Tuesday General Session

TALKING AMERICA'S SECOND LANGUAGE:  FRAMING THE ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT

Presenter: Lawrence Wallack

Abstract Category: 

Instruction Level: Beginner

Presentation: Not Provided

Abstract:

The goal of social change—creating a fairer, more just society—is difficult to advance in public discussion because a language to express the values animating that mission has not been adequately developed. The first “language” of American culture is individualism.  A second American language of community— rooted in progressive social values that are common to the American experience—serves as the first language of social change. These values resonate with many Americans but are not easily articulated. Consequently, personal-behavioral, individualistic understandings of national problems prevail.  Advancing a social change/public policy approach to the nation’s challenges such as affordable housing requires invigorating America’s second language by recognizing the underlying core social justice values of our mission.