Framing Meaning Making
W.E.B. Du Bois’ Sociology: The Restive Relationship between W.E. B. DuBois, Traditional White Institutions, and Diversity and Inclusiveness
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Anne Onyekwuluje
This paper explores the transformation of W.E.B. Du Bois’ early sociological thinking on diversity and inclusiveness in response to the now apparent transition to a developmental diversity and inclusive approach (D&I) in traditional white institutions (TWI). The paper in a skeletal way identifies some of the tensions that exist for TWI’s when dealing with institutional diversity and inclusiveness, the methodological problems, and with the evaluation of evidence when strategic planning around D&I becomes a necessary mission and vision goal. This paper uses Du Bois’ own words to show how early sociology was too caught upon “position” and not upon “connection” to diversity and inclusiveness. And, how Du Bois’ work can change the way we think about diversity and inclusion. Too, this paper will reveal how my sociology department is at work solving the problem of diversity and inclusiveness. Traditional white institutions rebuked the cause and call for diversity and inclusiveness in their white institutions. We have Du Bois’ attention. We can use his sociology and become the academic leader in developing a cultural space for diversity and inclusiveness to propagate.
Ethical Universalism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Indira Junghare
Natural disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and droughts have unleashed havoc and suffering in many recent tragic events. The nature seems to show its power in various forms. One can ask if these events have any connection with our modern, scientific, industrial, materialistic worldview and our way of life? We are facing problems related to diverse cultures which cannot be understood in isolation for they are interconnected and interdependent; for example, we face global poverty, pollution, extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale, ethnic and tribal violence, competition for resources, socio-political-economic power’s dominance and threats of wars and destruction. Ultimately, we have to see these problems as different faces of one single reality—leading to total annihilation of life. Descartes and Newton’s mechanistic worldview, and the scientific revolution, which provided the foundation for the development of Western culture and modernity, are inadequate to face the reality. This paper analyzes the natural disasters and humanistic problems as different aspects of the same reality and proposes a system of universal ethics for the sustenance of all-inclusive existence and harmony between diverse systems of life. The approach to the analysis of suffering is ecological and draws upon Indian philosophies in theory and practice.
Professor Gunapala Malalasekera as the Catalyst for Global Buddhist Cultural Renaissance
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Nayomi D. L. De Silva, Randika Jayatissa, Manoj Divituragama
Diverse situations make great heroes and memorable identities. Buddhism has a long and interesting history. After 2500 years of Buddhist era, in light of various influences, but without significant cultural exchanges, Buddhists around the world find ourselves situated in Mahayana and Theravada branches without much interaction. In this realm, Professor Malalasekera, a man of many facets, a notable philanthropist scholar in Sri Lanka and an internationally reputed icon on Buddhism, is distinctive. This paper takes the initiative to review his noble work towards sustaining Buddhism and serving many people by uniting all Buddhists and bringing them to a common platform to exchange their ideas, experiences, and practices in order to achieve eternal happiness and peace. According to the secondary data published in journals, books, paper articles, interviews and reliable websites, his writings such as Encyclopedia of Buddhism (Editor-in-Chief); first material to emerge in western language on Buddhist tradition, Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names; exploration of the Pāli words, Pāli Literature of Ceylon; Buddha and his teachings; Buddhism and the race question, present universal messages to all human beings. As the founding president of the World Fellowship of Buddhists and All Ceylon Buddhist congress, Professor Malalasekera initiated ‘Vesak’; an International celebration and optional holiday for Buddhists. These actions and his identity as the catalyst of global Buddhist cultural renaissance are considered in this paper.
