Author: Hanan Abisse

Today I speak to you of a people whom they call barbaric. 

I am barbaric. 

In the break of dawn I wake up to the call of prayers

where water clothes my skin in layers 

I lay my mat to break the silence of the night, and began my day with a breath of gratitude.

 Is this a barbaric attitude? 

When did it become so wrong for mankind to be truthful? 

To remain humble and not speak of what’s unfaithful? 

Today you say that my veil imprisons me, 

But did your uniform suits ever free you? 

You rush every day to put an image to those who you claim will free you. 

As they enslave

 you

 day and night in cells you’ve built with your own hands. 

Still, you remain unsatisfied,

 connected to 

everything,

 yet 

nothing.

Did you forget who you are? 

Let me remind you of who we are. 

We the barbarians,

 who’s lands become your pool of 

blood. 

We, the barbarians, 

taught you how to respect your bodies even when they lay 

dead. 

To do good and be 

kind. 

To honor those around you and to heal your 

mind. 

We the barbarians,

 avoid the illusions of money and 

lust

We the barbarians make peace with the grounds that will turn us to

dust. 

One very important practice that I want to continue doing for the rest of my life is maintaining a spiritual connection with the creator and exploring the creation of my creator to further build that connection. There is beauty in learning about other cultures, identities, and exploring how the human moral consciousness has come to unite us for years. While morality has been claimed to be an outdated philosophy by many, it is by far in my opinion the most sentimental aspect of humanity. In my poem I hope to convey how a detrimental shift has spread in the west of marginalizing many groups in the middle east practicing islam. There is continuous villainization of people who practice religion. All to serve a political, social, and economical division that only benefits the higher authority. Many have fallen under these strategic social traps and within their distractions they are only fueling the unequal distribution of power within society. 

Changing the world begins with The New College Classroom

Through the collaboration of Professor Cathy N. Davidson and Dr.Christina Katopodis, we revisit the many ongoing issues within the educational system. In The New college classroom event, both Cathy and Christina discuss their book launch on developing strategic steps to changing traditional education systems.

In their re-approach they showcase the academic shifts that occurred in the 19th century. Through history we learn that the education system became a tool to manage labor during the industrial era causing inadequate student performance, instructional based classrooms, and stricter evaluations. All of these factors create a subordinate society that lacks innovation, flexibility, and adaptability. A society that only serves to benefit cooperations and high powered individuals.

However, Cathy and Dr.Christina take an interesting stance of resolving this inequality. Rather than demanding changes from high powered individuals who control the education system, they actually reach out to inspire students and professors. Teaching us, the people who are in the classrooms how to reshape our education environment, take accountability, and essentially own back our classrooms. They discuss how there’s a lack of student engagement, not many students ask questions, share their opinion or voice themselves at all. This is very problematic considering that school is a place where ideas are exchanged and taught. Thus, ideas are supposed to be discussed, challenged, questioned, and answered so that we may further advance as a society.

So how do we create a new classroom environment that allows for an easier flow of ideas, innovation, and high engagement? Cathy and Christina teaches us the essential 3Cs: three levels of transformation: changing ourselves, changing classrooms, and changing the world. With the 3Cs we create an environment that supports learning, foster creativity, and connect the content we learn to our lives. Beyond applying that content, we must also create a place where every individual has a voice regardless of their race, sex, etc. A place where students are not afraid of failure or getting to know their peers, and a place where they can disagree freely.

Overall, this event was very insightful, and a reminder for all of us to protect our academic individuality, to expand our work ethics, and apply these opportunities to our lives and become connected with variables being presented in our classrooms. Thank you Professor Cathy Davidson and Dr.Christina Katopodis for the amazing work and research you’ve put into this book.