1. Today is the day to… be a citizen of the world

2. The source for this material is… 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.

3. Expand your critical thinking MORE GLOBALLY

4. “Survival and well-being of humans depends …largely on our ability to work together successfully and productively…to help one another.” (Ibid)

5. YET… Problems of nationalism and ethnocentrism are pervasive across the world People are raised to see their country, their group, as better All cultures tend to think… We are just We are good We are fair We are the best in the world (Ibid)

6. “Read newspapers & magazines… from other countries and notice how they present their country’s motives in glowing terms; notice similar treatment in our news media of our country’s motives…e.g., of how our foreign policies are often represented (ibid) This is a natural tendency of the human mind This is a natural tendency of the human mind We tend to favor the groups to which we belong We tend to favor the groups to which we belong And this tendency is fostered within most cultures And this tendency is fostered within most cultures Most people in the world think of their country as the best country in the world Most people in the world think of their country as the best country in the world (Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)

7. All cultures tend to look at differences in thought or behavior from their own as wrong; as evil; and those cultures as enemies

8. Be on the lookout Notice questionable statements that make one country’s motives look good and another’s look bad; look… on the surface of what is being said;on the surface of what is being said; below the surface at the truth or meaning of what is being said;below the surface at the truth or meaning of what is being said; consider the historical perspective; determine the vested interests;consider the historical perspective; determine the vested interests; figure out what they want you to believe, and why;figure out what they want you to believe, and why; figure out what you really believe, and why.figure out what you really believe, and why.

9. Think about… What you were taught in school What you were taught in school Which parts of your country’s history [and world history] were ignored or distorted Which parts of your country’s history [and world history] were ignored or distorted Think about other countries; do a little research and notice a similar pattern Think about other countries; do a little research and notice a similar pattern “If we are to create a world that advances justice for the vast majority of people across the globe...we must think within a global, rather than national, view. We must take a long-term view.” (Ibid)

10. “We must see the lives of people in other countries as no less precious than the lives of people in our own country.” -D-D-D-Dr. Linda Elder and Dr. Richard Paul (Ibid)

11. Our authors cite a passage in a book by Sumner: “Every group of any kind whatsoever demands that each of its members shall help defend group interests. The group force is also employed to enforce the obligations of devotion to group interests. It follows that judgments are precluded and criticism silenced… The patriotic bias is a recognized perversion of thought and judgment against which our education should guard us.”-W.G. Sumner, Folkways, Ayer Company Publishers, 1992 (originally published in 1906).

12. e.g., Take one world problem in the news (global warming, malnutrition, disease, overpopulation)… e.g., Take one world problem in the news (global warming, malnutrition, disease, overpopulation)… And find out as much as you can from multiple international sources. Then compare what your nation is doing about the problem. What did you actually know about the problem, from multiple viewpoints? What did you actually know about the problem, from multiple viewpoints? What role have/can you play in helping to solve this world problem? What role have/can you play in helping to solve this world problem? What are your views now that you have researched this problem, and considered other perspectives? (Ibid) What are your views now that you have researched this problem, and considered other perspectives? (Ibid)

13. Four Strategies Our authors offer four strategies that can be used by critical thinkers to begin to become a citizen of the world. Our authors offer four strategies that can be used by critical thinkers to begin to become a citizen of the world. To begin to think more globally, see the “Strategies” on p.66. To begin to think more globally, see the “Strategies” on p.66.(Ibid)

14. Extend your reading on these ideas Check the Library; read papers outside your state Check foreign newspapers and journals

15. Today is the day to… Be a citizen of the world

16. “If patriotism is the ‘last refuge of a scoundrel,’ it is not merely because evil deeds may be performed in the name of patriotism…but because patriotic fervor can obliterate moral distinctions altogether.” -R-R-R-Ralph Barton Perry

17. Remember, these PowerPoints… Reflect the tip of the iceberg; Reflect the tip of the iceberg; Are a “fast track” sprint; a Berlitz course, a capsule view, if you will, of what requires much deeper focus and practice in our thinking. Are a “fast track” sprint; a Berlitz course, a capsule view, if you will, of what requires much deeper focus and practice in our thinking. Even the original plan of our authors was for a 25-week “fast track”, not 25 days! Even the original plan of our authors was for a 25-week “fast track”, not 25 days!

18. DAILY REFLECTION NOTES Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies: Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies: The key insights that emerged for me today were: The key insights that emerged for me today were: One problem in my thinking that I now realize is: One problem in my thinking that I now realize is: I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy: I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy: