Strangers Aren’t So Strange After All

November 18, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By Abbi

When this project was first assigned, I was somewhat hesitant to jump right in. The idea of having dinner with a bunch of strangers was somewhat daunting to me because it usually takes me a little while to warm up to people before I’m comfortable enough to have a more serious conversation with them. However, this project was not nearly as awful as I thought it would be.

My Kentucky Kitchen Table group consisted of me (Abbi), Scott, Wil, Ellery, and Nancy.

kentucky-kitchen-table

A little bit about our group:

I am an Accounting major from Lexington. I am the second oldest of four children, and I am a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority here at WKU.
Ellery is a Biology major from Danville. She has an older sister and a younger brother, and grew up surrounded by her family and neighbors. She is also a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Scott is a Biology major from Louisville. Scott is from a more rural area in Louisville, where he grew up with his younger brother, and enjoys activities such as hunting, working out, and spending time with friends. He belongs to the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Wil is a Biology major from Bowling Green. He has a younger sister and a younger brother, and he is a member of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) here at WKU.
Nancy is a Biology professor here at WKU. Nancy has two children and lives here in Bowling Green, where she also grew up and attended college as an undergraduate. Nancy was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi when she attended WKU. She has a Ph.D. and attended medical school in both Tennessee and Missouri (I don’t remember exactly), where she met her husband.

Obviously, our group was a little bit skewed in terms of majors, but we were diverse in other ways. For example, except for Nancy, and Wil, we are not from Bowling Green and are still not very familiar with the area. Also, Ellery and Scott grew up in more rural areas as well. Although everyone in the group participates in Greek life, no one belongs to the same organization. It was very interesting to see how our similarities and differences both contributed to our conversation.

The original plan was for our group to meet at Nancy’s house and have dinner with her and her family, however there were a few scheduling and logistical conflicts, so we adjusted our plan. We ended up meeting in DaVinci’s on the first floor of Snell Hall here on campus, and we all enjoyed our choice of pizza from the restaurant. At first the conversation was a little bit awkward and just a lot of small-talk, but after we got into it, things started to flow more smoothly.

We started off with the required question: “Beyond voting, paying taxes, and following laws, what does citizenship mean to you?” Nancy explained that to her, citizenship requires personal responsibility from everyone. Everyone really just has to do their part in contributing to the overall good and benefit of the community. This requires a lot of understanding and communication, which are topics we have been learning a great deal about in our class this semester.

We also talked about what we thought were the best aspects of our world today. Nancy said that technology has been very beneficial in terms of communication and having access to a multitude of information from around the world. Again, this benefits the way people collaborate and communicate with each other, and I think that technological advances will only increase in the future. However, we also discussed the downsides of technology, such as how everything is becoming the same in terms of language and format, which lessens diversity in communities.

A third topic that we discussed is the concept of neighbors. Ellery, Wil, and I mentioned that we all grew up being very close to our neighbors, and it has always been a very prevalent aspect of our lives. Scott added that he does not have much experience with neighbors because he is from a more rural area in Louisville and did not live in a neighborhood. Nancy told us that her family does have neighbors where they live in downtown Bowling Green, and that the kids are similar in age, however they don’t always hang out together.

Acting in a neighborly way with consideration for others is a significant part of being a good citizen. For example, Nancy mentioned that her family decided to install a fence in their backyard because her family has chickens, but they were somewhat of a nuisance to her neighbors. Because Nancy and her family valued their relationship with their neighbors more than letting the chickens roam free, they put up a fence to keep things peaceful.

We then got to talking about what kind of people we want to be and we want our children to be, and through this, there was a heavy focus on service. Nancy’s parents raised her in a way that emphasized service to others and to the community, and this is what she is teaching her children now. My parents instilled the same values in me and I had many opportunities in high school to serve my community. I also have the same opportunities to work in my community in college through my sorority, and I know Ellery, Scott, and Wil have similar opportunities as well.

Overall, the Kentucky Kitchen Table experience was very enriching and not at all awful. I realized that even though I could see obvious differences among our group, the conversation revealed many similarities that connected us in ways that we wouldn’t ordinarily realize. Although we may have different backgrounds and beliefs, the members of my group we able to find common ground and agreed on many simple ideas about community. I think that this realization is a key part of living in a community and acting as a good citizen towards others. This project has emphasized the class themes of how we can live better together and what it means to be a good citizen in today’s world. We can do this by taking responsibility and contributing to the overall good of society through acts of service, consideration for others, and communication and understanding.

Don’t take things for granted

November 18, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

by Scott

One thing I looked for in a group for this project was diversity. Our table consisted of five people representing Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Danville. Present at the table was Abbi, Ellery, Nancy, Scott, and Wil. Abbi is an accounting major, that’s very goal oriented. She is an extrovert and loves to volunteer in the community. Ellery is a biology major and identifies as a Republican. She is an extrovert, who spends most of her free time reading. She loves politics and would do anything for her community. Nancy has a PhD and is currently teaching Biology at Western. She identifies as a Democrat and devotes all of her free time to serving the needs of Bowling Green. I, Scott, am majoring in Biology as well with the hopes of becoming a doctor one day. I identify as a Republican and spend most of my free time at the Preston Center. Wil is majoring in Biology, and is a very studious person. He is more of an introvert and identifies as a Republican.

We focused on what citizenship meant outside of voting, paying taxes, and following laws. Nancy was quick to point out that this was a loaded question but provided a clear cut answer. She said that the most important thing one can do as a citizen is to serve his/her community. Nancy believes that a community is only as strong as its weakest link which requires unified communication. She said that it can be very difficult to communicate with others who are much different at times but it’s a great skill in life to have. She also said that things don’t always go as planned so you must be flexible. For example, some neighbors might promise to help with a neighborhood improvement project and then not show up. When I was listening to her talk, I was making connections to our class. For example, just by deliberating in class this semester I have come to embrace how different people think. You can pick things up and learn to value different perspectives by talking to others who are different than you.

We asked Nancy the question, “What advice would you give to people running for office in our country?” She was quite hesitant to answer at first because politics is such a hot topic. She eventually offered up the idea that we should treat one another as we would want to be treated. While that may sound elementary, it’s the biggest weakness our country currently possesses. During the presidential debates, the candidates focused more on insulting one another rather than their policies they would like to implement. This caused the citizens to get nasty with each other and the country has become split. John Dickinson once said, “united we stand, divided we fall.” This semester I have learned that productive deliberation is a good thing, but once a decision has been reached, the group should come together to support it. We are not always going to get what we want which is why it’s important to learn how to make the best out of every situation.

We then asked Nancy the question, “how do you think your job relates to your role as a citizen?” She laughed, and went on to say if we had told her she was going to be teaching college kids one day she would have laughed in our faces. She went to medical school and received her PhD but felt that she could make a stronger impact teaching the upcoming generation. Nancy also said she wanted to make a difference in research. She wanted me to emphasize one thing when sharing our project with the class and that was don’t pick a job based on money. She could be making double what she is now but she feels as if this is her calling and will benefit her community more than anything. I could relate this to the class because we have talked about sacrificing ourselves sometimes for the greater good. Nancy is a perfect example of this and she isn’t struggling by any means. We asked Nancy if she had ever had a conversation with someone from a really different background. She stated that she hadn’t until she attended Western Kentucky University. Nancy told us not to take the diversity on this campus for granted because you can learn so much from others that you never would have gotten the opportunity to have before. Western truly does have international reach and the opportunity to understand what other’s lives are like in places other than the United States is quite unique. We take things for granted in our everyday lives that are major concerns in other countries. Sometimes we need to be brought back down to earth.

We asked Nancy, “What kind of person do you want to be?” She responded, “The person I am today.” When asked to clarify, she offered up examples of what her family does during the holiday season every year. Nancy’s family delivers food to families in the Bowling Green community for Thanksgiving as well as buy presents for children whose families can’t afford them. For one of her kids birthdays, they celebrated by doing a service project as a family. This says a lot because I don’t know too many kids who would choose to serve others on their birthday. Nancy’s giving attitude has rubbed off on others making Bowling Green a better place.

In conclusion, this project made me realize a lot about myself. I now realize that I could be donating more of my time and talent to the community instead of being selfish. I also see how the Bowling Green Community is much different than the Louisville Community. While the people in these cities may be two hours apart, they’re still Americans that should be coming together for the common good. After talking to Nancy, I got to see how we (citizens) can sometimes struggle working together to solve problems in the community. Nancy showed that with enough work, progress can be made. I will carry the lessons I’ve learned in this class for the rest of my life and will try to crack the codes to the wicked problems we have discussed. kentucky-kitchen-table

Donuts and Democracy

November 18, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

by Taylor

There’s one thing that is certain about my family: we always take the time to eat dinner together. Our family dinners are an integral part of the day for us, and now that I’m away at college, I’ve realized that I took those dinners for granted. I eat dinner with friends, of course, but there’s just something special about gathering around the dinner table with your family and talking about the day’s events.

That being said, the concept of this project really resonated with me. Dinner conversation is the best conversation, in my personal opinion. As soon as the project was assigned, I called my parents and asked them to invite our next door neighbor over for dinner. I came home the next weekend, and our Kentucky Kitchen Table Project commenced.

My mom, sister, and I ate a delicious meal with Mrs. Lori, a single mother who lives two houses down from us. My mom, Carolyn, is beautiful, blonde, and bold. Jordyn, my 14 year old sister, though brunette, inherited every ounce of my mother’s spark. The two are firecrackers, compared to my reserved nature, but I love them to death for it. Mrs. Lori, though I didn’t notice at first, has a very kind and comforting smile. Talking to her was easy, and fun. She was quiet at first, like me, but we all quickly became comfortable with one another. I’m so glad that I put myself out of my comfort zone and got to know Mrs. Lori along with the rest of my family.

Our Kentucky Kitchen Table took place the weekend after the election. My family and I were very disheartened by the results of the election, and the beginnings of our conversation were a little somber. I had asked everyone what citizenship meant to them, and we all came to a similar consensus. Being an active citizen not only requires you to vote: it requires you to use any lawful means possible to let your voice to be heard. Mrs. Lori made a fantastic point when I asked her what it meant to be a citizen of the United States. Her exact words were

“Even though where we’re at right now doesn’t seem that great, we still have to put in every effort we can to get where we want to be.”

The week following the election was one of the most emotionally strenuous weeks of my life. I didn’t know what to think, where to turn to, who to talk to. Should I lose hope all together? Should I accept the situation, even though I’m not very happy about it? I asked Mrs. Lori, and the rest of the people at our table, what their thoughts were about the election. We had all just finished eating my mother’s manicotti, and we were starting to nibble on the donuts Mrs. Lori brought for desert. My sister, as eloquent as ever, said

“It kind of sucks.”

I told her to elaborate.

“Well,” she said, “It’s pretty bad for minority groups. And—,” she paused.

It is hard for me to describe the amount of sadness I saw in her young eyes.

“There’s just so much hate.”

We continued to talk about our thoughts, and we were all less than hopeful about the future. To brighten up the conversation, I asked everyone what they thought were the best things about our world.

I mentioned the wondrous availability of knowledge thanks to technology. This, I said, was especially important to college students.

“I think it’s great that our world is so different,” said my mom. “I mean, culturally, our world is so rich and interesting.”

Mrs. Lori nodded. “And even though we’re all so different, the great thing is that we really all want the same things: love, food, safety, a better life for our kids and families.”

She was absolutely right.

We continued to talk about our connection with others around the world well into the night. The donuts disappeared. The coffee became cold. Well after my sister, my mom, and I, wished Mrs. Lori a good night, I thought about what my neighbor said. With tensions continuing to rise in our country, especially among minority groups, it felt good to hear Mrs. Lori’s words.

I learned quite a bit that night. We really aren’t all that different, are we? America is a diverse, melting pot, and I’ve noticed that WKU certainly represents this. Our campus’s diversity is continuously shown to me during my morning walks from Minton to Cherry Hall: so many different races, cultures, religions. I think it’s wonderful.

It’s safe to say, though, that many of us can get wrapped up in how different we are from others. Human nature dictates that we divide, section, and organize people into their respective categories. It allows us to make sense of the world around us. But when does that become harmful?

My Kentucky Kitchen Table conversation made me realize just how alike we all really are. Our country is struggling right now. However, most of us want similar things, if we look past the aspects of society that want to divide us, such as religion, sexuality, gender, skin color, political affiliation, etc. We want a better world. We want to be happy, we want to feel safe, and we want what’s best for our families. As a kid, my mom and dad taught me to look for the good in everyone. Citizen and Self has taught me to not only be kind and respectful towards others’ opinions; it has also taught me to be empathetic. To see from others’ perspectives.

In these dark times, with hatred and fear bleeding through the news and onto the streets, our nation needs some kindness. Compassion. Understanding. And Mrs. Lori, my mom, and my sister, made me see this. We’re all citizens of the United States; that hasn’t changed. We shouldn’t continue to pin blame on voters who chose a path that others disagreed with. We must come together, accept our differences, and realize our common goals. Thinking about the future is unnerving for me, even now; but I know that I’m not alone, and I know that our country can unite as one. We’ll morph our fears into productivity and hope.

I’m not sure what these next four years will hold, but I’m grateful for the friendship I’ve made, and what it’s taught me. I’ll certainly be finding out where Mrs. Lori got those donuts, because they were quite delicious.

(Not pictured: my mom. She had some trouble with the IPhone Camera.)

Kentucky Kitchen Table: Not quite Olive Garden, but close

November 18, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By Katy

For the Kentucky Kitchen Table assignment, Baylee, Katelyn, and I teamed up to host a dinner on Western Kentucky University’s campus for ourselves and other students. Including Baylee, Katelyn, and myself, eight people attended. Each team-member invited guests from various groups. Baylee invited her friend Seth, Katelyn invited Jill and Anne, and I invited Theresa and Tucker. We were also unexpectedly joined by Yujen, who is involved with the Christian Student Fellowship on campus. Although each attendee, aside from Yujen, is currently a freshman at WKU, everyone had very different backgrounds, personalities, and opinions. While most of us were part of the Honors College and live in Minton Hall, very few of us knew the other host’s guests, which lead to interesting and eventful conversation.

For dinner, Katelyn, Baylee, and I made pasta with alfredo and marinara sauce, salad, and bread, which was a fairly difficult menu to execute from within a dorm kitchen. Although we had the menu planned, it was difficult to find a “kitchen table” on campus. Thankfully, the Christian Student Fellowship allowed us to use their basement and tables for the evening. With the help of some nice lighting, a mason jar of fake flowers, and paper plates, the meal all came together, thanks to each host’s efforts and collaboration.

While we ate, we discussed our college experiences, our different backgrounds, and the cities we call home. Everyone agreed college came with its pros and cons, which brought about a lot of laughter and connection within the group. Most of the attendants were from Kentucky, but Baylee and Katelyn reside in Tennessee, which provided a “hometown” connection for them. They were not the only people who call the same place home. Tucker and Anne both live in Frankfort, but had never met, which allowed them to have easy conversation about their hometown.

Although most of the conversation was fairly light-hearted, people’s personalities and interests began to surface as we continued to talk. Every attendant was invested in academics as well as extracurricular activities or organizations. Baylee, for example, is part of a sorority, and devotes a lot of time to her responsibilities within that group. Theresa plays clarinet in WKU’s marching band and invests her time in individual and group practice. Although there were differences in people’s interests, everyone was interested in learning about everyone else, rather than focusing on themselves.

Through conversing with the attendants, I learned a few interesting things. First, talking to strangers isn’t always bad, it can actually introduce you to new ways of thinking and understanding. Second, having a good team makes all of the difference. Without the help of Baylee and Katelyn, this event would have been a complete disaster. They were willing to do their part and were always willing to do more. Third, and finally, I learned that even though people who may be walking the same road, many begin and arrive at very different destinations.

I believe this assignment related to Citizen and Self in multiple ways. One of the main purposes of the class, is to allow students the freedom to express, communicate, and discuss their opinions, ideas, and beliefs, but in a way that is considerate of others. This practice is extremely important in the “real world,” because being able to communicate clearly and gracefully is a rare skill. It also relates to one of the main questions asked in class, “how do we live well together?” Although people have different experiences and backgrounds, it is important to listen to their stories in order to develop your own ideas, opinions, and character. Only focusing on how you can live well, will lead to a sad life, but investing time in learning how other’s live with enhance your quality of life.

I enjoyed this assignment because it forced me to talk to new people and engage in meaningful conversation, which is not something at which I excel. It also took a lot of patience to organize and cook a dinner for eight people within the restrictions of a dorm kitchen. Although it would have been easier to order pizza, I loved being able to cook with Katelyn and Baylee and see people enjoy the food and enjoy each other’s company.

KKT: a surprisingly delightful night

November 18, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By Katelyn

Going into this assignment, I was very nervous. I was not sure how I was going to find almost complete, or complete, strangers to have dinner and discuss citizenship with me. However, I completed the Kentucky Kitchen Table dinner with two girls (Katy and Baylee) from my class. We each asked two people to attend the dinner. There were nine people at the dinner. Katy, Baylee, and I prepared garlic bread, salad, pasta, and brownies for our guests. We each provided equal effort to the dinner, going to the store purchase food items and kitchenware and also cooking the meal together.

The nine dinner guests were as follows:

Seth was very funny and talkative. He provided much of the conversation, and kept it going. Seth is a unique fellow. This is mainly random information, but, unlike the rest of us, he has a tattoo.
Tucker was much quieter than Seth, but was still very funny. He is one of those people who is funny, but isn’t recognized as a class clown.
Anne was a quirky person. When we asked the questions recommended in the packet, she offered insightful and reflective responses.
Jill, Anne’s roommate, offered some spunk to the group. She was also the only one who had a vegan diet.
Teresa was one of the quieter people in the group. She and Seth actually went to the same high school, but never knew each other very well. Although she was quiet, she offered some sarcastic humor to the dinner.
Yugen, almost a celebrity on campus, randomly popped into our dinner when he heard us from upstairs in the CSF building. He has a rather large personality and a very loud voice.
Baylee was a very funny addition to the group. She is one of those people who make you feel welcome no matter who you are.
Katy was also one of the quieter people. She actually made the pasta. While we were eating dinner, she was very kind and considerate, making sure everyone had enough to eat and to drink.
Me! (Katelyn) I’m not really sure how to describe myself. I made the brownies and provided the drinks for the evening. I also read a few of the questions from the packet.

I was not sure how well the conversation would flow among all these college students, the majority of us freshmen. However, our group had some very good conversation. Even though some of us would be considered introverts, everyone participated in the conversation and seemed to be getting along very well. Baylee and her friend Seth were extremely helpful in keeping the conversation going, as they are both openly funny and loud people. Also, in the middle of our dinner, a graduate student named Yugen (more commonly known as “Loud Asian”) walked into our dinner and asked to eat with us. He provided some extra diversity to the group. After Yugen left (because he shoveled that pasta in as if it was going to escape him), even more conversation was provided among our group. We discussed all the entertainment and diversity Yugen brings to the campus of Western Kentucky University. He can often be found wondering around campus in his martial arts gi, meandering outside the Downing Student Union talking loudly on the phone, or even found watching martial arts videos in the computer lab in Mass Media and Technology Hall.

When Katy, Baylee, and I presented the question, “Beyond voting, paying taxes, and following laws, what does citizenship mean to you,” there were a few different answers, but one of the most memorable, and one that all of us seemed to agree with was as follows. Anne shared that she viewed citizenship as being able to voice your opinions and values publicly, without fear of being reprimanded by all those around you; as a United States citizen, we are allowed certain rights and freedoms, and this is part of what makes us a diverse nation that can be one of the most unified. We also discussed whether or not we knew our neighbors (from back home, not in the dorms), and there was a variety of answers. Some of us lived in rural areas where our houses were not close enough to really know your neighbor while other of us knew our neighbors very well. Some even shared that they and their neighbors do not get along for various reasons.

As we discussed some of the recommended questions at dinner, we realized how well the Kentucky Kitchen Table dinner was connecting with our class. When discussing citizenship, we related it back to the idea in our class that we have desires to see and be part of a better world. Looking at the bridge illustration, we see our world and how we would like it to be, but we are not always sure how to get from one side to the other. At our dinner, we discussed that one of the only ways to change our condition is to be a better, more involved citizen. People must exercise their rights to change the world, and they need to be willing to listen to another person’s point of view rather than lashing out and ignoring it. This is something we practice in every class meeting. Our Honors 251 class discusses different readings and social issues presented in the class curriculum on a weekly basis. These deliberations have taught us to be better communicators. Even though many of us have similar backgrounds, we were respectful of differing views presented during open discussions. While an opinion different from ours may not have changed our minds about our opinions or views, we have learned to be very open and considerate when listening to others.

Baylee, Katy, and I reflected on the assignment while we were cleaning up after the dinner. We all were nervous about the assignment at first. It was a very pleasant surprise. We all seemed to share the same feelings, wishing we could share a meal with a different group of diverse people at least once a month. It was a nice and enjoyable experience to be able to meet different people in a friendly environment while sharing a meal together.

kkt1 (Not pictured: Katy, Yugen)

Maybe Going to A Stranger’s House Isn’t a Bad Idea After All

November 17, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By: Ally

(not pictured: Chuck)

Whenever someone told me that I was going into a stranger’s home to have a dinner, my first reaction wasn’t to get up and jump for joy. I was a little apprehensive as to where I was going, considering it was a half an hour drive through the back country. But also mainly because I had never met the homeowner and only knew one of the group members. I didn’t know what to expect from this experience based upon that fact that I could have totally different beliefs and viewpoints than anybody else around the table, was a scary position to be put in.

I come from a family where it’s just three of us, but my mom would cook a meal every night, I would set the table, and my dad would always do the dishes and clean up afterwards. So sitting around a kitchen table discussing the highlights and not so fun parts of our days were common and comfortable. Our conversations though, never really strayed from what was going on in each other’s daily lives though. So whenever the word ‘democracy’ came up about that being the core of the discussion for the Kentucky Kitchen Table project, I was nervous and felt very uncomfortable going into it.

My group consisted of six people including myself. First was Christian, who is the sustainability coordinator here at Western Kentucky and who graciously opened her home up to us to have this meal. Next was Chuck, who was formerly a U.S. Marine and now works the government. Then came Connor, Jacob, Madeleine, and myself. The four of us have similarities, but also many differences. We are all in the Honors College, but our backgrounds of where we have grown up are completely different. Madeleine is from right here in Bowling Green; Connor is from Louisville; Jacob is right across the border line from Cincinnati, and I’m from a rural town on the outskirts of Lexington. Each of our different upbringings have shaped us into the citizens we are today and have helped us form our opinions on the world today.

Once we had arrived at Christian’s house and awkwardly knocking on the back door, we were greeted by Christian and two large, loving dogs that shed a whole lot. But it was nice to be able to love on them, since I have been deprived of this since I have been at college. As a group, we got to make our own pizza that we were going to be eating for dinner. Out toppings were very diverse, ranging from plain cheese and pepperoni, to mushrooms and even pineapple. We threw in some tomato slices and some spinach leaves. Christian made a salad from greens she had grown herself, which was very refreshing and quite delicious. But she also made some pumpkin chocolate cookies, from a pumpkin she had baked earlier in the day. She made enough cookies to feed us and also to send back with us for our roommates.

As soon as we sat down for dinner, and after we had said grace for our food, Chuck was eager to dive into our discussion and was very vocal in encouraging us in our thoughts, but also very vocal in his own. Our first question of, “besides voting, paying taxes, and following laws, what does citizenship mean to you?” had a very different response from each member of the table.

Chuck defined his view on citizenship is derived from the safety he has in our country. Where he was in the Marines, he has experienced many things from being in other countries that he never has to experience here. He gave the example of never having to slam on his brakes when driving down the road worried that a road side bomb is going to go off. He can casually walk down the street without being hated for being an American and having to worry about a child, woman, or man wanting to kill him. The safety and protection we have in our country is something that he said he is very thankful for based upon the fact that we don’t have to worry for our lives just walking down the street because of where we are from.

For Christian, her view on citizenship was focused around the wicked problems of our world, which directly relates back to our readings in class. But she mentioned three of her friends that are aware of these wicked problems that are around them and they are trying to make a difference in any way they can, but they know that there isn’t just one solution to the problem and the entire problem is not going to just go away overnight. What really resonated with me, was that each of her friends, don’t have a position of power, but they are still making a difference in their community. You don’t always have to have a position of power to do things to change the world for the better. Jacob and Connor both agreed on their view of citizenship as the community aspect of our lives. We each live in a community that we can all have an impact on and being a responsible citizen in each of our respective communities is important if we expect to come together to make a difference.

Madeleine and I agreed on our view of citizenship being that we are free to have religious views or the lack thereof. We can freely worship without the fear of persecution because in many countries they don’t have a say in what they believe. They don’t really have the option to choose whether they want to believe in that, or something completely different. In some countries though, you could be killed if you believe something different and try to spread it around. It’s a very serious issue, yet a right that I believe we take for granted if we choose to exercise it. Madeleine also extended her view on citizenship is the basic rights that women now have, such as voting or simply just going to school. In some other countries, it is frowned upon for women to be educated and seek a job. So having that right as a woman is very near and dear to my heart. But we also had to remind ourselves that we don’t always get to choose the situation we are born into.

Upon wrapping up conversations from dinner, we shifted back into the kitchen where Christian was wrapping up leftovers for our roommates and we were saying our last goodbyes to the dogs; we once again we said thank you to Christian before walking out the door. But just like that we were in the car and our experience was over. This experience was something that I truly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone. But mainly what impressed me the most, is that no one was on their phones and we had quality conversations. It was very refreshing and felt good to know that people can still have quality conversations amongst each other without the distraction of phones getting in the way.

Kentucky Kitchen Table

November 17, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By Wil

My Kentucky Kitchen Table was not conducted around an actual kitchen table, but at a small table inside of the Davinci’s restaurant in Snell Hall. My group consisted of Scott and Abbi. Scott is a biology major from Louisville. Abbi is an accounting major from Lexington. We invited two people to eat with us. These two people are Ellery and Nancy. Ellery is a biology major from Danville, and Nancy is a professor here at WKU. Nancy and I are both from Bowling Green. The original plan was to eat dinner at Nancy’s house, but that fell through, so we decided to eat at Davinci’s.

Our conversation was all small talk at first. I actually ended up finding out that Nancy and my mom went to the same high school, but were a few years apart. Another thing that a majority of the group could relate to was living in a neighborhood. This subject came up when we brought up the question of if you know your neighbors. It may seem like a very common thing, but those of us who have lived or currently live in a neighborhood were able to discuss that feeling of community with your neighbors. Another member of my group and I both spent a lot of time with our neighbors similar ages. Nancy’s kids also have friends around their own age in their area that they can go out and play with. Eventually, our discussion became more deep. We started going through more questions in the packet, but in a casual way, so as not to be interrogative. It was clear early on that Nancy had a lot of knowledge, not just from her education, but from her experiences as well.

I don’t recall what exact conversations were sparked by each individual question that was brought up, but I do remember one thing that Nancy brought up. This idea is something that can be applied to multiple questions. She said that one of the most important values in her family has always been serving others. Her parents instilled the value of service in her, and she now does the same for her kids. She told us about how one year, her kids decided to collect money for a charity instead of receiving birthday gifts. I think part of the reason this particular value stuck with me is because it is one of the five values of my fraternity. Our five values are a guideline for us to become better men. Service is one of the values I tend to struggle with the most, because I don’t typically attempt to put any effort or time into serving. Hearing Nancy talk about her experiences with service made me realize that serving others doesn’t have to be a huge, life-altering sacrifice. It actually requires very little effort to serve your fellow man. That was the biggest thing that I learned during my Kentucky Kitchen Table – how to better serve others.

Service directly relates to two out of the three central questions of this class. The first is “How do we live better together?” This relates to service on a very basic level – treat others the way you want to be treated. If you want to be served, then serve others. We live better together when we are serving each other. The idea of serving others in your community leads to the next central question.

The second central question that service relates to is “How do we solve problems?” As we have learned in this class, a wicked problem is one with no clear solution. It is hard to solve because there are many layers. Examples of a wicked problem include homelessness, racial tensions, and healthcare. If everyday citizens got into the mindset of serving others, then we could begin to solve these problems. Let’s think about this with homelessness. More specifically, homelessness in Bowling Green. To solve homelessness, you essentially need two things: a steady income, and shelter. However, those two things are hard for a homeless person to attain on their own. If citizens who are already fortunate enough to have a steady income exhibited altruistic behavior in donating money for this problem, then it could be solved. Even better, those who own their own businesses or living complexes could offer jobs or a roof to live under. I realize that these are lofty expectations, but that is one way that our community could come together to serve those that are less fortunate than some of us are lucky to be. Like I said earlier, one of the big things I learned from my Kentucky Kitchen Table was that service does not always have to be a grand gesture. Service can also help solve smaller problems in our community.

An example of a small problem in Bowling Green is litter. It’s not a big enough problem to where you would be revolted when walking down the street, but it’s still a problem nonetheless. Anyone can solve this problem, and serve their fellow man, by simply picking up trash that you see. This might seem like a silly approach, but think about how many times you’ve seen litter and did not pick it up. That number is probably very high. It is for myself as well. If everyone in Bowling Green would take an extra ten seconds out of their day to pick up litter when they saw it, then we would all live in a much cleaner community.

Despite having some trouble with actually scheduling the meal, I had a good overall experience doing my Kentucky Kitchen Table. Davinci’s never disappoints, and the conversation was enriching as well. To sum up what I learned from my fellow Kentuckians, service is one of the keys to solving some of the major problems in our community. A saying that is used a lot in my fraternity is “service to others is the rent we pay for our space on this earth”. To me, this means that some of us are lucky enough to be able to live a fortunate life, and to serve others is the only true way to be thankful for what we have. If the citizens of Bowling Green thought this way, there would be no limit as to what we could accomplish in our community.

KY Kitchen Table

November 16, 2016November 17, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

Kaitlyn and I held our Kentucky kitchen table project here in Bowling Green. A sorority sister’s mother graciously offered her home and kitchen table for our discussion if we all agreed to each bring a dish to contribute to the meal. I made the shredded steak and banana pepper mix that is pictured in the beige bowl. Kaitlyn made macaroni and cheese. Three Kappa Delta’s together made the rolls and brought cheese slices. Three Alpha Omicron Pi’s brought a vegetable and cheese plate. The mother made pumpkin cheesecake brownies, which were in the oven baking when the photo below was taken.

Kaitlyn and I each invited three of our own sorority sisters to attend the event. The host of the dinner, Kelly, and her youngest daughter, Allison, were also present at the dinner. In total we had eight guests to eat and talk with. Kelly is the mother of my Kappa Delta sister, Caroline. She offered to host our dinner. Kelly is in her fifties and currently works as a pharmacist at a locally owned pharmacy in Bowling Green. Kelly is a WKU alumna. She identifies as Christian, but nondenominational, and as a Democrat. She is originally from Harlan County, which is a very poor county in Eastern Kentucky. She grew up extremely poor and was a first generation college student.

Allison is currently a junior in High School. She grew up in a middle class family in Bowling Green, KY. She is not old enough to be a registered voter and has yet to decide which political party she will register with. She also said she is currently discovering her faith and hopes to explore many different denominations in college that she was not exposed to in high school. She has not decided what career path she wants to take or where to attend college. Allison’s input in the conversation was particularly interesting because she is very open-minded and is not confined to social labels and groups that many others attribute to themselves.

I invited three Kappa Delta’s that Kaitlyn had never met before: Caroline, Madison, and Christa. Caroline is Kelly’s oldest daughter. She is a junior at WKU and within the Honors College, and she is double majoring in biology and psychology with a pre-physician’s assistant concentration. She identifies as having independent political beliefs—she describes herself as having liberal social beliefs but conservative beliefs regarding government policies. She grew up in a middle class family in Bowling Green, KY and identifies as a Christian and says her beliefs most closely align with the Presbyterian denomination.

Madison is a sophomore in the Honors College and is studying finance and accounting. She is from Northern Kentucky. Madison would describe her family as lower class, and she uses her residual check from the university to pay for her sorority dues. She identifies with the Democratic political party and defines herself as being more spiritual than religious.

Christa is a freshman in the Honors College majoring in biology. She is from Louisville and describes her family as upper class. She is very strong in her Catholic faith and is a registered Republican. Christa describes herself as very conservative.

Kaitlyn also brought three of her sorority sisters, whom I had never met before: Brittney, Haleigh, and Sarah. Brittney is a senior and is from Versailles. She describes her socioeconomic status as upper middle class. She is majoring in social work. She identifies with the Republican political party and is a Southern Baptist.

Haleigh is a senior and is from Glasgow, KY. She describes her family as upper class. She is currently applying to law schools. She identifies with the Republican Party and is a member of a Church of Christ.

Sarah is a junior from Franklin, KY. She describes her socioeconomic status as lower middle class. She is studying elementary education. She considers herself to be Christian, but nondenominational, and a Democrat.

All together, I feel that we achieved diversity in our group. Nearly half of our group was Democrat, while the other half was Republican. The majority of our group identified as Christian, but many denominations and views were represented. We had a wide range of hometowns and socioeconomic statuses represented. Some individuals were from larger cities while some were from very rural areas. The majority of the dinner guests considered themselves to be middle class but there were a few who considered themselves upper class or lower class, and they talked openly about that experience. We also had generational diversity. The host of the dinner offered a different outlook that many of us millennials did not readily see. Also, having the younger sister there was also interesting because she has yet to explore society on her own. Each of these different facets and experiences that make up our individual identities help to shape our views and opinions on different social issues.

Before we started the conversation, Kaitlyn and I first introduced the project to them and the goal of our dinner. We also laid down guidelines for discussion, much as we would in class before a deliberation. These were very simple and helped to make sure that the conversation was productive and respectful to all opinions. Some simple guidelines we requested that would be followed were 1. We would all remain respectful of others’ opinions and beliefs, 2. No one would be required to share if they felt uncomfortable doing so, and 3. We reserved the right to change the topic of conversation if we felt that the conversation was deteriorating and was no longer productive. Thankfully, everyone was very respectful the entire dinner, and we never had to enforce these rules. However, I did think that the rules set a nice precedent that this conversation was to be taken seriously.

We opened the conversation with the question “Beyond voting, paying taxes, and following laws, what does citizenship mean to you?” There were varied answers among everyone, but the common thread of most of the answers was linked to the answer that being a citizen means having respect and compassion for your fellow man. A good citizen does complete all of the typical duties that we traditionally think of, but a good citizen also goes out of their way to help their community and to get to know their neighbors and the needs of their neighbors. Many girls did attribute this line of thinking to their Christian faith. Their desire to help their fellow man stemmed directly from what they think Christ would do and what He would want from us. I then posed the question, how far does that radius of support extend? Do we think of ourselves more as local or global citizens? It was interesting because individuals from rural communities, like Madison and Haleigh, identified more as local citizens and had more personal connections to their neighbors and communities, while individuals from larger cities, like Christa and Allison, identified their citizenship as having more of a reach, to a national and even global level, but struggled naming some of their close neighbors. It also appeared that individuals who had global exposure through mission work or study abroad were more likely to consider themselves global citizens. Sarah recently spent time in Haiti doing mission work and shared how that experience helped to put her personal identity into perspective. She strongly believes in being an active global citizen and that so long as we all occupy the same Earth, we have a responsibility to try to help others when we have the power to do so.

We had the dinner the week before the presidential election, so inevitably the presidential election came up in conversation. The varying political beliefs allowed for a rich debate on the topic of candidates, however we tried to instead focus on what we each personally wanted our country to look like and how we wanted it to function and which candidate could accomplish those things. This was a particularly difficult conversation because many of us had different picturesque images of America. Christa, being very conservative, had a vastly different idea of what she wanted her country to like in the next four years than Caroline did, who was very concerned with the expansion of rights for all citizens, regardless of race, sexual orientation, etc. We could not reach a consensus on what this country needed and who was the best to do that. We then discussed just how hard it is to achieve a better America when the country is so divided on what that direction should be? Will we ever truly have a united country? While most of the college-aged women were stressed by this idea that our country would be permanently divided, Kelly tried to ease our fears. She said there had been very nasty elections before and times when America was starkly divided but yet the country had endured. Our conversation consisted of many topics and lasted for nearly two hours, but I have chosen to highlight the topics that impacted me the most.

Through these conversations, I learned not to make assumptions about individuals’ beliefs and opinions. From afar, the group that was gathered for dinner appeared homogenous: mostly Caucasian young women. I had assumed that we would mostly all be in agreement on most of the questions. However, after actually getting to talk with each of these women, I learned how vastly different we all were from each other and how different our views were. We never reached an agreement on any topic that we discussed. Every woman strongly supported her opinion and was respectful to others’ views but was usually not wavering in her own response.

I also learned that an act of citizenship might be to simply talk about the issues that we are all facing. This dinner and this class have illustrated to me how powerful conversation and deliberation can be. Each woman brought their own opinion and facts that they knew about certain social issues and these were able to act as a supplement to the knowledge I knew on an issue and challenged my own opinions. Discussion promotes critical thinking and civic engagement. I left that dinner feeling like I knew each woman fairly well because we had a real and meaningful conversation.

I feel that this conversation was how deliberation should be. We were all very receptive and respectful. This directly correlates to one of our central questions, “How do we live better together?” To live better together, I believe that we have to be accepting of differences and must be willing to hear the other side of an argument. I also feel that we must realize that our own idealistic image of what this country should be is not always someone else’s and that we must all, as individuals, be willing to compromise to achieve what is best for the whole nation. This relates best to the reading by Melville, “How We Talk Matters” and specifically to the quote “It’s not us versus them. We’re all us.” This is something that I think our country truly needs to keep in mind in such a trying time. This reading also states that democracy starts in “exchanges that take place over dinner tables.” If politicians were able to sit around their own kitchen table and listened, just as much as they talked, we may have a more effective and unified government. Overall, I truly enjoyed this assignment. This assignment and this course have made me feel more connected to my fellow man and has made me see that I do need to take ownership of my own actions and what role I can play in alleviating social issues.

Kentucky Kitchen Table in Bowling Green

November 16, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By Megan

When I first heard about the Kentucky Kitchen Table I knew that I wanted to host a meal in my home, but as the meal got closer, I became very nervous and apprehensive to share my home and my parents with individuals that I barely knew. I was accompanied by five individuals from very different backgrounds with differing views. The first guest at my kitchen table was my roommate and close friend, Lyn Dawsyn, who grew up in Glasgow, Kentucky and is also a freshman in the Honors College. Lyn Dawsyn is typically quieter in group settings; however, when she did speak during our discussion, she always made insightful and profound statements. Her love for politics and unconditional compassion for others truly enriched our discussion. Next was Hannah whose experiences growing up in a larger city like Louisville, Kentucky and attending an all-girl private school allowed her to contribute numerous well-thought out and valuable insights to our discussion. Next was Scott who also grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and is very independent and firm in his beliefs, yet open to hearing the opinions and perspectives of others. Scott was the individual at the table who I knew the least. The final two individuals at my Kentucky Kitchen Table were my parents, David and Tami. David has lived in and around Bowling Green his entire life and currently works as an Engineering Specialist for Medical Center Health (formerly Commonwealth Health Corporation). David enjoys sharing stories about his countless experiences and lessons learned thus far. Although I thought I had heard every story he had to tell over the last eighteen years, my dad shared stories during our dinner about his time in the Army that I had never heard, which was perhaps one of my favorite parts about this project. The final person seated at my kitchen table, my mom Tami, undoubtedly put in more work than anyone else leading up to the meal, which truly exemplifies her unconditional selflessness. Tami is a Certified Credit Specialist who also works for Medical Center Health. She is much less outspoken compared to David but still contributed numerous valuable comments to our discussion.

After everyone had filled their plates with delicious home-cooked food, we began our discussion by going around the table and sharing our opinions on what makes us all citizens and our responsibilities as citizens beyond those you typically learn about in school (voting, taxes, etc.). I was pleasantly surprised that we came to the unanimous decision that above all else, being kind to others and doing your part to be a genuinely good person to the people around you was the best way to be a better citizen. If each one of us made it our responsibility to be a good person, the dynamics in our communities would change drastically.

The next topic that we discussed was whether or not our jobs play a role in bettering the community. Because only two of the six people had true occupations, the students at the table answered the question based on the careers that we hope to have someday. Each of the young adults seated at the table had driven intentions of making a small difference or change in the field that they hope to enter. Lyn Dawsyn wanted to change the nature of political campaigns and advertising as a whole while Hannah wanted to change the nature of the media and how news is portrayed. Scott and I both plan to enter healthcare fields, and we are both largely aware of the impact that each individual interaction that we have with a patient, especially a child, could change the way that they view healthcare professionals as well as improve their mood or how the rest of their day goes despite their illness or disability. David and Tami also expressed genuine desires to treat everyone with compassion and respect in the workplace regardless of how they treat you, their position or title, or how bad of a day you are having. After dinner, Hannah and I both decided that this discussion in particular reminded us of one of the central questions we are focusing on in this course: How do we live well together? I also personally related the way that each of us answered this question to the fact that the first step in crossing the theoretical bridge from how we currently live to how we want to live better together is to recognize the part that every single individual holds in making a difference in how individuals in a community live together. If everyone was conscious of how they interacted with the people that they encounter, we could begin to live better together.

Relationships and interactions with our neighbors was the next topic that we discussed, and it was a particularly nostalgic subject for my parents and I as a majority of the neighbors that we had when I was growing up have recently moved away in the last few years. Nearly everyone at the table expressed the same sentiment that they felt much closer and had more interactions with their neighbors during childhood compared to now, which may be a result of the technology that we now fill our free time with. Tami pointed out that in addition to the advances in technology that have led to a reluctance in spending time outdoors and interacting with neighbors, a lack of trust and willingness to be vulnerable amongst strangers has also greatly contributed to a change in how we interact with our neighbors.

Because my Kentucky Kitchen Table took place the week before Election Day, and we had become seemingly comfortable with each other, our conversation then shifted to a more controversial topic: the impending election. To ease into the topic and not enter directly into discussing specific candidates, Hannah asked what advice each of us would give to someone running for a political office. My parents and I have had this conversation multiple times over the last few months, so immediately my dad mentioned how although it is a tricky (AKA wicked) problem, he wishes there was a way to require the President of the United States to have some form of military experience or background because he/she is given the task of being the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. This epistemological knowledge of how the armed forces operates would be valuable because the decisions made by the Commander in Chief impact the actual lives of millions of Americans more so than many other decisions that the President makes that may impact Americans’ livelihoods like taxes, healthcare, etc. I also stated that I feel the President should be business-minded rather than politically minded yet still be experienced enough to understand how to make decisions for an entire nation. I think a business-minded candidate is necessary because “corruption” is so prominent in politics and improving our economy and international relations are extremely important to the current state of our nation. Overall, everyone at the table agreed that although it was difficult to choose a candidate based on character in this election and one cannot base their vote solely on character, ideally a candidate for a political office would be level-headed, respectable, generally trustworthy, and considerate of all races, backgrounds, and economic classes while also being well-qualified for the position.

In summation, the greatest thing that I took away from my Kentucky Kitchen Table project was that our campus, hometowns, nation, and world do not necessarily need drastic and radical changes in order to improve. I left the dinner comforted by the thought that if each individual is willing to give compassion and strive to receive respect from everyone they come in contact with, numerous problems that we identified throughout the night could be resolved. I strongly believe that every individual sitting around my kitchen table that night greatly benefited from this project. My parents have not stopped talking about how much they enjoyed hosting this project in our home and how renewed their faith is in my generation. I have eaten dinner around the same table nearly every night for the last eighteen years, and I believe undoubtedly that the night of my Kentucky Kitchen Table project was possibly the greatest experience I have had sitting at that table.

Kentucky Kitchen Table: A Dinner Fit For Kings

November 16, 2016November 22, 2016 / CitizenAndSelf / Leave a comment

By Hayley

I decided to travel to my hometown, Lebanon, TN, for this assignment, strongly because a home cooked meal from my grandmother was calling my name. She insisted on cookin’ up all of the fixings; if it was a southern staple food, she had it!

Along with my parents Julie and Johnny, my grandparents, Haywood and Norma Jean, invited their new neighbors to come over. Ken, Celeste, Elan, Matthew, and Ian Barry recently moved from Asheville, North Carolina to my home town, Lebanon, Tennessee. Ken is a civil engineer and his wife, Celeste, is a geologist. Matthew and Ian attend the local high school and Elan is a student at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. As you can tell, it was game day. Go Vols!

Having never met them before and knowing how knowledgeable my grandfather is, I knew that I was in for a treat. My grandfather is extremely involved in the community. If you looked up “active citizen” in the dictionary, a picture of him would be on the page. After being a successful lawyer for decades, he became a judge while serving on the town’s city council. At the age of 80, he is currently serving his fourth term as city circuit judge. To say the least, he is my hero, so I knew that he would have some admirable insight.

I started with the question, “What does citizenship mean to you?” After some shared chuckles over how open-ended and broad the question was, everyone simultaneously chimed in on their thoughts. Being all-inclusive was a reoccurring answer, being a good neighbor, standing for the National Anthem, and most importantly be civically engaged. My grandpa went on to say “it’s not all government that runs the world,” which is a unique thought to process. Another unique point that I wouldn’t normally think of was being involved with others in your profession to help make advancements. This came from the father of the new neighbors, the civil engineer, who helps maintain safe waterways.

The next question that I asked was “What kind of community do you want to live in?” The first thing that came out of about half of their mouths was a peaceful community. My grandpa then went on to explain that good law enforcement is crucial. It’s equally crucial that the law enforcement polices in a community balance. The next topic of discussion was being eco-friendly. Things as simple as keeping up with your own trash and making sure you don’t litter will not only help the environment, but also saves clean up money for tax payers. Also, my mom added in to not waste water or electricity, in other words be a “peaceful conserving community.” Another huge topic was having opportunities available. Coming from a pretty diverse community, I have witnessed first hand some races having more opportunities than others which goes back to being all-inclusive. A big facet of opportunities is opportunities in education and careers, which is definitely something that my community is lacking. I also asked “What advice would you give to people running for office in our country?” Of course my mom initially said “run,” which really sparked some laughter. After a lull my soft-spoken grandmother spoke up and said to make sure you have a clean past, which is sadly the driving factor. Some more responses were to assume the attitude that you don’t know it all, but you are willing to learn. This really struck a chord with me. I think that that one phrase applies to anything that you will ever do, especially when it pertains to being a citizen. I might make that my mantra. My grandfather also mentioned that it is important that you can work with/get along with both democrats and republicans-something that he has definitely ran into with his past political career.

The last question that I asked was “What social issue is closest to your heart and why?” The one that stuck out to me and that I was not fully aware of was drug abuse. My grandfather said that he sees more people in court driving under the influence of drugs-not alcohol. The answer for all of these cases is not incarceration. That opens up a whole new can of worms that I won’t dive into now, but it’s a pertinent issue. Communities need more treatment facilities because jail is the last place to cure people of their drug habits. I guess that I didn’t realize this issue was to relevant at such a local level. Some more social issue that were discussed briefly was climate change and employment. Regarding climate change, it was said that “we are the cause of the problem,” and we need to take initiatives to help preserve the earth. Employment was definitely stressed as an important issue. We need to bring jobs to people in suffering areas such as Eastern Kentucky, for example. Ever since the coal mining industry left, so many civilians have suffered financially because they don’t have the means/the drive to go find a different job. It seems like we could provide incentives to people moving to cities like Louisville or Lexington to get jobs. Shortly after this conversation, everyone finished up dinner. I definitely learned a lot about my family’s (and strangers) opinions on being a citizen, living in a healthy community, and social issues.