For This Assignment, I Ask That You Interview Someone Who Is

For This Assignment I Ask That You Interview Someone Who Is Different

For this assignment, I ask that you interview someone who is different than you. In an attempt at discovering the ‘truth’ and ‘otherness’ of others, Wallace Bacon, a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Emerson College in 1975, wrote that the liberal arts, or humanities, “are concerned with the question of what makes life worth living. And that question concerns not simply oneself but others. The humanities must help us learn who we are; they must help us learn the otherness of others.” In this light, describe an encounter with someone or something different—an “other”—which revealed to you your sense of self and your relation to humanity on a grand scale. This encounter will involve talking and learning about another human.

You are asked to write a 4-5 page, double-spaced final paper on your encounter with someone different, someone outside your everyday life or culture. To accomplish this, I ask that you interview someone from a different background than your own. This could mean that they practice another religion than you or that they are from a different culture or country. In your interview, you will be asking them the big questions about life that we have been examining over the months together, such as: what is love? What happens to us when we die? What is happiness? Your questions and their answers will compose the body of the paper and then I ask that you include an introduction to the assignment as well as a conclusion/reflection of this assignment. I understand that this paper may be challenging to some of you, but don’t be afraid to use your creativity and imagination and branch out. Maybe you could use this assignment as a tool to finally talk to someone at your job that you have always been curious about. The topic is broad on purpose to get you thinking about humanity on a grand scale, your role in it, and getting closer to the 'truth.'

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will recount an enlightening encounter with a person from a vastly different cultural background than my own, which significantly deepened my understanding of human diversity and my own sense of self within the broader human community. The interview was conducted with Maria, a woman originally from Venezuela, who practices a distinct religious faith and holds cultural traditions unlike those in my immediate environment. This dialogue aimed to explore some of life's profound questions—what is love, what happens after death, and what constitutes happiness—affirming Wallace Bacon’s assertion that the humanities help us understand both ourselves and others.

The conversation began with the fundamental question: "What is love?" Maria explained that love, in her cultural context, is a divine gift intertwined with community and familial bonds. Unlike the stereotypical Western notion of romantic love as an individual pursuit, her view emphasized compassion, sacrifice, and collective well-being. She described love as a spiritual connection rooted in her faith, which guides her daily life and relationships. Listening to her, I recognized how cultural narratives shape conceptions of love, challenging my assumptions and broadening my perspective.

Next, I asked her about what happens after death. Maria shared her religious beliefs rooted in Catholicism and indigenous traditions, emphasizing the importance of the soul’s journey and divine judgment. She spoke of a life after death where the soul is rewarded or punished based on earthly actions. Her depiction contrasted with my secular worldview, prompting me to reflect on the diversity of beliefs concerning mortality. Her faith provided her with hope and meaning, illustrating how spiritual beliefs serve as vital frameworks for understanding life's ultimate questions.

The final big question, "What is happiness?" elicited a heartfelt response. Maria described happiness as inner peace and harmony within her community, achievable through faith, family, and service to others. She explained that material possessions are secondary to spiritual fulfillment and human connections. Her perspective resonated with many philosophical discussions about the nature of happiness, but her emphasis on community and spiritual purpose underscored the importance of cultural context in defining well-being.

This interview revealed the profound ways in which cultural backgrounds shape individuals' perceptions of life's fundamental questions. It challenged my assumptions about love, death, and happiness, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse worldviews to foster empathy and global-mindedness. The encounter also made me reflect on my own beliefs and how they are influenced by my cultural environment, highlighting the interconnectedness of personal identity and cultural heritage.

In conclusion, this experience has reinforced the vital role that genuine dialogue and intercultural understanding play in the pursuit of shared human truths. As Bacon suggests, the humanities serve as a bridge connecting us to others and to ourselves, revealing the richness of human diversity. Through engaging with someone different, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the myriad ways in which people find meaning, love, and hope across cultural divides. This assignment has not only expanded my worldview but also strengthened my commitment to compassionate understanding and dialogue in my personal and professional life.

References

• Bacon, W. (1975). Humanities and the search for human meaning. Emerson College Journal.
• Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books.
• Levinas, E. (1969). Totality and Infinity. Duquesne University Press.
• Nussbaum, M. (1997). Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education. Harvard University Press.
• Vaughan, F. (2004). The Human Encounter with Death. Harvard University Press.
• Kabbani, R. (2018). Perspectives on Cultural Diversity. Routledge.
• Appiah, K. A. (2006). Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. Guilford Press.
• Wilson, E. O. (2012). The Social Conquest of Earth. Liveright Publishing.
• Noddings, N. (2003). Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics & Moral Education. University of California Press.