[Air-l] Our VT colleagues

[Ellis Godard]

The promotion of "social participation and understanding" (whatever that
might mean) necessarily reinforces the social and sociological significance
of variation in participation and understanding. Such a promotion may, then,
backfire, both by further isolating those not affected by the promotion
*and* by highlighting their difference(s) from others. 

Consider high school prep rallies. They bring many folks together, but also
elucidate and enunciate boundaries between boosters and those disinterested
or opposed, and so are the subject of not only celebration but scorn. 

Sing "Kumbaya" all you like; those not singing, might be offended enough to
open fire. :(

-eg

> -----Original Message-----
> From: air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-
> bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of William Bain
> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 11:35 PM
> To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
> Subject: Re: [Air-l] Our VT colleagues
> 
> The real tragedy is to assume that as an association and as individuals
> we can do nothing to affect the root causes of events like those at
> Virginia Tech. I know that AOIR promotes social participation and
> understanding among people in general. And I feel sure that colleagues
> on this list are at work on many of the psychological aspects
> underlying violent behavior. But obviously it's not always enough to
> depend on that, even if you felt like everything possible were being
> done, which probably no one here does. Personally, I am not up to date
> on studies of rampant violence and related causes and I'd welcome
> information on things. something like expert opinion on approaches that
> hold new promise.