Correspondent of the Day: Literature Is Bigger Than Western Classics
Literature Is Bigger Than Western Classics
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Paul Greenberg provided the most wonderful belly laugh in his Op/Ed column "We Need Thinkers, Not Robots." He trumpets out and celebrates the "obsessive" rigorous adherence to a curriculum exclusively of classic Western books of liberal arts colleges such as St. John's College. He insists education should encourage students to think about "the permanent things of all time."
Now, beyond the reality that nothing is permanent in time or outside of time, Greenberg himself reveals a narrow and frankly limited view of education. Columbia University, he cites, is a source of this classical curriculum. What he is unaware of apparently is that Columbia offers students education in the great works of the rest of humanity: Japan, China, India, Persia, Africa, and many others offer a rich, deep, broadening education in thinking and awareness.
Greenberg used a half-page of newsprint to reveal his limited education and limited world awareness. Do not the Analects of Confucius, the Lotus Sutra, the Quran, and the writings of Mencius have something to offer for thirsty humanity ? Can we honestly say that a person is educated without having engaged with the valuable books and traditions that shape the non-Western people we share this planet with?
If anyone is interested, visit Columbia University's Web site -- and others. Maybe this obsessive adherence to such narrow curriculum explains in part why students are studying at colleges where they encounter thinking beyond a limited, so-called classical tradition, centered in Western Europe.
John Peter James.
Richmond.
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Reader Reactions
IF you are truely interested in the problems of Africa, this is a good book on the subject by Jeffery Sachs
Guido: Exactly. How many free markets much less ‘free’ countries are there in Africa? We are caught in the moral dilemma of letting millions upon millions die for the sins of their dictators or providing aid. Their own leaders can’t or won’t. I’d much rather give aid to those poor souls than ‘save’ the ‘poor’ in this country who walk around in ‘Starter’ jackets and $100 tennis shoes.
What would become of Africa were it not for massive foreign (read western) aid for food and medicine?
For one, it would produce a freer market with less distortion and corruption. There is no greater engine for liberty than a free market.
Blackbird: I stand by what I said. Africa is going off the deep end. The only redeeming institutions are those established by colonial powers. What would become of Africa were it not for massive foreign (read western) aid for food and medicine? How often does France have to send in the Legion to settle matters in some former colony because the natives can’t? You think southwest Asia is better off now under the regimes in that region than they were when Europeans were in control? Look at India. The world’s largest democracy is an island of stability. Wonder why? They kept the British political and bureacratic institutions AND RESPECTED THEM. Want to get ahead in India - speak English. Westerners weren’t perfect, but they did far more good when they were in charge in most places than the natives have done for themselves since. If the rest of the world is such a great place, then why do they all want to immigrate to the West? Go visit Britain or Europe. That’s not politically-incorrect—and I don’t care anymore. We need to stop pretending a knee-jerk blame of the West will ‘save’ the world. What’s going to replace it, Blackbird? Maybe we saw the future yesterday when Quadafi and Ahmadinejad were given the time of day. Yeah, they can teach the West a lot.
Dave
“Since the West began to lose confidence in itself and its heritage the world has begun to go to h..ll in a handbasket”
That’s a very western view of things isn’t it? What’s your proof?
You sound like some Brit lamenting the decline of the British Empire and it’s rightous cause to bring civilization to the world, even if they don’t want it. Or maybe you are an American, or maybe you could be an ancient Roman, or maybe even a follower of Islam ( just substitute “East” for “West”). The world is better off in general then it has ever been, I guess you can thank global capitalism…or are you trying to blame global capitalism and the G20, maybe you should be in Pittsburg right now protesting. Maybe YOU lack confidence in Global Capitalism and want GOVERNMENT to DO MORE? OR maybe it’s because America and the West is losing it’s Capitalist leadership to China’s Communist Capitalism. Maybe we should change the game , now that “we” aren’t the leaders any more. Maybe we should blame “liberalism” as Sarah Palin has just done in her speech in China. That sounds like an easy way to explain everything.
Mr. James: ‘Beyond the reality that nothing is permanent in time or outside of time…‘ What’s your proof for that? That’s a pretty big leap of - uh - faith to make such an assertion. If one has no appreciation of their own culture, then it is pretty hard to judge or appreciate others. Of course, if we are not really interested in making informed judgments, then that doesn’t matter. Here’s an observation that should be fodder for plenty of tantrums masquerading as arguments: Since the West began to lose confidence in itself and its heritage the world has begun to go to h..ll in a handbasket.
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