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.Training..Handout
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A
rose by any other name might smell like garlic
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| The
late Sister Theresa of Calcutta slums fame, was asked by some reporters,
“Sister, you always have such a positive attitude. Do you not have
any problems?” |
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Her
reply? “Yes, like everyone else, I do, but I rename them.
I call them gifts.” |
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| In
sociology, we are aware that the language we learn determines our reality. |
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This
is called is called the Sapir-Whorf
hypothesis. |
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| From
the time of the books, Animal Farm, and 1984, the world has known that
governments can rename departments and events to change our perspective
on interpreting them. |
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Orwell
called this “Newspeak.” In more recent times, we call it spin
doctoring, where governments engaged in shameful or nefarious activities,
rename those activities to defuse the negative public reaction. |
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| The
term “collateral damage,” for example, invented by the American Government,
is used to identify the killing and maiming of innocent people standing
by, including women, children, and other non combatants, when there is
some bombing in civilian areas. |
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These
negative examples show how the phenomenon can be used for wrong purposes.
Since the phenomenon is known, however, there is no reason why we cannot
use them for right reasons. |
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| There
are always problems during mobilization. Volunteers and contributors
promise and fail. People do not show up to meetings. Information is mis
communicated. People with vested interests (in the old unfair ways) sabotage
community empowerment initiatives. |
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Persons
with partial understanding lf the methodology, use the misinformation to
undermine the work of the mobiliser. Rumours based upon superstitious
and ignorant fears are created and spread. Some human rights goals
are thought to be antagonistic to respect for tradition and culture. |
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| If
you, as a mobiliser, do what Sister Theresa did, give those problems new
names, they may seem less overwhelming, may seem more expected and understood,
may seem less threatening to your work. |
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“Gifts”
is a good name, or you may find any other useful word to use before you
accept a problem as one you will handle. |
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