Who has the
power to tell that a story is valid? Why is there suppose to be the power of who
has the right to tell a story? Mignolo in his reading touches on this notion of
the untold stories through Interculturalidad and Multicultural. In his article
he talks about Interculturalidad being a notion of challenging what is in place
already. It is about challenging those of who think and have dictated what is
the correct way of thinking or who believes that is knowledge. It is
acknowledging that there are two different logics and languages.
Interculturalidad questions what is knowledge and why is that knowledge is
placed in that way. This is very similar to Rabassa’s thinking in “Elsewheres.”
It is necessary double think and question what has been in placed as knowledge
and why that type of knowledge is the “correct” one. Who is it that wants us to
think in that way and why? What is knowledge in the first place? Mignolo and
Rabassa both want us to acknowledge that knowledge has been shaped by a higher
power structure that needs and wants us to think that there is one way of
thinking. Once one knows that there is another way of thinking that opens the
opportunity to challenge those who have told us not to think in a different
manner. Being able to think in an Interculturalidad manner is a form of
thinking radically. This is viewed when Mignolo writes about Interculturalidad
and the indigenous people. For indigenous people interculturalidad is a way of
moving away from one way of thinking. Rabassa writes, “The difference is that
an Indigenous intellectual still has to know Kant alongside Waman Puma to be
conversant, while a German or French intellectual can dispense with Waman Puma
and solve the problem of rights for all and for ever with Kant and Hegel”
(117). Moreover, it was thinking in both manners and having to know both ways
of thinking. It is mixture of both manners of knowing the way that has been
taught to think of knowledge but also knowing that there is another way of
thinking. Interculturalidad questions knowledge, which is a form of
decolonization. In addition, it gives voice to the untold stories. Furthermore,
to tell the stories that have been shut down for so many years and have been
told that they are not valid stories. Multicultural on the other hand just
accepts and does not challenge what is already set up. Decolonizing the form of
knowledge is powerful because it honestly challenges one to reflect as to why
one has been told to think in this way. Rabassa writes, “maintaining the power
of imperial knowledge over all other kind of knowledge” (116). What is the
power of knowledge that knowledge itself has to be controlled?
Wendy, you pose a lot of good points that deconstruct what a majority of modern people think education and knowledge is. Like Dr. G says, in order to answer the question, you need to question the question. I think it is important to develop critical and analytical thinking in one's pursuit of education and knowledge, because with out questioning the very structures that are set in place, you will truly never break down the limits of your mind. Knowledge is a powerful tool that can pit someone against the very structures that oppress people today, and that is why I personally think that there are these structures of multiculturalism, because it strips away a persons ability to think outside the norm. I think that these systems of education were put into place by those who hold power in order that they can't really be defied because they have become the norm which forces people to conform and not question the system. In reality, in order to break free, you have to question the system just like you question the question. Lusia gave me a quote in her comment from Albert Einstein that I think is applicable to this as well: "Don't let school get in the way of your education."
ReplyDeleteI really like the questions you've posed in your response Wendy! I think that they're also really relevant to the discussions that are beginning to happen on campus about the Intercultural Center and the role of the institution.
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