What mitigates ideological/religious/nationalist totalitarianism? A secular, liberal elementary education that introduces one to the entire world. Education in literature, writing, science, technology, civics and ethics, math, history, arts (including music, art, and dance at a minimum), physical fitness, bodily health, introduction to other cultures as well as appreciation of one's own culture. That's a lot to ask for, even in Western societies. This is what the Core Knowledge curriculum tried to do. One wants to reach young minds, but so much stands in the way: fear, ignorance, tradition, culture, low expectations, boundaries of social class, hidebound institutions, and dominant political and commercial interests that need to manipulate people to maintain hegemony.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. You are absolutely right the walls that stand against such a holistic, liberating education are thick, even in so-called advanced societies. Tradition, class, the machinery of power all have an interest in preserving ignorance, for ignorance is a far easier flock to shepherd than minds awakened to the vastness of the world.
Yet perhaps the first crack in these walls is exactly what we are doing here: talking, sharing, refusing to treat learning as a private luxury. I agree with you that a secular, humanistic, and creative education is the only lasting antidote to extremist ideologies. Let us keep planting those seeds, even if the soil is poor. Someday they will bloom, no matter how heavy the iron of old fears.
I sent you a free month subscription to Dan Burmawi, I think you'll like him, has a series started today about just this thing. He's ex-Muslim and dares to say the hard part out loud.
Dear Lotus, this is the main point. Education.
Extremism only brings more violence, blood, death and division. It's gonna be hard, but not impossible.
What mitigates ideological/religious/nationalist totalitarianism? A secular, liberal elementary education that introduces one to the entire world. Education in literature, writing, science, technology, civics and ethics, math, history, arts (including music, art, and dance at a minimum), physical fitness, bodily health, introduction to other cultures as well as appreciation of one's own culture. That's a lot to ask for, even in Western societies. This is what the Core Knowledge curriculum tried to do. One wants to reach young minds, but so much stands in the way: fear, ignorance, tradition, culture, low expectations, boundaries of social class, hidebound institutions, and dominant political and commercial interests that need to manipulate people to maintain hegemony.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. You are absolutely right the walls that stand against such a holistic, liberating education are thick, even in so-called advanced societies. Tradition, class, the machinery of power all have an interest in preserving ignorance, for ignorance is a far easier flock to shepherd than minds awakened to the vastness of the world.
Yet perhaps the first crack in these walls is exactly what we are doing here: talking, sharing, refusing to treat learning as a private luxury. I agree with you that a secular, humanistic, and creative education is the only lasting antidote to extremist ideologies. Let us keep planting those seeds, even if the soil is poor. Someday they will bloom, no matter how heavy the iron of old fears.
Exactly dear Ciska 💞
I sent you a free month subscription to Dan Burmawi, I think you'll like him, has a series started today about just this thing. He's ex-Muslim and dares to say the hard part out loud.
I was also about to refer you to his writing.
🙏🏼
OMG thank you so much ♥️