Your objection is noted. The point I am trying to make may be too
subtle for me to communicate. It is that if we are to be masters of
the things that unite us, we must choose what we will unite for. Sure
we unite when we are attacked, and that is a good thing.
I think the unity that can make us generally strong and a generally
formidable friend or foe, comes from shared experience. Public schools
are such an experience. The draft was that kind of experience. The
institutions and experiences that shape who we are striving to become,
what our ideals mean in terms of individual behavior have fallen into
disrepair. Black and White and Hmong Minnesotans are not likely to
have too many common experiences with each other, let alone with the
Little Ralphs. How will them little Minnersotans know that they have
an obligation to the Little Ralphs?
Is it any wonder that Mr. Bush sees things so differently than you and
I? We share no experiences. He was not worried about the draft. He
was not worried about his grades. Getting into graduate school was not
a problem. A drunk driving conviction wasn't a problem. He's not
worried about his kids getting decent grades. Or arrested. So, is it
any wonder that in his view the best thing to do to help the country is
whatever helps his friends the most? I suggest that we should make
sure that the next guy we allow to live in our public housing unit on
Pennsylvania Avenue should be a graduate of a good public high
school...like Joe. He graduated from Stamford High. I would have
graduated from there too, but we moved in my senior year...just after
my guidence counselor suggested that the Army might like to talk to me
about an exciting career, where my talents for mayhem and distruction
would be appreciated.
-jc
On Dec 20, 2003, at 11:48 AM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> In a message dated 12/20/2003 9:54:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
> I'd rather trust decisions regarding unity to the public schools, or
> even the draft board, than Al Qaeda, or the mob response to Al Qaeda's
> deeds... and certainly I don't want it left to those lying politicians
> with their prep-school educations and the faux military experience.
> John,
>
> Hmmm. I certainly didn't mean to suggest that we allow Al Qaeda to
> make decisions on our behalf regarding public unity, or
> regarding anything else. My point was that those bastards (excuse me,
> I meant to say "motherfuckers," but this nice-language business
> sometimes confuses me)producedmore unity among us than anything since
> Pearl Harbor.
>
> I'm afraid there may not be much, short of attacks like those, that
> will produce such unity among us, which is unfortunate. But in the
> meantime we seem to be pretty strong despite our diversity.
>
> Philosopher Czar
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