Ten Random, Politically-Incorrect Thoughts

VDH's Private Papers ^ | 11/25/2008 | Victor D. Hansen

[rightwinggoth]

1. Four years of high-school Latin would dramatically arrest the decline in American education. In particular, such instruction would do more for minority youths than all the ‘role model’ diversity sermons on Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Montezuma, and Caesar Chavez put together. Nothing so enriches the vocabulary, so instructs about English grammar and syntax, so creates a discipline of the mind, an elegance of expression, and serves as a gateway to the thinking and values of Western civilization as mastery of a page of Virgil or Livy (except perhaps Sophocles’s Antigone in Greek or Thucydides’ dialogue at Melos). After some 20 years of teaching mostly minority youth Greek, Latin, and ancient history and literature in translation (1984-2004), I came to the unfortunate conclusion that ethnic studies, women studies — indeed, anything “studies” — were perhaps the fruits of some evil plot dreamed up by illiberal white separatists to ensure that poor minority students in the public schools and universities were offered only a third-rate education.

[rightwinggoth]

I agree with #1, #3, #6, #9

Kind of agree with #2 and #10

Don’t know what to make of #4 and #7

And have no comment on #5 and #8

[Dr. Ursus]

Actually,Etruscan would be better.I feel like crapula.(hangover)

[dighton]

Dare any call Permissiveness
An educational success?
Saner those class-rooms which I sat in,
Compelled to study Greek and Latin.

— W. H. Auden, Doggerel by a Senior Citizen.

[murdoog]

You agree with 6? He seemed to be saying it was a sign of cultural decline that all men don’t speak in baritone voices.
I understand about the general decline of manliness, but why is he putting such a premium on the way people’s voices sound?

Maybe I’m missing something.

That said, damn near all the rest was spot on.

[Apollo 13]

Lovely stuff, thanks for posting. I had Latin myself and am thankful every day for it. Especially in these days where swear words have become the lingua franca for our young. The text is provocative, for sure, but it makes eminent sense. The remarks about voice inflections and their change in pitch are superb; men's and women's voices have converged to a pansexual center frequency. Note how female newscasters address a forced lower register that even the chain-smoking femme fatales from the movies of yesteryear never reached; and men prattle on and on; their velocity of speech has dramatically increased, as did their pitch. I'll read it again tomorrow, it's that good.

[Apollo 13]

Now. Lissen up, buster. Read my superb comment on that speech thang! ;)

[FReepaholic]

...1. Four years of high-school Latin would dramatically arrest the decline in American education...

Well, maybe if they did what I did through two semesters of Latin: read novels.

Talk about booooorrrrinnngg. I had a choice of taking Latin or Spanish. Should have taken Spanish.

At least I got to read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy.

[rellimpank]

—more—

—http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;q=quick;s=Ten%20Random%2C%20Politically-Incorrect%20Thoughts

[sauron]

I agree with his #6 (feminization of male voices in today's metrosexual culture).

It's interesting that V.D. Hanson came to the same conclusion about it independently, as I've thought the same thing for many years.

If he's over there, and I'm over here, thousands of miles away, and we both observe it...it's REAL, folks.

Sauron

[rightwinggoth]

I think it’s hilarious that someone talks about Lord of the Rings and a few minutes later a guy with the moniker “Sauron” shows up to post! :)

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Much of what you say is right on the Money. Hollywood has gone to the dogs, and the Media has lead the way in the New America (The Hippie Ideals Perverted by Liberalism, Anti-Colonialism, and Multi-Culturalism/Political Correctness.
BUT the question really is WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
What is the way out of this wilderness? What can we do as Americans to reverse this trend?
We are not Helpless—we are Americans. We let sweet talkers get us to this place—we need new wise leaders to step forward and lead. Where are they? Its not all Gloom and Doom.
There are Bright spots out there. I will list a few but I guess others on the Free Republic can fill out the list.

1. Home Schoolers are changing education—for the better.
2. Talk Radio is bringing the truth to the people.
3. Mel Gibson proved Religious Movies can reach people and make a profit (Mel Stop Drinkin’-we need ya).
4. Sarah Palin proves that good people can lead. That’s why they hate her so much. We need such folks in Capital City.
5. The Internet has made communications better—Just Look at the Free Republic.
6. The success of such shows as 24 show that not all of Hollywood is full of MetroSexuals.
7. The success of Prop 8 is a win for our side. I hope Jerry Brown fails in getting the State Supream Court to over turn the views of the people.
8. Fox Network is a partial success for our side as well.

[AdSimp]

Men's bodies have apparently forgotten how to manufacture and use testosterone. It shows in their voices, and the ever increasing tendency to liberalism.

Alan Alda vs. John Wayne.

[truthguy]

When Victor Davis Hanson writes, I always pay attention!

[steve-b]

The main problem with the list is item 1. Dead languages are a niche academic interest. Substitute four years of math and physical science.

[rightwinggoth]

the two programs can easily exist side by side. latin for the instruction in language and culture, followed up by math and science

[Eagles2003]

This was posted last month.

[aureliusss]

The statements about education are spot on. The trasformation of the male species is very visible. Good read.

[NVDave]

That would be my response as well.

There would be a huge improvement in the debate over energy policy, for example, if more people knew and understood the three laws of thermodynamics, for example.

As it stands now, we have a bunch of liberal arts majors passing off solipsism as penetrating thought, who spew a huge amount of utter balls, bullcrap and poppycock on the issue. We engineers have to clear away tons of intellectual debris before we can explain even the basics to the public on energy policy. It is infuriating.

[truthguy]

The main problem with the list is item 1. Dead languages are a niche academic interest. Substitute four years of math and physical science.

Looks like you completely missed the point of what Hanson was trying to say. I think you should reread item 1. He makes a lot of sense.

We don't need an either or here. We should teach Latin AND math AND physical science. There are many rubbish classes that could go instead.