Massey lecturer Ian Williams on having courageous conversations amid cancel culture
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- čas přidán 9. 04. 2024
- The award-winning Canadian writer and professor Ian Williams has been named this year’s Massey lecturer. Since 1961, the Massey Lectures have invited distinguished writers, thinkers and scholars to present their ideas in a five-part lecture series across Canada. Ian sits down with Tom to tell us why he’s chosen the topic of conversations for his cross-country lecture series, how listening can be a courageous act, and why he believes it’s important to have difficult conversations, even at the risk of offending people.
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What a pleasure to listen to this interview!
This was a fabulous interview. I relate very strongly to what was discussed.
As a 9 yr old I moved from NS to BC. I had lived an idealistic life to this point with freedom to roam, to learn life from many people. Everyone to that point had been friendly and I had not been faced with hatred, racism or prejudice. It was there, I just had not recognized it. My parents were VERY anti racism but I didn't understand that as I was just a happy kid who was allowed to hang out with whomever I wanted.
At 9 my dad retired from the Navy and moved us to BC to be closer to blood relatives. As a 9 yr old I suddenly felt like I didn't belong. People were not friendly. I got bullied because I interacted with kids of colour. I was used to school having a mixed class of people of at least black and white. Now I was in a world with only 1 black kid and a whole lot of white kids. None of them talked like me, none appeared friendly. I was in the same country but I felt like Alice in wonderland having to learn all new social behaviors. I wasn't just canadian anymore, now I was a bluenoser first , cdn second. To this day I am torn as to who is the real me in public behaviours. I gravitate to people from the east coast and it's like we truly are free to be ourselves when we find each other. We are more Ani.ated, we just get each other.
As for conversations.. I hate social media, I want to talk face to face. See the expressions on a face, hear the tones in the conversation. I am in my late 50's now and I work in a multi cultural office. My co workers and I discuss everything. Nothing is off the table. Culture, religion, politics. We don't always agree but we listen to each other with respect and we like each other. Social media divides us. Until we actually connect with someone, listen to them and hear what they are saying we find it too easy to dismiss what is only being posted. We need to engage and actually talk to each other.
Wow what an interview! 💚
Come to the island Tom, ill give you a tour!