ah, the humanities

“Why Democracy Needs the Humanities”

Ah, the Humanities

Where have all the humanities gone?
Long time passing?   At hand? 
Liberal arts if not liberal art. 
Humanities & humanism
galore. Must be some
3rd thing, missing
link democracy
needs. 
  

The whole scope of [this book] is to recommend
culture as the great help out of our present
difficulties; culture being a pursuit of our total
perfection by means of getting to know, on all
the matters which most concern us,
 
        the best which has been thought and
                    said in the world,
 
and, through this knowledge, turning a stream of
fresh and free thought upon our stock notions and
habits, which we now  follow staunchly but
mechanically …
 
Matthew Arnold, From Culture and Anarchy, 1869
 
Need we argue?
 
Who here hasn’t been suckled and raised in “the
humanities?—raise your hand.  Made me the myn
I am today: home schooled &  institutionalized
humanism & the humanities--swimming in it
all soaking wet .
 
Here at hand: the very thing democracy most needs,
yes?  May I hear an amen?  Or improve my terms.  
We can  put this in play.
 
Humanities R Us.  No doubt. Local food. See how we run.
 
          Democracy Needs the Humanities?
               
                     
                  Under our very gnosis.
 
Not information. Not facts, stats, data,  aims,  goals,
quizzes, examinations, posters, capstone events &
measurable outcomes.  Nothing I  can put my
finger on.