first cycle thought

i originally took this course for extra credits. last year when we were picking classes, i saw it and it seemed like it wouldnt be too hard, just a little bit to lighten the class load. but the moment we sat down and started talking, i noticed i wasnt just interested in what we were discussing (the islam center being constructed in new york and the controversy around its propinquity to the location of ground zero), but i was in fact participating and sharing my own thoughts about the topic. considering i rarely speak up in class, this was pretty strange for me. and that day i realized that any opinion that could exist, does exist. and none are wrong, but at the same time non are right. to say one opinion is evil, or stupid, is just naive - because the people with the opinion opposite yours could be thinking the exact same thing about your opinions. in any case, hearing the back and forth about whether it was alright to build the community center so close to where radical muslims attacked nine years ago was truly illuminating. after the first day, my interest in the class only started growing. in the next class, i enjoyed learning about the aboriginal "dreamtime", and how through proper rituals one can "become the ancestors". next we learned about creation stories from native american and african tribes, each as distinct and bizarre as the last. there is no real common thread between the south american bumba, or the native american paq, or any other story - that is because they have all been created separately and is a true testament to the diversity of cultures in our world. at this point in the class, i no longer see this block as an easygoing block, but rather as a way to find out more about the past, about humanity, and maybe even myself.