Noon Convocation: "In Cod We Trust"

By Philip Jahnke on April 1, 2009 7:48 PM | No Comments
Today, I attended a most interestingly titled convocation. The title of the convocation was "In Cod We Trust." I, like most people I would assume, was a little confused by the title and wondered why someone would give their convocation that title. After the convocation I would understand in part why the title was "In Cod We Trust." After the speaker, who had just had one of his books published, was introduced he outlined what he would be talking about. He said that first he would like to read some excerpts from his book, which is what the convocation happened to be about; then he would talk about his experiences in Norway, these experiences were the subject of his book, and finally he would open it up to questions. He read us some excerpts from the book. All of these were stories about things that he did and things that happened while he was in Norway. One of these stories really sticks out to me. The story was about how he got the funding to go to Norway. He was funded as a Fulbright Fellow. He told us about the months of paper work and searching for the necessary recommendations. Then he told us about the interview that he had to go to so that he would be considered as a final candidate. He said that he had been sitting in hallway while another person was being interviewed. He said that he almost got up and left because he heard the interviewee say something and then the panel of interviewers burst out laughing, he also said that when the interviewee ahead of him say something in Norwegian he knew that he didn't have a chance to get the funding. But he went in and did the interview, and he got the funding and went to Norway. After reading these stories and telling about his experiences in Norway the author did open it up to questions of which there were a few.

Connecting this experience with other from the Honor's Program will not be an easy task but I will give it a try. One connection that I think that I see comes from some of the things that I learned about Norwegian culture while at the convocation. Norwegians export almost all of the fish that they catch to other countries. While this could be a great thing for their economy, it is also a burden on their economy. In Norway, according to the author, a Whopper at Bigger King is something like ten dollars. I found this outrageous, who would pay ten dollars for a burger, fries, and a drink from Burger King. Apparently it is true that most items in Norway have an extremely high price in comparison to the same item in the same store in America. I would say that this is an example of other countries taking advantage of Norwegians and marginalizing them.

I think that this experience has changed me in one way, but it is a big change. Before this convocation, I had this preconceived idea that people who were marginalized were not Caucasian. This convocation has done a good job to dispel that idea and I am very thankful that I am no longer under this illusion. Thanks to this convocation I am able to look at the world through a more focused lens and am better able to see not only the plight of people who are unlike me but also the people who are exactly like me.

Poehler Faith and Learning Lecture

By Philip Jahnke on March 31, 2009 11:57 PM | No Comments
Today, Tuesday March 31st, I attended the Eighth Annual Poehler Faith and Learning Lecture. This year's speaker was Doctor Carl J Schoenbeck. The theme of Doctor Schoenbeck's lecture was the integration faith and learning. The first thing that he did was talk a little bit about his background with education and some of his experiences being both a student and an educator. Next, he went on to tell about his perspective on the integration of faith and learning. In his perspective he talks about disciplines. He describes disciplines as academic areas that can stand on their own but are stronger when put together. Doctor Schoenbeck used the analogy of a multi-stranded rope or cord. He described Faith as the core of the rope and all the other disciplines as strands that are bound around the core, Faith. Doctor Schoenbeck then went on to describe what he called "the recipe for passion for learning." He said that there are three ingredients for this recipe. Then, he went on to describe each ingredient and what they entailed. Doctor Schoenbeck ended by giving a summary of his perspective on faith and learning.

Where does an Honor's Program student start with the connections of the experience to other course materials and experiences? I guess that I will just pick a few. First there is the obvious connection of the titles, "Faith and Learning" and the "Integration of Faith and Learning." Then there is the connection of the disciplines from the lecture and the magesteria from our course last semester. . Then there is the idea that the disciplines, magesteria, together are stronger and more flexible than when they are separate. Finally, there is the idea that a person is more knowledge able if they can combine and see the connections between disciplines or magesteria.

I found a few new things in the lecture and some variations on things that I already knew. I found that the idea that a passion for learning is good measuring tool for how well a teacher is integrating faith and learning to be very interesting. I also found the connection of the speaker's ideas to so many quotes and even to Bible verses very helpful and colorful. The rope analogy was somewhat new but it resembled very closely the NOMA idea that we as a class discussed last semster.

Anil Singh Morales

By Philip Jahnke on March 18, 2009 10:14 PM | No Comments
Today I attended a convocation where the speaker talked about his experiences of being in many different cultures. He had lived in many different countries in Europe and Asia as well as living in the United States for a number of years. He spoke about the advantages he gained by being exposed to all those different cultures. He said that because of those experiences he was able to become a successful business man and a better person. A specific example of how he became a successful business man is that he was working for Microsoft as a manager of translators on a program that would provide encyclopedias on disc to people from countries that did not speak English. He found that the translators were only translating at a certain rate and that the rate for a normal translator was actually much higher. He had known the normal rate because he himself had been a translator because of his extensive background with other cultures and his ability to speak a couple of languages fluently. So he told his idea to outsource all of the work to his supervisor. His supervisor eventually got him a chance to pitch the idea to Bill Gates the head of Microsoft. Mister Gates liked the idea and put the speaker at the head of the job to do the outsourcing. So the moral of this story is that because of his experience with other cultures the speaker was able to get a job as a translator and because of this job he was able to make a suggestion that caused him to be moved into a position where he made a large amount of money and became a very successful business man.

The experiences of this speaker are like the experiences of the Hmong and to an extent, myself. We have all come in contact with different cultures and are now trying to find a way that they can fit together. It also shows that if a person is willing to take a chance and come into contact with new cultures the experience can be very rewarding not only materially but also personality wise.

I think that this experience has changed the way that I think about learning about other cultures more than any experience up to this point. This experience has made me realize that not only by getting to know people that are from different cultures that have immigrated to the United States will I help them become more accustomed to American culture but the experience will leave me with the ability to make better decisions as a person in the global market but also as a person who can understand the hardships and struggles that they are going through.

Student Panel Discussion

By Philip Jahnke on February 25, 2009 1:03 AM | No Comments
On Monday, Hmong students came to our classroom to talk about their experiences being born in the refugee camp. They talked about what kind of experiences that they had growing up in the camps. They also discussed what it was like to move to America while they were still very young. The topic that they talked the most passionately about was the difficulty in trying to be a traditional Hmong person and live in America. Some of the other topics that they talked about were transitioning from school back to home and what that was like for them, dating and traditional weddings, and how they would try to raise their kids if and when they have them.

One of the kids talked about Ban Vani refugee camp. This was the place where she was born. It was also one of the main places in Kalia's book and one of the places that Dr. Hillmer talked about in his presentation. The kids also talked about difficulty that their parents had adjusting to the American lifestyle, just like the adults told us when they came. Another cross between experiences that I had was when the kids talked about how supportive their parents were. I saw this in Kalia's book too.

The biggest thing that I took out of this experience is that these kids are just like us. They feel like us they work like us, and have very similar lives in terms of friends and family. I only saw a few differences and those were differences that could easily be overcome.

Art Convocation

By Philip Jahnke on February 18, 2009 7:35 PM | No Comments
Today, during our noon hour the Honors Class and I went to an art convocation. At this convocation were displayed pieces by artists that were immigrants, refugees, sons of refugees, daughters of refugees, sons of immigrants, or daughters of immigrants. At the beginning of the convocation, we looked at the pieces and tried to discern the meaning of each. Some of the pieces where easy to find meaning for but most were extremely difficult. One of the pieces that sticks out in my mind was also what seemed the center piece of the display, It was a lilac bush that had been dug out of the ground. The roots were exposed, and as your eyes moved up the bush you noticed that the bark was being removed, Finally, after all the bark had been removed the branches were becoming more and more geometric. This piece showed what immigrants and refugees went through when they moved from one country to another.

From that one piece, I realized what kind struggles refugees and immigrants had to go through to make it in America. They like the piece had been uprooted, and now were put on display in a place where there roots were easily visible and could not be hidden. The piece also showed what happened as their time in America got longer. They like the piece became more and more American and lose parts of their own cultures, this is shown in the removing of the bark. Then as generations, pass the culture is lost and the descendants become more and more American. This idea is shown in the branches becoming more and more geometric.

This convocation has really shown me how difficult it is for refugees and immigrants to hold on to their culture. When they get here, they don't know the systems and timetables that we run on and that most of us have grown up with. They must adjust and in doing so must discard and lose some of their culture and who they are. They must, in a sense, reinvent themselves and change at a very critical juncture in their lives. Even with this being true, if these people can come through this gauntlet of tests and trials alive and vigorous, then they have the ability to become very important and influential people in this country.

Panel Discussion

By Philip Jahnke on February 17, 2009 7:34 PM | No Comments
On Monday night, two Hmong refugees came to our classroom. Doctor Schuler had invited them to tell their stories. The reasoning was that we had heard from Hmong people who had been moved to the United States as children, so we should hear from the Hmong that had come as adults and refugees. Both of them, told stories about what jobs they did while in Laos during the war. They also told us how they were able to get through the tough times while in Laos and in Thailand.

While I sat there and listened to each of the speakers, I was amazed by the lengths that they went to to secure not only their own safety but the safety of their families. It was nice to be able to see the difference in experiences between these two and Kao Kalia Yang, who had come to America as a child. Both of these speakers talked of what they did to help the community and also what kind of will it took to make such a drastic change as fleeing your home country and moving to a country where everything was different.

One thing that I clearly noticed about both of the speakers was the amount of courage each of them had. They both talked simply about things that in my mind were extrodinary. The way each of them talked about the things they did made those things seem normal, eventhough some of the things they did were extraordinary.

As I look back on the experience, I realize more that I am blessed to have grown up in this country. I think that this experience has shown me that no matter how difficult times get and no matter how hard people try to put us down there is always a way to get through it.

Professor Lee Pao Xiong

By Philip Jahnke on February 10, 2009 4:13 PM | No Comments
On Monday February 9, the Honors Class, of which I am a part, visited the Center for Hmong Studies on our campus. There we learned about what the Center does and is planing to do. We also learned about the Hmong culture from Professor Lee Pao Xiong. This professor was born in Long Cheng, Lao. Long Cheng was the center of CIA activities in Laos. Professor Xiong told us about growing up in Long Cheng and what it was like to Hmong in America. The professor also talked about coming to America and the journey that his family took to get here. He and his family escaped to Laos on planes that were evacuating other people from Long Cheng. He then spent a number of years in Refugee camps in Thailand. Then his family moved to the United States of Amercia. Two things that I thought were important, that Professor Xiong mentioned multiple times, were the facts that very few of the Hmong actually wanted to come to America and that most of the Hmong are hoping that they will one day be able to return to Laos. After presenting this information in a power point, Professor Xiong gave us a tour of the Center. We viewed tools, weapons, clothes, and other objects on this tour.

I have taken tours of multiple historical sites and museums and have seen some very interesting things in those places, but the Center was very intriguing. After having read The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang it was very nice to see pictures of the places that she had described in her book. Two of the places were Long Cheng, and Ban Vanai Refugee Camp.

This experience didn't change much about me but it did serve to reinforce some of the ideals that I believe in. I learned many new things about the Hmong culture, and this is an important aspect of becoming a conscientious person living in this world.

Gran Torino Discussion

By Philip Jahnke on February 1, 2009 2:21 PM | No Comments
On Saturday January 31, I went to view the movie Gran Torino. The movie, staring Clint Eastwood, is about a elderly man whose wife has just passed away and into his neighborhood Hmong immigrants are settling down. In most cases this probably would not bother the average elderly person in America, but Mr. Eastwood's character, Walter, is a veteran of the Korean War. In the beginning of the movie Walter, or Walt as most of the characters refer to him, is indifferent to the point of being hostile to his neighbors. Then after his car is nearly stolen by the boy who lives next door, Walt begins to warm to his neighbors. By the end of the movie, Walt is closer and happier being around his Hmong neighbors than he is being around his own children and grandchildren. Walt eventually makes the greatest sacrafice that a friend can make, when he lays down his life to make sure that his neighbors, and now friends, can have peace.

While watching this movie, I was struck by how calm and reserved the Hmong people were. I thoroughly believe that most Hmong people are like the Hmong from the movie. This insight that I received I caught a glimpse of while reading The Latehomecomer. While watching the movie I also noticed how strong the Hmong community was. The Hmong in the movie just as in the book, The Latehomecomer, the community always did things together and helped each other out. The community also showed its gratitude to people who were not even of the same culture. The most important thing that I noticed was the fact that the Hmong people were ready to learn if they could find someone to teach them. The boy from next door, eventhough he had tried to steal Walt's car, wanted to stay with Walt and continue to learn from him even though Walt didn't want him around.

This movie has opened up so many new ideas and thoughts that it is impossible to list all of them. First, I learned that with most immigrant if I take the time to get to know them and put myself out there are as a resource and friend I will make a lifelong friend who will stick next to me forever. Second, I learned that not all immigrants are stupid or looking for a handout, though some are. Most are looking for help and a teacher but don't know were to look. The most important thing that I learned from this movie is that there are still people in this world, more specifically America, who have a sense of honor and dignity to do what is right.

The Middle of Everywhere Discussion

By Philip Jahnke on January 27, 2009 7:39 PM | No Comments
When I first started reading The Middle of Everywhere. I was unsure as to how I would respond to the stories that I was reading. After reading a few chapters I started to realize that I could relate to these people, albeit not because I had the same experiences but because I had gone through experiences in my own life that if magnified many times over, I thought would seem similar to their own.

When I reached the midway point in the book, I was relatively sure that I could relate somewhat with the people from Mary Pipher's stories. Yet there was this feeling that I wasn't understanding what Pipher what trying to get across. I felt like I was still in some regards this underprivileged young adult.

When I started to get towards the end, Pipher started to talk more about the characteristics that she felt immigrants needed to have to succeed in America. It was at that time that I really began to understand just how bless I am to have been born in the United States of America. I read through the list and there were a number of characteristics that I felt that I had, but there were so many that I was unsure of. I finished the book with a sense of disappointment in those who lead this country, the people who live in it, and most of all myself.

As with most things I tried to relate the book back the thing that I understand the best, baseball. I immediately saw the connection that Pipher's friend Pam was trying to make when she said, "We were born on third and think we hit triples." I looked at that statement and i started to realize just how good I have it here in America. I took things from the rest of the book and tried to relate them to baseball too. For example, most of the parents want so badly for their children to do well in school so that they can get a good job and help the family, the parents never seem to tell their children that they have to be an engineer or a doctor. I saw this and went that sounds like my coaches talking to me during a practice. Coaches would tell me, "Take what you do well and do it. Don't become a type of player you aren't. If you hit line drives and get base hits do that. Don't try and hit home runs."

This book has suprisingly changed my mind and attitude more than I had anticipated it would. The book has made me more humble than I was, and it has made me appreciate more the blessings that I have been given. Most of all this book has made me, I think, into a person who is very unlikely to whine about what I don't have and what I can't do and work harder to reach my goals. I am also more likely to have an open mind when talking with someone who is less fortunate than me or is a refugee.

Directed Writing Six

By Philip Jahnke on November 20, 2008 12:41 PM | No Comments

Philip Jahnke

Honors Program

Directed Writing Six

God and Chance

In his chapter God and Chance, Phil Dowe discusses whether or not God and chance can coexist and "Bell's Theorem for the relation between divine and natural causation". First, Dowe writes about chance as a possible worldview and the history of chance as a worldview. Chance as a worldview has an essential element which is a metaphysical claim. This claim is "that our universe is intrinsically chaotic in the sense that its development from moment to moment is sometimes a matter of chance" (170). This means that the world does not have complete idea of what is going to happen to it next. Dowe goes on to say that a chance worldview is not new to the world, but that, "the chance worldview, in our intellectual history, stands in quite stark contrast to the 'rational worldview,' which has dominated Western thought since the seventeenth century" (171). This worldview is defended by seventeenth century philosopher Leibniz believed that God designed the world. Leibniz based his philosophy on the Principle of Sufficient Reason. The Principle of Sufficient Reason says, "everything has a reason why it is the way it is rather than some other way" (171). In the nineteenth century, probability became part of science. Dowe writes that, "this is not necessarily a blow to determinism, because probability can be interpreted as a matter of ignorance -- meaning just that we don't know what the underlying reasons and causes are" (172).

                Next, Dowe discusses providence. He says, "Providence is a theological concept concerned with the continuing action whereby God preserves and protects the world" (173). Absolute providence is an idea presented by John Calvin which states that "'Single events are so regulated by God and all events so proceed from his determinate counsel, that nothing can happen fortuitously'" (173). Dowe goes on to say that in absolute deterministic providence there are three claims: God is the necessary cause of every event and every aspect, God is the sufficient cause of every aspect and every event, and God provides complete reason.

The next section of this chapter discusses Quantum Chance. Dowe writes that "'Chance' refers to single-case objective chance" (178). Dowe goes on to say that determinism, or providence, and chance exclude each other. This idea is supported by Bell's Theorem. In Bell's theorem there are no hidden variables and a complete description of the full story is possible. According to Bell's theorem, determinism is proven false, and there can now be genuine chance in the world.

                In the sections of the chapter, Dowe goes on to show a loophole in Bell's theorem. Dowe shows that Bell's Theorem only rules out a local cause of chance. The locality in Bell's Theorem is based on the fact "that two separate things cannot signal to each other faster than the speed of light" (185). The locality requirement of Bell's Theorem cannot be applied to God because "God is not located in space. Dowe concludes, "If chance exists then either it is caused by God (and that is allowed by Bell's Theorem) and this is no problem for providence and there's no conflict with science; or chance is not caused by God, in which case it's compatible with strong Calvinist providence providing it doesn't lead to meaningful consequences" (189-190).

                In this author's opinion, Dowe has some weaknesses and some strengths in this chapter. First, this author will reveal some of the weaknesses. A prominent weakness in this chapter is the fact that Dowe is writing for people of a high level of academic understanding. He is not writing for the common man. This fact makes it difficult for young college and high school students who are interested in theology and theological arguments to follow his discourse and understand what he is trying to reveal to his readers. A weakness of smaller import is that Dowe does not explain in depth what Bell's Theorem is. A weakness of a little more import than the last one is that this author finds Dowe's explanation of determinism lacking in definition. In this author's opinion, Dowe does not tell the reader what he means by determinism. Though what he means can be inferred by reading the entire chapter, most readers will become frustrated by the fact that Dowe does not give a clear definition of what he means by determinism.

                The strengths of Dowe's chapter, "God and Chance," are not numerous but are adequate if the reader is well educated and intelligent. A strength of Dowe's chapter is that the information is almost always sequential. Dowe does not jump around and make it difficult to follow if the reader understands the concepts. Dowe cuts straight to the heart of the argument following a straight path. A strength, that seems to contradict what this author said earlier, is that Dowe gives the reader a simplified version of Bell's Theorem. This seems like a contradiction, but this author feels that while Dowe could have given a more in depth explanation of Bell's Theorem he gave an adequate explanation that most readers could follow. Dowe's explanation for locality and how it does not apply to God is a strong point of this chapter. Dowe simply tells the reader what locality is and then why it does not apply to God. The real hidden strength of this chapter is the way that Dowe concludes it. Dowe simply says that Bell's Theorem does not disprove the existence of God and that God and chance can in fact coexist.

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