Amen, George, as to how "we really need people to step up."
Further amen to the next part of that sentence of yours, that good souls "resource the fundamentals."
But let's get very clear about these fundamentals. They are human. And for this our best Dems really, truly, often, and powerfully ought to be citing, stressing, zeroing in on the…
Amen, George, as to how "we really need people to step up."
Further amen to the next part of that sentence of yours, that good souls "resource the fundamentals."
But let's get very clear about these fundamentals. They are human. And for this our best Dems really, truly, often, and powerfully ought to be citing, stressing, zeroing in on the humanities that get these fundamentals human.
Dems should be holding public events, in groups of Dem speakers two, three, and four -- all equipped to cite each other's good programs at national, state, and local levels. More, that they be also equipped to cite American humanities that center the human in a land under organized attack, as you note, since August 23, 1971.
That Powell memo eventually geared its far-right foundations to offshore the millions of working-class jobs, to reduce the Supreme Court to bribed, perjured theocrats, and in many other organized, well-funded ways to poison the land in debilitating divisiveness. But before this, its foundations (Heritage, Hoover, ALEC) attacked higher ed, with the plan to gut humanities everywhere there, so all elites evermore would be totally out of touch with effects of the great predation.
Then, suck humanities out of K-12, replaced with the living dead of standardized testing.
You've aptly, eloquently got the scenario facing us, George.
Of course. Educated people, those who entertain critical thinking and discussion, can see right through him, and would probably not vote for him. Educated people are harder to take advantage of and con. He has no use for them.
Except, Celeste, perhaps the educated who see a way to “work” it to their advantage. My brother lives in a location (no state taxes) where wealthy folks have purchased multi-million dollar properties (mostly as second/vacation homes) & he is stunned by their support of TFFG because his self-serving policies benefitted their bottom line.
The right wing prefers drill and kill, memorize and this is how to do it policies. Evidenced all the holders of Ivy League degrees in the house and senate who are maga loyalists! No rational thinking skills needed!
I am also a history major and I know that people can write or rewrite history to suit themselves. When in grad school taking a class in 19th century American history, I had to read five additional books per term(3) and write book reports on them, as well as reading the 4-5 assigned. So I shortly decided to focus on books about slavery and read 14. It was interesting to note how the tone changed through the years. Now we have many more books including one about cotton slavery which I haven't finished because it is so upsetting.
Historiography has indeed changed! when i was in HS some decades ago we were absolutely taught Lost Cause history of the South, with the evil carpetbaggers, etc. thank goodness the discipline has reexamined assumptions.
The sad, thing about "majors," Carmen, shows in how isolated all are from other silos.
Central stress on humanities could connect the human in the deliberately, mutually-isolated silos. So, too, could an essaying program centering the human in all departments, communities, nations and cultures.
Ah, but once upon a time there was a curriculum of required courses that helped to engender that broader understanding you reference, Phil. I agree that isolating one discipline from others dilutes the effectiveness of perspicacity and critical thinking that a liberal arts degree was/is supposed to confer.
Even worse, Carmen -- the billionaires feed this myopia.
In the same way Citizens United put the rich on steroids, Project 2025, and the end of the Chevron Precedent both aim to strip Americans of health, safety, and environmental regulators -- so the billionaires can freely stalk the land.
They don't want schools schooling anybody in ways to see fellow Americans.
Amen, George, as to how "we really need people to step up."
Further amen to the next part of that sentence of yours, that good souls "resource the fundamentals."
But let's get very clear about these fundamentals. They are human. And for this our best Dems really, truly, often, and powerfully ought to be citing, stressing, zeroing in on the humanities that get these fundamentals human.
Dems should be holding public events, in groups of Dem speakers two, three, and four -- all equipped to cite each other's good programs at national, state, and local levels. More, that they be also equipped to cite American humanities that center the human in a land under organized attack, as you note, since August 23, 1971.
That Powell memo eventually geared its far-right foundations to offshore the millions of working-class jobs, to reduce the Supreme Court to bribed, perjured theocrats, and in many other organized, well-funded ways to poison the land in debilitating divisiveness. But before this, its foundations (Heritage, Hoover, ALEC) attacked higher ed, with the plan to gut humanities everywhere there, so all elites evermore would be totally out of touch with effects of the great predation.
Then, suck humanities out of K-12, replaced with the living dead of standardized testing.
You've aptly, eloquently got the scenario facing us, George.
Our education system has been royally screwed for a long time. An uneducated populace is easier to control.
Absolutely on target! Trump has said he likes uneducated people!!!
How apopro for the most ignorant of our species
Of course. Educated people, those who entertain critical thinking and discussion, can see right through him, and would probably not vote for him. Educated people are harder to take advantage of and con. He has no use for them.
Except, Celeste, perhaps the educated who see a way to “work” it to their advantage. My brother lives in a location (no state taxes) where wealthy folks have purchased multi-million dollar properties (mostly as second/vacation homes) & he is stunned by their support of TFFG because his self-serving policies benefitted their bottom line.
Good point. Short sighted of me.
The right wing prefers drill and kill, memorize and this is how to do it policies. Evidenced all the holders of Ivy League degrees in the house and senate who are maga loyalists! No rational thinking skills needed!
And yet the likes of GWB and DeSantis were history majors. The humanities didn't seem to figure in their brains.
I am also a history major and I know that people can write or rewrite history to suit themselves. When in grad school taking a class in 19th century American history, I had to read five additional books per term(3) and write book reports on them, as well as reading the 4-5 assigned. So I shortly decided to focus on books about slavery and read 14. It was interesting to note how the tone changed through the years. Now we have many more books including one about cotton slavery which I haven't finished because it is so upsetting.
Historiography has indeed changed! when i was in HS some decades ago we were absolutely taught Lost Cause history of the South, with the evil carpetbaggers, etc. thank goodness the discipline has reexamined assumptions.
DeSantis?! Really?? He certainly enjoys rewriting and reinterpreting history for his own benefit.
Yeah, I was a history major, so it gets under my skin.
The sad, thing about "majors," Carmen, shows in how isolated all are from other silos.
Central stress on humanities could connect the human in the deliberately, mutually-isolated silos. So, too, could an essaying program centering the human in all departments, communities, nations and cultures.
Ah, but once upon a time there was a curriculum of required courses that helped to engender that broader understanding you reference, Phil. I agree that isolating one discipline from others dilutes the effectiveness of perspicacity and critical thinking that a liberal arts degree was/is supposed to confer.
Even worse, Carmen -- the billionaires feed this myopia.
In the same way Citizens United put the rich on steroids, Project 2025, and the end of the Chevron Precedent both aim to strip Americans of health, safety, and environmental regulators -- so the billionaires can freely stalk the land.
They don't want schools schooling anybody in ways to see fellow Americans.