Monday, April 5, 2010

“Black Liberation Theology, Kenya, and the Obamas ... - Front Page” plus 3 more

“Black Liberation Theology, Kenya, and the Obamas ... - Front Page” plus 3 more

Black Liberation Theology, Kenya, and the Obamas ... - Front Page

Posted: 05 Apr 2010 01:24 PM PDT

Many of the blogs today are buzzing with an old video of Michelle Obama, recognizing Kenya as Obama's "home country":

Not surprisingly, this "home country" portion was omitted on Obama's own Facebook page.

Many of the birthers are taking this as an admission of him being born in another country, but that is not what this is about. It's not about physical but spiritual birth. This is about his "spiritual" loyalties, as taught by the Black Liberation Theology of Trinity United Church of Christ. They make it clear where loyalties should lie.

From Trinity's "What We Believe" page:

A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.

"We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization."

Part of their mission statement might sound familiar, as it sounds almost identical to this administration's policy:

"The fortunate who are among us combine forces with the less fortunate to become agents of change for God who is not pleased with America's economic mal-distribution!"

Redistribution of wealth? No question.

This is part of their afrocentric (also seen as "africentric") view, reflected in all they do. Their bookstore is full of africentric books and the Black Value System.

Black Liberation Theology is a socialist/Marxist based theology:

Black liberation theology is closely related to the broader phenomenon of liberation theology, which calls for social activism, class struggle, and even violent revolution aimed at overturning the "capitalist oppressors of the poor" and installing, in its place, a socialist utopia that will finally enfranchise the poor and downtrodden. As an extension of this movement, black liberation theology similarly seeks to foment Marxist revolutionary fervor but one founded on racial rather than class solidarity.

So what can we take from this video clip? I think a reference to Kenya as Obama's "home country" is a strong reflection of the philosophy the Obama family followed at the Trinity United Church of Christ. Loyalties in this theology are to Africa and the Marxist version of "social justice" first and foremost. By their actions since taking office, I don't think that philosophy has changed much.

Do you have a problem with this  philosophy being held and acted upon by the leader of our nation? I do.

Read the original story at NewsReal Blog » Feature.

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New linguistics minor program approved - Tufts Daily

Posted: 05 Apr 2010 10:47 AM PDT

Faculty members on Wednesday approved a new minor in linguistics that the School of Arts and Sciences will start to offer next fall.

Ray Jackendoff, a distinguished linguist and Seth Merrin Professor of Philosophy, said that the minor, to be hosted by the Department of Philosophy, is an amalgamation of current course offerings.

"There has been, for now about three years, a collection of courses in theoretical linguistics, and there has been a lot of interest from students in the linguistics courses, so we felt it might be useful to collect what we had into a grouping of courses and give students an opportunity to get a bit of depth," Jackendoff said.

Assistant Professor of Psychology Ariel Goldberg noted that the number of linguistics offerings has grown at Tufts over the past several years, in conjunction with rising student demand.

Goldberg, who specializes in the cognitive processes of language, worked with Jackendoff to develop the minor. They will serve as co−directors of the minor program.

Jackendoff said the minor was created in response to sustained interest over the years in linguistics courses.

"Over 40 people take Introduction to Linguistics every year, and there has been a fairly steady enrollment in other theoretical linguistics courses," Jackendoff said. "The minor gives people an opportunity or a reason to take more of them."

Students pursuing the minor are first required to take three theoretical linguistic courses, according to Jackendoff.

He explained that approximately 20 selected philosophy, psychology, child development, romance languages, classics and English courses will be crosslisted as linguistics courses to count toward the minor. Students must choose three additional electives from this list of courses to complete the minor.

"Could be historical linguistics, or child language development, or psycholinguistics, or philosophy of language — a variety of things," Jackendoff said.

Goldberg said the courses counting toward the minor are typically offered every year and focus primarily on the scientific study of language. The interdisciplinary minor will allow students to pursue their own interests within the field.

"Language is the object of study, either exploring how the mind produces language or the historical development of language over time," Goldberg said.

Jackendoff reiterated that there would be a great degree of flexibility in the minor. "It's pretty much whatever they want," he said. "If this were a major it would have more structure. [With] a minor, we're trying to give people some idea of the range of things you can study that have to do with language."

One requirement for linguistics minors, however, will be that their foreign language and culture requirements be fulfilled entirely through foreign language classes, whether through six semesters of one language or three semesters of two languages each, according to Jackendoff.

Senior Laina Rosebrock, who is majoring in cognitive and brain sciences, applauded the new program.

"I started to get interested in linguistics even in high school, and so when I came here the cognitive and brain sciences major was the only thing that really encompassed linguistics, so I think it's really cool that they're making this minor," Rosebrock said.

Rosebrock said the linguistics courses she has attended have been engaging.

"For the most part they've been really well attended and people get really into the discussions," she said. "Most of the people that are in the [psychology] major are really interested in the language side of it."

Sophomore Christopher Stoj said that the new minor was a pleasant surprise.

"I'm taking several linguistics classes because I'm interested in it; I didn't expect that [to] be recognized by a major or a minor," Stoj said. "I do appreciate that there's a label for the amount of study that I put into linguistics."

He expressed his hope that the school would go further and establish an official linguistics major program.

"It's sort of a shame that I may take more linguistics courses than the minor requires," Stoj said. "It's certainly a very promising department at Tufts; the faculty are excellent … It's very connected to other departments."

He cited the new Psycholinguistics and Linguistics Lab that Goldberg established as a significant development in linguistics at Tufts.

"It's an indication of Tufts' investment in the linguistics program, which is definitely going to grow in upcoming years," Stoj said.

Rosebrock, who works in the lab, echoed this sentiment, saying it adds on to existing research being done in psychology labs.

Jackendoff said that information about the minor will be posted on the philosophy department's Web site in the coming weeks.

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An Ancient Classic Reborn - Huffingtonpost.com

Posted: 05 Apr 2010 12:48 PM PDT

Sixteenth-century Chinese philosopher Hung Ying-ming was a man who walked his talk, a scholar who stepped away from the complex and contentious society of the day to become a near recluse in the mountains of southeastern China. There he penned what might just be the most accessible and enjoyable treatise on classical Chinese philosophy a Western reader can find. Exhorting us to a life without material complexities but rich in awareness of our own true nature, Hung offers a profound discourse on the games we play with ourselves, and how to avoid them. In doing so he offers a path to meaning along with the perfect antidote from the stressful and often hollow frenzy of modern life.

The Unencumbered Spirit (Tokyo, 2009, Kodansha International) is translator William Scott Wilson's interpretation of this classic. Hung Ying-ming built his understanding of the world on the so-called "three creeds" of traditional Chinese culture -- Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism -- and this volume too brings three great thinkers together between a single set of covers. The original author is the first, translator Wilson is second, and respected traveler, essayist and Sinophile Bill Porter is the last.

In his foreword, Porter sets the stage for Hung's 357 aphorisms with a brief and sweeping description of the rise of Chinese philosophy. Wilson follows with the same sort of scholarly and insightful introduction typical of all his works (see them at http://www.kodansha-intl.com/) and Hung, speaking English with Wilson's tongue, soars with bits of wisdom that are often beautiful and poetic. Hung is so insightful the reader is likely to feel his or her spiritual pants have been yanked down to expose the tender flesh of self-delusion, procrastination, and bad choices, while simultaneously discovering a raft of better, simpler, more natural options.

The literal translation of the title of Hung's work is "a discourse on the roots of vegetables" referring to the pure, thin, life-sustaining juice of the earth, but Wilson has chosen a title that more closely embodies the original author's intention to free us from the fetters and shackles of conventional social thinking by accessing our "true mind". Though Hung draws heavily on the words of Confucius, the Buddha, and the great Daoist sages, he isn't shy about offering his own opinion about such a mind.

The True Mind is free from distracting thoughts.
So why should we look into it?
Shakamuni's comment that we should observe the Mind
Only heaps up obstructions.
All things originally being One,
Why should we have them be equal?
Chuang Tzu's comment about the equality of all things
Itself divides their uniformity.

This notion of a true mind, this need to purify our consciousness by attending to our own thoughts -- to watching ourselves -- is an upwelling theme in the book, and often the message is beautifully couched.

People of this world wrap themselves in chains
For the sake of profit and gain,
Then talk of the world of dust, the sea of bitterness.
They do not know that
Clouds are white, mountains blue.
Rivers run, rocks stand tall.
Blossoms invite, birds laugh.
The valley responds, the woodcutters sing.
This world, after all, is not of dust;
The sea, after all, is not bitter.
It is only that, on their own, people put dust and
Bitterness in their hearts.

In Hung's day, as now, people who spend their time enjoying nature or focusing on artistic, aesthetic, or even martial pursuits were seen by some as dilettantes. In his introduction, and later through his translation, Wilson makes it clear that such a prejudice is the creation of those elements of society who would bend others to their will, elements threatened by those who see through the veil of social convention to the fearful and manipulative heart that lies within. Developing this piercing gaze to see things as they real are both in nature and in the affairs of men requires the recognition of what Wilson terms "universal patterns."

When winds grow bitter and rains angry,
Even small birds are frightened and sad.
When skies become clear and breezes are bright,
The grasses and trees are fresh and full of joy.
From this it can be seen that
Heaven and Earth are unable to go one day without harmony:
The human heart is unable to go one day without joy.

Seeking such joy, a reader could treat the book as a daily wisdom calendar, and in doing so find inspiration and direction every morning through every season. Yet like all great works of Chinese philosophy, The Unencumbered Spirit rewards more prolonged attention with a sense of peace and calm and tranquility. Hung's words, brilliantly translated by Wilson, seem to transmit a mystical mood and an intoxicating energy.

In his introduction, the translator refers to Hung's work as a "tour de force of Chinese tradition expressed in a very palatable form". In truth, The Unencumbered Spirit is an inviting, seductive, and deliciously subversive alternative to far better known works such as Confucius' Analects, the Buddha's sutras, and Lao Tze's marvelous but often inaccessible Daodeqing. Get a copy of this new translation for your bedside table. Read it each night before you sleep and see if it does not, in fact, unencumber your spirit.

Follow Arthur Rosenfeld on Twitter: www.twitter.com/machobuddha

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The Death of Liberal Arts - Newsweek

Posted: 05 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

After the endowment of Centenary College in Shreveport, La., fell by 20 percent from 2007 to 2009, the private school decided to eliminate half of its 44 majors. Over the next three to four years, classic humanities specialities like Latin, German studies, and performing arts will be phased out. It's quite a change from 2007, when NEWSWEEK labeled Centenary the "hottest liberal-arts school you never heard of," extolling its wide range of academics. In their place, the school is considering adding several graduate programs, such as master's degrees in teaching and international business. Such professional programs have proven increasingly popular and profitable at other universities and colleges, especially during economic downturns, a point that the college president tries to downplay. "We're not intentionally trying to chase markets," says David Rowe. "We think the students need to have a grounding in the arts and sciences, but they also probably need some training in a specific area."

But there's no denying that the fight between the cerebral B.A. vs. the practical B.S. is heating up. For now, practicality is the frontrunner, especially as the recession continues to hack into the budgets of both students and the schools they attend. "Students want something they can sell," says Anthony P. Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. According to a new study published by Roger Baldwin, an education professor at Michigan State University, the number of liberal-arts colleges dwindled from 212 in 1990 to 136 in 2009. The humanities are taking the hardest hit at schools with small endowments. Wisconsin Lutheran College, for example, said last March it would stop teaching political science after facing a $3 million budget shortfall. At elite research universities and colleges, there's increasing pressure to beef up their pre-professional offerings. For instance, Claremont McKenna College in California is plugging a new undergraduate minor in financial economics, while Duke University's Fuqua School of Business recently added a one-year master's program geared to liberal arts graduates who may be looking to ride out the recession.

It's easy to understand the concerns. Just 41 percent of people ages 18 to 29 are working full time compared with 50 percent in 2006, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. A 2009 survey of 220,000 incoming freshman showed that 56.5 percent of students said it was "very important" to pick a college whose graduates found good jobs. "It's a huge investment, and people are more insecure about their financial opportunities after school," says Anne Colby, a senior scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Apart from the tough economics surrounding college choices, the move to offer more practical classes may have gone too far. Although many students now want to major in something that sounds like a job, the economy is shifting so rapidly that it's hard to predict the landscape of the labor market in the next 10, 20, or 30 years. Not long ago, green tech, renewable energy, and health care were not the burgeoning fields they are today. While the number of students majoring in business has steeply risen this decade, there's no guarantee that business training will offer students the best preparation for the future.

Among liberal-arts proponents, the concern is that students who specialize in specific careers will lack critical thinking skills and the ability to write, analyze, and synthesize information. While business education tends to prepare students to work well in teams or give presentations, it often falls short in teaching students to do in-depth research or to write critically outside of the traditional business communiqués of memos or PowerPoints. "I think you need to have both liberal-arts and pre-professional classes at the four-year level," says José Luis Santos, assistant professor in the Higher Education and Organizational Change division at UCLA. "People need to graduate with critical thinking skills because most workplaces retrain individuals for the needs of the industry."

Many well-paying fields still prefer to hire students from these liberal-arts schools or universities, says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, a former Time Inc. recruiter and a career coach at SixFigureStart. But regardless of where students chose to go to school, they still need to get good grades, network, and complete goal-specific internships. "If you don't know that in advance and you major in philosophy, you're in major trouble," says Ceniza-Levine. "You can be Harvard philosophy major, but you'd better have worked at a bank during the summer."

While the tradition of the liberal-arts education may be on the wane nationwide, the most elite schools, such as Harvard, Swarthmore, Middlebury, and Williams, remain committed to its ideal. These top schools are not tweaking their curriculums to add any pre-professional undergraduate programs. Thanks to their hefty endowments, they don't have to. As the economy rebounds, their students, ironically, may be in the best spot. While studying the humanities has become unfashionable and seemingly impractical, the liberal arts also teaches students to think big thoughts—big enough to see beyond specific college majors and adapt to the broader job market.

With David A. Graham

© 2010

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