The small paragraph above that Jane Tompkins stated the essay refers to people that do not know what is going on in their community.  I believe what she saying is, we need to listen to the problem, analyzes it, attempt to solve it, and then we might have a better understanding of what the facts are and what might cause the affect.  As long as we can discover what the facts are, then we can take the step toward solving the problem.  Moreover, despite the fact that someone else might not see things your ways, however, that give you no right to judge whether that person is right or wrong.  This is due to the fact that facts/truth sometime lies in the eyes of the beholder.

In the reading, Tompkins brought up the Indian-Americans and Europe period.  At first she did not know what were that facts between them and had no idea who were right or wrong.  After she gathers some facts from other author, she then begins to have a better idea of the situation between the Indian-Americans and the European.  After showing several examples she seems to have an idea about what the facts were during Colonial time.

 I think Tompkins makes a really good point.  It’s not a good idea to judge unless you know the entire truth.  However, truth sometime lies in the eyes of the beholder.  For example, take the current situation between the US and Afghanistan.  Who is the right one?  This answer cannot be answer by American, Afghanistan, or anyone else who do not know all the facts that cause this war.  Moreover, each side will think that they are the one who is right because they fail to see the other side perspective on the situation.  Regardless of who is right or wrong, there will be no peaceful outcome unless both sides can understand one another perspective.