Reading, Writing, and well more Writing

The semester is off and running smoothly. Some of the classes I have are covering material that seems like an old hat, but hoping I will find some nuggets along the way that will renew or at least add a new dimension to way I view the subject. I am reminded of a post from a former teacher that explains this quite well, Click hear to view the explanation  (yes hear and see it's a video link) in this link Chimamanda Adichie explains her view of a single story. All this becomes relevant when we set in our minds, that we have the lock on all the ideas and knowledge, "the keepers of the knowledge, the all knowing." Even when we become so called experts in the field, there is still much to learn. What good is knowledge if we only ever view ideas from our own experiences limiting or dismissing the views of others? Coming from a lineage, a long lineage of "know it all's" and having even been surrounded on all sides by "know it all's" and well on my way to being a future "know it all" or as a true "know it all" I have learned you can  NOT know it all if you have but a single story. Well I do NOT know it all and in fact the more I learn the the more I realize just how little I know, but I am learning even about things I already know. Last semester we learned about "scaffolding" (not a raised working platform) and if I do not really learn any new material from these classes, I may learn how to scaffold or model scaffolding to my classmates. This would be a great outcome for those classes. I also have a couple very good and engaging classes, they are being taught by very knowledgeable and engaging professors, each very passionate about their field of study. Both of these classes are giving me more than a single story, challenging what I know and pushing for more abstract "cause and effect" answers. My longer life exposure (age) to some of these concepts gives me an advantage over some of my classmates but the comments from youth offer a different and sometimes enlighting viewpoint. Here are some questions for you to ponder as you drive down the road or find time to debate lofty thoughts over a friendly glass of your favorite "spirit." 
Why do you do the things you do? 
What would you have done or decided if you were the leader contemplating war?
How would you have fixed the economy in 1932? 
How would you have implemented a peace treaty?
How do you know something is true?
What justifications does a new idea have to go through to become real to you?
What does it really mean to be thinking about thinking?
How did you come to believe the things you believe to be true?

This should keep you busy for awhile, I hope you comment with either insights or questions of your own. Please check out the link it is worth the few minutes of time needed to watch.