“I derived a huge sense of value from the [polymathic] conversations because they enabled me to transcend my own isolated perspective and view the world in a more holistic fashion.” ~ Grace Chediak, Harman Fellow 2014
“Whenever a person breaks a stick in the forest, let him consider what it would feel like if it were himself who was thus broken.” ~Yoruba Proverb African Traditional (Nigeria)
“I’ll be honest: this year has been difficult as an Asian American. I can still clearly recall the day in March when my neighbors decided to call my parents “Chinese virus,” as they were grabbing our mail.” ~ USC Trojan Sophomore, 2021
Love your neighbor as yourself, otherwise known as the “golden rule,” is a universal maxim: it is present in virtually all religious traditions and many ancient philosophical teachings. Its reach is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, trans-historical, and humanistic. Yet, our neighbor we hate. Our neighbor we exclude. Our neighbor we denigrate. Our neighbor we accuse. Our neighbor we kill. How can we reinvigorate the sense of community and connection that the concept of a neighborhood promises?
For this special Trojan Family Weekend Polymathic Pizza session, Professors Karen Tongson and Viet Thanh Nguyen will guide and challenge us in an exploration of what neighbor and neighborhood can and should mean, both locally and globally.
