MD MOQ: Involved or on the Sideline?

From: Arlo J. Bensinger (ajb102@psu.edu)
Date: Mon Aug 01 2005 - 18:29:06 BST

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    All,

    [Mati had questioned my use of the term "MOQ Society". Platt agrees with this,
    saying]
    I appreciate Mati reminding us that the MOQ shouldn't be thought of as a
    doctrine to shape society. We don't want to use it as a platform for
    believing we know what's best for others. It's fun to play "If I were
    king." But, thanks to Erin, we're reminded of Pirsig's belief that "The
    place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands,
    then work outward from there." In Lila (9) he says, "A tribe can only
    change it's values person by person and someone has to be first."

    [Arlo]
    How do we change the world "one person at a time" without talking about what
    changes would be most in line with the philosophy we all here discussing? Or
    without someone "taking the first step"?

    Platt, you seem to be of the mindset that "until the entire nation adopts the
    MOQ, we shouldn't change a thing". I disagree. Because some of us do place
    value in the MOQ, we must be moved to work to implement change. Locally, first,
    but also in the larger dialogue.

    We HAVE an educational system. It needs rethinking and fixing. (For what its
    worth, I have worked in educational settings almost my entire adult life, from
    day-care all the way to graduate-level instructional technology courses, from
    computer-mediated communication to foreign language instruction). As an
    individual, I am involved in efforts here locally to revision thinking about
    "school". How I shape my arguments are based on my understanding of the MOQ (in
    part). How is that "playing king for a day"?

    I appreciate that many love to debate the epistomological aspects of the theory.
    I do too. But if that's all its good for, if it can't inform our practice, and
    what we do as "change agents" in the world, then we are merely blowing smoke
    while supporting "things stay just the way they are".

    The Brujo didn't "wait" until the entire tribe believed as he did to instigate
    change. His actions forced the tribe to rethink their values. Our actions
    impact other, the best way to spread the word of the MOQ isn't to contribute to
    a discussion group, pay lip service to a radical new way of thinking, and sit
    back and wait for the world to get onboard. They way to spread the word is by
    being actively involved in infusion and adoption in "the real world". By
    arguing for policy change and realignment that meshes with a MOQ view of the
    world. Others see that, and hopefully will join the parade.

    But if we don't work for change now (locally, as individuals), and do nothing
    but sit back and "talk", and wait for everyone else to read the MOQ, all the
    while doing nothing but arguing that "things should stay just the way they
    are", I'm afraid the MOQ is doomed to trivialness.

    Just my two cents...

    Arlo

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