 AM
Moving from "reaching out across differences" to the redemption and healing of injustices tied to difference: At Seth's invitation, I am posting a link to my forthcoming book on racial reconciliation, called Race and Reconciliation: Redressing Wounds of Injustice. My disclaimer is that it was written for use in graduate study and beyond, so you may not find its style or price accessible. There are plenty of good and highly accessible books on racial reconciliation out there. But since Seth invited me to mention my book here, I'm posting the link to the publisher's webpage: http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com/isbn/0739121529.
Posted by: John Hatch | September 11, 2008 11:56 AM
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