Brittany Liu Blog #8 Reflection On The Process

In my very first blog entitled "Science of Humanity" I discussed the connection between nationalism and communities.  I said that "communities are formed from nationalism and they are imagined through the kinship of humanity."  Humanistic qualities link people together regardless of race or ethnicity and serve as the base of a community that is sustained by nationalism.  I feel that my community is within the U.S. not necessarily because I was born here, but because of the deep connections I have made with  my friends and family.  Throughout the course my belief in the community based on the natural collectiveness of humanity has been reaffirmed through our films and activities.  In Amigo the natives are invaded by the oppressive Americans.  Although the Americans rule over the natives, they actually become integrated into their community.  They learn the ways of the natives by taking part in their festivities and one young soldier even tries to create a real relationship with one of the young female natives.  Although they are different races and are from different countries, the bonds of humanity blur their line of division.
Of course, within our class we have many different races and backgrounds, but through our bridge activities we have found where we are connected.  I think one factor that is holding us back as a community is the setting that we're in.  In many classrooms the desks are arranged in individual rows and columns that separate each individual.  Sometimes school can seem just about getting the grade and then putting it on the transcript.  Yes, there are group projects, but what really matters is the final individual test that leaves you thinking about how well you did in the class and not about how well the group performed.  In the end it is only you who gets the grade.  I know I have this problem of just thinking about myself during school because I want to do well.  Having this self-oriented mind does not work well when forming a community.  What I propose (if possible) is to take our learning outside of the classroom.  By changing our setting, our minds will separate from the constraints of school and turn our class into a community.  The classroom setting creates the parameters of a group, but it is the interactions of the people when the parameters are pulled down that make it an imagined community.