0669 - The Politics of Patience and Impatience

Course Description

“Wait! Not so fast!” In our day-to-day lives there are many situations that call for patience – waiting for someone else to go first, moving more slowly, or enduring difficult circumstances. Patience is often regarded as a virtue.

 But sometimes there’s a voice saying, “Come on! Get moving!” Whether the context is with work colleagues or family members or perfect strangers, the message becomes, “Be more productive!” or “Drive faster!” or “Stop lollygagging!”

 Although this presentation will introduce some personal and everyday examples when we are called upon to be patient or impatient, the deeper goal is to make a connection with current political, social, and ecological issues. Within larger world issues, we show up with our individual personalities – perhaps more patient, perhaps more impatient – but we also cultivate patience and impatience as communities, even as nations.

 On the one hand, the politics of patience means taking the long view and sometimes trusting in the power of social movements that are steadily chipping away, chipping away, chipping away toward a better world. On the other hand, the politics of impatience means getting appropriately worked up, getting exasperated, and hurrying to change the world for the better.

 Therefore our leaders call out, “What do we want?” Millions of us answer: “Democracy! Peace! Ecological health!” The leader calls out again: “When do we want it?” And we reply: “Sometime next year!”

Wait – is this one of those times when we must become much, much more impatient? Come to this presentation if you can’t wait to find out the answer.

Instructor

Matthew Bailey-Dick worked as an educator in both academic and non-academic settings, as a pastor in three Mennonite churches, and as a hospice volunteer. In his graduate studies Matthew looked into the connections between adult education, death education, and hope.

Location

Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Community Pavilion (101 Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo, ON)

• Parking is free.
• Download the facility map (PDF) to find facilities and parking lots.

Notes

• Lecture Time :  130-300 pm
• Lecture Cost:  $16.00 + HST

• Participants must register before the day of the lecture. 
• Laurier’s online registration system accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Visa Debit, and MasterCard Debit.
• You will only be able to purchase 1 seat at the time of registration. If looking to register more than 1 person, each registrant will require their own account to complete the registration.
• Lectures are non-refundable

Contact

If you have any questions please email lifelonglearning@wlu.ca.