Day 26

Philadelphia

 

The most beautiful thing about this trip for me is learning about my own nation through the eyes of others. Today we visited the Convention Center and the Jewish History Museum in Philadelphia--two very integral places of history that I have never experienced. On the way home from Philadelphia, our car discussions were filled with the nuances of American politics and how they compare with Indonesian policies. The questions went both ways, and I ended up thinking about the American political system in terms of the international perspective. 

When first starting this journey, I was certain that the Indonesian portion would be far superior to anything the boring United States could offer. However, I am learning just as much from the activities we are doing here as from the Indonesian activities, which is absolutely amazing--I am do lucky to have the opportunity to experience these things with our Indonesian counterparts.

--Ellie Craig, Lehigh University

Chinatown

 

I think that one of the more surprising things about the American portion of the trip are the cultural differences that were not necessarily so apparent when we were Indonesia. A lot of my experience in Indonesia lead me to believe that the two cultures were a lot more alike than I had assumed before I left. There were still rappers, there were class differences, and there were still regular young adults going to college and getting an education like we are, only on the other side of the world. 

Once we were situated in America, I came to discern that there were intricacies to this difference in culture and understanding that I had not seen before. I would often hear participants asking if it was ok to say something or ask something that I had previously regarded as fine and socially acceptable, and then realize that it did not come as common sense to them because of a culture gap. It was a pleasant personal refresher on American etiquette. I also began to think about all the things I may have done or said while I was in Indonesia that may have been offensive or rude without even realizing it. 

There are certain things about American culture that make it acceptable for many of us to feel very open and free with what we discuss and ask about, and things I did not even think about being remotely offensive (and it probably was, sorry). I feel bad about it. In the same breath, there are things that I notice about our group's experience here in America that I am offended by, but it has only made me realize exactly how different it is to be raised as an American versus being raised as an Indonesian. 

Often when our cultures clash, it becomes awkward, and painfully quiet. I think it is important for us to talk about the awkward and offensive things as a group because if it keeps happening and we don't discuss it openly, then we aren't learning very much about each other. I value the friendships that are forming between everyone very much and I think through open discussion and bonding that we will become even closer. I look forward to tomorrow's discussions.

--Shannon Cassidy, Lehigh University

Learning about handmade Colonial every day things

 

Today’s visit to the Constitution Center in Philadelphia was the ideal follow up to Professor Matthew’s lecture on the ratification of the Constitution in 1787. When establishing a federal system, James Madison’s ultimate goal was to prevent rapid change. Federalist 10 reveals Madison’s fear of the majority. How do you prevent the inevitable passion that will overcome a group of individuals who realize they all share the same goal? How do you maintain factions so that they don’t violate the rights of citizens? 

One comment that stood out to me during this discussion was that James Madison didn’t rely on the goodwill of people to shape his thought-process; he merely built the American Political System around how he expected men and women to behave in their natural state. For example, knowing all men are power hungry, his first step was to extend the commercial republic so that it allowed them to make as much money as they wanted. Next, Madison was concerned with the unpredictable behavior of religious groups, so he demanded the separation of Church and State. This way, American citizens were able to create as many religious groups as they wanted as long as they didn’t permeate the political arena. “The more the merrier” because a more pluralistic society encourages less cohesion and minimizes the likelihood of a majority forming. With this in mind, how do you think Madison would advise the United States government to deal with the abortion issue? By dividing the power between three branches of government and creating a system of checks and balances to neutralize any concentration of power, it is clear that above all Madison wanted stability. So, rather than let the national government “pick a side,” he would turn it into a state issue. 

While some states opt to legalize abortion, others will prohibit it. Despite the multiplicity of responses, there will still be stability within the U.S. government. Advancements like abortion, DNA, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance represent modern day issues that the framers could not have prepared for. If we relied solely on the thinking of the framers and a strict interpretation of the Constitution, then African-Americans would still only be considered three-fifths of a person. An ongoing debate that began with the federalists and anti-federalists is centered on how this document should be interpreted. In my opinion, the Constitution should be treated as a skeletal framework, not a code of laws. 

When reading the Constitution and applying it to contemporary issues, it all comes down to whether or not the decision upholds the principles of the democratic government and secures individual liberty. Every generation debates over how the Constitution should evolve and adapt to the controversial issues of that time. These conflicts are exactly what Madison hoped for when designing the federalist system. He wanted factions to compete with each other. President Obama’s inability to pass any legislation shows Madison succeeded in his goal to ensure incrementalism within the U.S. government. After two hundred years, the system is still saying no.

--Angela Farren, Lehigh University