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October 26, 2004

Resolution: Sense of the House Motion The Rhetoric of the Open Hand and the Rhetoric of the Closed Fist

A Forum for Discussing the Iraqi Crisis and the War on Terror

In 1969, the United States was faced with a population divided over a war in Vietnam. Mass protests and counter protests were overtaking college campuses. Reflecting on that cultural moment, Edward Corbett published an article in CCCC which criticized the ways in which the rhetoric of the closed fist had overtaken the rhetoric of the open hand -- divisive language and confrontation had overtaken social debate and dialogue. He called upon teachers to create classrooms where open and informed dialogue could be modeled and enacted.

Today, in 2003, the United States again finds itself divided over war; once again, social debate is hardening into fixed positions. The events of September 11th have create a fundamental change in the terms and rhetoric which mark our domestic public debate; they have shifted how we speak about the international role of the United States. This fundamental change has impacted the work we undertake in our writing and rhetoric classrooms as well as our responsibility not only as teachers, but as public intellectuals as well. As teachers and intellectuals, we need to create classrooms that model open debate and dialogue. We need public forums where students and community members can be both informed and engaged as critically aware citizens. Our conference, then, occurs at an important time in the work our members.

As a service to the CCCC membership and as an opportunity to share insights and experiences, we propose that CCCC undertake the following initiatives:
1. Create a Webpage on its server which can both foster discussion among writing teachers about appropriate classroom practice and supply information materials suitable for use in classrooms concerning the Iraqi crisis.
2. Dedicate resources for campus-based teach-ins focusing on how to create a public rhetoric that fosters open debate and dialogue concerning the "War on Terror."
3. Create a special CCCC panel which will create a public statement on the current state of public debate on the war on terror and offer pragmatic ways our membership can foster open debate.

We realize that organizing such materials be easy nor without its own controversy. We believe, however, that CCCC has always understood its role as fostering public debate and informed discussion on issues of language and critical literacy. As CCCC returns to New York for the first time after the events of September 11th, as debates about Iraq dominate both inside and outside of our classrooms, we believe it is vital to create such a forum at our conference.

For that reason, we strongly urge the CCCC Executive Committee to create such an opportunity for its members in New York City.

Posted by sparks at October 26, 2004 10:21 PM

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