"The tradition of the oppressed teaches us that the ‘state of emergency' in which we live is not the exception but the rule...There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism. And just as such a document is not free of barbarism, barbarism taints also the manner in which it was transmitted from one owner to another. A historical materialist therefore dissociates himself from it as far as possible. He regards it as his task to brush history against the grain."
Walter Benjamin, "Theses on the Philosophy of History."

Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 18:11:18 -0800
From: Louis Lefeber
Subject: Re: Education and Meaning (fwd)

Harris and his colleagues are naturally against humanistic education because they are themselves uneducated, and because they are afraid of people who can think for themselves.

It is interesting to note that in this their views run counter even to the expressed concerns of business. I recollect that some years ago MIT found in a major survey of US corporations that they want people educated in the humanities rather than in business. And, as reported by the Toronto Star (30 Nov. '96), the chairman of the Bank of Montreal declared in a speech to the Canadian Club that "there really is [no] such thing as business education. There is simply education." He also suggested that people should "study Dante, not data processing," and that "what business values most is ... curiosity and breadth of knowledge."

Harris and co. may not want to listen to us, but at least they could listen to their own constituency. But it seems that they do not listen to anyone.

Louis Lefeber