[NLA] literacy and homeland security?

[Catherine B. King]

Colleagues:

Alisa says:  ". . . a literate citizenry should be one
of our first defenses?"

An excellent argument.  Let's add:

(1) that an understanding on the part of our leaders
(Congress, and other policy makers) of what an
educated citizenry means to the very existence of
a democracy is essential to our understanding of
the long-term commitment to adult education in this
culture--whatever it takes.   The library and
communications systems coupled with all forms of
adult education are the first orders of support for a
truly democratic order.

(2)  The more complex and communicative we become
with other cultures, the more we need to underpin our
culture with ongoing education--not merely training--of
everyone in it.  In a democracy, there is a "leader in
every mirror."  That is, if we are not to be governed by
some other force, then we must learn to question, to be
unafraid to dialogue and to criticize, to raise our voices,
and to govern ourselves.  That means a qualified
dialogue.  An open and qualified dialogue means
education.  Education means hope that the democracy
and democratic order will stand.

(3)  The development of a wise view of homeland security
by all citizens requires critical discernment between real
and serious potential threat, profiling and various forms
of group bias, e.g., racism.  The "retribalization of America"
can be translated into:

"an uneducated mass afraid of and reacting to those who
are 'different' from our various provincial identities, whether
it be skin color, accent, ethnic orders, clothing, etc.  Adult
Education, because it draws different groups together
under a common interest regardless of race, gender, etc.,
by its very nature strikes at the heart of xenophobia in a
systematic and ongoing way--regardless of what "skills"
are being taught.

If we as adult educators understand education in its fuller
view--of educating the whole person to live with others in a
civilized and civilizing world--we should have no problem
connecting ourselves and our programs with the current
"trends" in governmental attitudes.

Perhaps we have been doing this all along, but haven't had
the situation, the events, or the to language to name it.

Regards,

Catherine King
Adjunct Instructor
National University
Department of Education
San Diego, CA

----- Original Message -----
From: <Belzera at aol.com>
To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 7:26 AM
Subject: Re: [NLA] literacy and homeland security?


> Although this might not fly with the "big boys" in Washington, don't you
all
> think that when it comes to linking VISTA volunteers with homeland
security a
> perfectly good argument could be made for the fact that a literate
citizenry
> should be one of our first defenses?  Ignorance is dangerous to our
security
> and public education is in part founded on the importance of an educated
> citizenry.  It makes us less susceptible to demagoguery and other non
> military (yet very real) threats to our security.  Try that.
>
> Alisa
>
>
> Alisa Belzer, PhD
> Assistant Professor
> Rutgers University
> Graduate School of Education
> 10 Seminary Place
> New Brunswick, NJ  08901
> (732) 932-7496, extension 8234
> (215) 885-5645
> _______________________________________________
> NLA mailing list: NLA at lists.literacytent.org
> http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/nla
> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
> http://literacytent.org

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