Hi Gail,
I think we have to go back to my qualifier:
Gail wrote:
I think we all have that privilege although the rich and powerful may have better access to leverage in making their definitions known, but even they cannot force acceptance of their decisions.)
I replied:
Hi Gail,
It is good to have you contributing to this list
again. As to the section of your posting that is copied above, I
agree with you with one major qualifier. Let me start with an example:
the word 'terrorism'. When the rich and powerful(George W and friends)
define this concept to suit their purposes it has huge very pragmatic
consequences. Enough said?
Do you accept my qualifier? Perhaps enough wasn't said. The Mike
Harris government in Ontario has fundamentally redefined what it means
to be a teachers in Ontario by introducing standardized tests,
standardized report cards, standardized curriculum, standardized
permanent probation for teachers. They create a teacher regulatory
body called The College of Teachers and then ignore anything it
'defines' if they don't like it. I don't think it is a stretch to say
that many teachers are feeling alienated, so too nurses. Marilyn
Waring in her NFB film "Sex, Lies and Economics" describes
how the definition of GDP by governments alienates care givers. The
definition of what it meant to be a person did not include women a
hundred years ago. The suffragettes didn't like this alienation.
Take care,
Brian
