Carbon Democracy: Political Power in the Age of Oil

[Michael Bailey]

alice wellintown wrote:
> the elect courses know little about America, so mental floss or Zinn,
> the margins and cracks and gunk and tar focus is kinda a waste. Better
> to get the kids to read Henry Adams or Melville. ;----)

I kind of have to agree, in a way...although you were sort of kidding.
 I mean, you'd have to be.  Even in the elitist history, mostly what
you find them doing is trying to cope with problems posed by the
marginal people.
Right?  The difference I guess is we were taught to identify with
George Washington and so forth and think of ourselves as such, when in
actuality most of us spring from some sort of marginal population and
bear the marks of it.  Even Washington himself with his smallpox
scars. If you are right, then let's view history as its conquerors did
and turn to literature for the sympathy that won't find a purchase on
the alabaster walls.

It's kind of a miracle that lit is on the curriculum at all, actually.
One of those sweet spots in high school.  Thank goodness.