Greetings Smith Michael:

Your reasonings are interesting and they do give me some insights. I can't say I agree with all of them, but I give thanks still. If I may give a word of advice, many times you get more people to overstand where you are coming from by having a humble approach. If someone feels you are challenging them, then the reasonings may instigate defense instead of response.

Now according to your reasonings, are you saying that someone, in a dualistic situation, has to be one thing or the other? If it is, I beg to differ. I agree in certain situations you have to make a firm decision on what side you stand on and stick to it, but just as I'm a mother and a daughter, I can also be a student and a teacher. Many times while I'm teaching, a student asks me a question, and I don't know. I go to look it up with the student and we both end up learning something new, which makes me in the same place as the student.

You also asked an interesting question, is memorizing and learning the same thing? Memorizing can be a tool of learning, and I feel the Western School system perfers that to be the dominant tool, which is why I have problems with it. Now of course we utilize our memory in everything we do. Learning to me, is the absorption and internalizing of information to the extent that it influences how you think and see the world and yourself. That definition is subject to change though. Memorizing is simply recording information that may later be tested and questioned, but doesn't necessarily have to change your worldview. For instance, when I was taught European History, I memorized the information for the test, but to date, I still don't "remember" the facts because I didn't internalize the information. Same with alot of Math. I learned the math because I was suppose to in order to get a good grade, but it didn't effect the way I saw the world or myself.

Eternally,
Mama FiYah