This is the page for Learning Team A

Good afternoon Gail and Jeff!  This is my first official blog...ever!  I hope the two of you are having a nice day.  I am.  It's a beautiful day here in Spokane.  90 degrees.  I thought last evening's class was interesting.  Frankly, I didn't think it was going to take us that long to come to a consensus about the issue at hand.  I'm not overly enthusiastic in general about policy, but I enjoyed the topic.  I don't have time to post a lot, as I'm off to a XC BBQ.  Should be enjoyable on a fine summer evening!  Best....Susan

From Gail.....

From British Columbia and after hiking down the slopes that I 

usually ski down, class certainly has a different perspective.  In 

fact, I think that is a good metaphor for my views on class and our 

group work.  The slopes that are usually covered in snow, were filled 

with wild flowers, cattle and kids on mountain bikes.  I had to look 

for the familiar curves and trees, but in a different season.  

Similarly, our work on the policy issue was conducted from history 

and habits.  We stuck to what we knew and the identities that make us 

comfortable, myself included.  However, what James asked us to do, 

was not what we did.  The contrasting group reports provided that 

evidence.  Stone's work asks us to look at things differently and I 

am not sure we did the best job.  The one thing that really saddens 

me and I hope teaches me, is that we left people out of the 

Presbyterian discussion.  Susan was brought up Catholic and Trish 

shared her Methodist background.  They were left out of the 

discussion big time.  I am willing to get uncomfortable next time and 

stretch out of my comfort zone more.

From Jeffrey...

Greetings to both of you. The trip back out today was just fine and danday...warm, sunny, windows down, sunroof back and enjoying the gently sloping hills of WA state. Ready to dig in tonight. I know I am late with this response but Gail I see it a bit differently. I believe it is not my or our responsibility to ensure that others "step-up and step-out" to express their viewpoints. For example, I will express my opinion where and when I feel I have something to contribute. I can't expect others to feel concerned for me when I'm choosing not to be involved in the conversation. If Susan and Trish were adamant about expressing their viewpoints then we had a wonderful forum to do just that. Perhaps my thought on this emerges from years of being overly sensitive to "including and drawing others in to the loop" when, in reality, my need to draw others in was informed by my own insecurities, feelings and percpetions....not the feelings of others. I support your thoughts on this in that it is always important to be thoughtful of others as well as of the process itself. However, at this point in my own journey, I see it a bit differently.