Influence and Responsibility

#2). The Greeks believed that to be an orator, an individual had to be morally good.  Comment on whether you agree or disagree.  What, if any, is the connection between goodness, truth, and public communication?

Throughout historical Greek society, orators were expected, almost required, to be of good moral character because those allowed to speak publicly greatly influenced the shaping of their society.  As time has progressed, orators have come from all walks of life, and been of both good moral character (think Martin Luther King, Jr.), and grave evil hearts (think Hitler). 

The consistent thread regarding orators, transcending history and culture, is that an orator remains influential and able to greatly impact its audiences and/or society, especially a well crafted and gifted orator.  Ideally, I agree our world is best served when goodness, truth, and public communication are synonymous, a collaborative effort to empower society for the greater good.  Unfortunately, it is well known that this is not always the case. Therefore, I believe it is incumbent upon audience members to be educated in dissecting rhetorical argument, researching truth as they personally interpret it to be, and staying attuned to the goodness they possess internally, opting to nurture and apply it to external input, and thus, quell evil. 

To be an orator is of high honor, and comes with great responsibility. To influence another is an extremely powerful tool.  As well, to influence and govern oneself, orator or receiver, is imperative! I think Shakespeare summed it up nicely in Hamlet when he writes, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

This thing called "Blogging."

Okay, I've learned a lot more about technology since attending college.  That does not mean I have mastered much beyond writing, emailing, and researching.  This "blog" creating and posting thing beyond Blackboard is definitely a new venture.  It may take me a bit, but I will eventually get it and be grateful.  For now, it's a wee bit disconcerting... fingers crossed. :)

Here goes...

Greetings fellow students and Professor Carol:

My name is Barbara Gabaldon, and I'm a returning Sierra student double majoring in English and Communications.  I completed my English degree with Honors in May 2011, and had the privilege of being peer selected to deliver our Commencement speech.  It was following the ceremony, when a Congresswoman in attendance for another student approached me to encourage me to further pursue Communications. It proved a pivotal and life changing moment in my life, which led to my decision to double major.  I will forever be grateful for the time she took to seek me out and speak into my life.  I heeded her advice, and will complete my Comm degree this semester before transferring to University.

As a late bloomer, re-entry student (I'm a mother of two adult children, and a grandmother, aka: "Nana to five cuties),  my time at Sierra has been packed with new adventures. I am quite grateful to have the experience!  I have been active on campus, serving as an ASSC Student Senator, Vice President of Service for Sierra's Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society Chapter, and the closest position to my heart, President of the World Impact Club, where we are working to open a school in Tanzania to save eight year old girls from being sold off as a sex slave under the guise of being a 40 plus year old man's "wife."

After reviewing the materials presented online for this course, I sense we have a solid opportunity to learn and grow extensively throughout the semester.  If I can be of any assistance to you for any reason, please do not hesitate to ask.  If I cannot assist you, I may be able to refer you to someone who can.  I'm quite resourceful and well networked among our campus, faculty, and students.

Here's to a great semester! :)