知识是武器?

我这门穆斯林世界的课还没上完,课程在二月才会结束,讲师却给美国政府气坏了。

讲师是伊朗人,父辈是传统的伊斯兰什叶派传教士,他本身是法学专家,从伊朗国内学制起步,后到很多西方国家留过学,教书做研究,包括在各回教国家的机构当顾问,资历十分深。目前他人在哥本哈根大学法学院教课,专攻国际法。

其实也不关讲师的背景,而是美国当局有法令:

“.....certain U.S. export control regulations prohibit U.S. businesses, from offering services to users in sanctioned countries (Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria). The interpretation of the export control regulations in the context of MOOCs has been ambiguous up until now, and we had been operating under one interpretation of the law.
 ....In particular, the notion of “services” includes offering access to human grading of quizzes and assessments, peer-graded homework, and discussion forums.”

学校是在美国注册的,虽然是非盈利组织,但也归纳在以上的条规之下,所以被‘关照’了。

“But you will now be interested to hear that also my course (and anything else the school offers) has been classified, if not a weapon that could be misused, then at least a "service" and as such must not fall into the hands of anybody happening to live in the countries that the United States government doesn't like. I have thus been informed that my students in Cuba, Syria, Sudan and my homeland will no longer be able to access this course. I leave it to you to ponder whether this course is indeed a weapon and if so against what and what possible benefit the average American citizen could possibly derive from restricting access to it. "

讲师几乎是悲愤又痛心地说。他也忧心,不知这个国家(美国)的未来迈向何方?会钻牛角吗?


思考深入一点,他的课程,难道不是通往和平的一个小小努力吗?世界各个角落几万人,突破地理、空间、人为的局限,深入浅出地跟他学关于穆斯林的骄傲和窘境,明白现实的可悲和残酷,更重要的是,特别是住在回教国家的人民,有哪儿可以做出改善的地方?即使是丁点一小步?

最重要的是,了解实相。突破国内的主流媒体,当局政府的封锁,或世界的大牌新闻集团的操控,或是网路上乱七八糟煽动性的媚俗。识别真和假,原来穆斯林非穆斯林,都为扎实的生活挣扎,都为一口饭,一片瓦,没有什么比这更真的了。

而且,在学生论坛,不同区域,不同意识形态的公民,互相提问、认识、辩论、了解、达成协议,打破刻板印象,问题触及比旅客猎奇之外,更深刻更坦承的核心, 这比自家政府能做、愿做的多太多了。

记得去年在美国发生的一起19岁穆斯林少年移民,在波斯顿义跑安置炸弹的事吧? 美国人被类似的事件吓得十年怕井绳,其实车祸、校园屠杀发生的统计命案更多,更令人扼腕。

最近看的一部电影《The Citizen》,正好是仿这个课题的一个例子,搬出来应景一下。

 
(取自IMDb)电影《公民》
Yearning to leave behind his life of misfortune in the Middle East, Ibrahim Jarrah wins the U.S Green Card Lottery for a chance to become an American citizen. Ibrahim lands in New York City the day before 9/11... and the events of the September terrorist attacks forever shape the struggles he faces on his journey to capture the American dream. Inspired by true events, filmmaker Sam Kadi's feature debut is a gripping tale of courage, love, and perseverance, the qualities of a true CITIZEN. Written by monterey media inc.

Comments

  1. 托maileng姐的福,我也正在上课了。
    才刚刚看了第一堂课,论坛已经有13页,压力!
    cm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 诶,这个署名很眼熟一下,以前有留过言啊?

      课程快结束了,给你加油加油加加油!
      很有趣的,坚持到完,ok?
      该交第二份文章了,或者你可以share share一下点子。。。呵呵。

      Delete

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