Margaret Whitaker and Kathy Thomas
Recorded
April 20, 2022
Archived
April 20, 2022
50:32 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv001617
Description
One Small Step Conversation Partners and educators Margaret "Magi" Whitaker (69) and Kathy Thomas (62) discuss rising political tensions, progressive politics, and the importance of educating the next generation.Subject Log / Time Code
Participants discuss what brought them to the interview today.
KT shares her earliest experience related to politics. She was impacted by her grandmother's politics during the Watergate Scandal.
MW talked about how excited she was to register to vote once she was eligible.
KT describes how political conflict has evolved throughout her life and impacted her relationships. She talks about feeling cynical about strong political identity as she sees it cause harm to people around her.
MW discusses political identity among she and her siblings. There are a diversity of perspectives. She mentions some family members who are no longer on speaking terms and family members who have been banned from social media platforms.
KT shares her perspective on power shifting between American political factions and how institutional change is not the end of the world. She feels that money motivates much of the divisive politics currently in play.
MW speaks about her perceptions of intensifying rhetoric on all ideological sides, and feels that it is likely being fueled by Political Action Committees.
KT discusses changes in media and reflects on how media coverage is exacerbating divisive attitudes.
MW talks about teaching her students critical thinking related to state politics and media claims. She and KT begin to speak about their shared experience in education.
KT emphasizes the importance of “real world” education related to politics and voting, and contrasts it with increasing hostility and policing of teacher's speech from state legislatures.
MW feels that education is an easy target for political rhetoric and expresses frustration about some people rejecting factual truth.
KT discusses her recent exposure to the 1619 Project and reflects with MW on the impacts of racism on American society.
KT tells about a time she was told she was a traitor to her race for voting for Barack Obama.
MW discusses her support for gun ownership as an opinion that contrasts with other American liberals. She believes in reasonable measures around gun control.
KT shares a contrasting opinion around gun ownership compared to MW. She feels that the 2nd Amendment enables militia groups and was put in the constitution in order to placate Southern states.
MW reciprocates some of KT's sentiments around the 2nd Amendment and reflects on the implications of those ideas on weapon ownership.
KT expresses gratitude for radical elements on the Left, although she does not agree with many of their sentiments. She talks about the importance of perfecting specific policies (e.g. wind energy farms and some of the downsides).
MW shares that the most important lesson for young people is to show basic respect for one another. KT adds that disrespect is being modeled for many young people in a variety of fields such as politics, social media, and their homes.
MW talks about some of the exhaustion felt by educators around the culture of conflict and students.
Participants share closing thoughts.
Participants
- Margaret Whitaker
- Kathy Thomas