Knowing What’s What

George Washington was not a sleepy, stodgy old guy. No; he was involved, alert, incredibly aware and astute. Also wise. He made this statement:

            “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”

Simple statement. Loaded with meaning. Then and now. Timeless, really.

Education is not just facts, figures and dates. It is the whole package of reality as represented by data. Placing all of the data in logical relationships. Perspective, too. Taken together all of life’s facts and data are available to help us understand the world around us. Far too many don’t do this.

At time this body of information is unable to help a person express himself or herself. No, that’s where art enters the picture. Poetry, essays, novels, short stories. Blogs, too! And visual arts in oil, watercolor and other media, sculpture, ceramics, fabric and paper arts as well. The artist has something to say, too mean. Something to say or impart where language is simply not capable of providing nuance enough to impart the full conversation.

Education is not facts and figures, really. It is logic, self knowledge, understanding other people and how and why they live the way they do.

I was at a public meeting the other day in which public leaders were trying to determine how to help make economic development happen. As the participants were guided through a process, they were exposed to the many elements that embody economic development. A tool box of tactics, strategies, infrastructure, methods and environmental issues are employed. One doesn't just make economic development happen. It takes time and positioning of the community or area to support development. Even the types of development vary widely.

George Bernard Shaw cautioned us:

            “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

That’s because ignorance is the lack of specific knowledge while false knowledge easily misleads to false conclusions. Worse; it may lead us to action which is grossly inappropriate to the situation upon which we are hoping to have a positive effect.

Like having a nearly balanced budget, then lower revenues through tax cuts while raising expenses hoping reduced taxes will cause more economic activity and the needed revenues.  Didn't happen, did it in the follow up to 911, the Afghan War, the Iraq War, and many other heavy expense items? This isn't politics. It’s ideology gone amiss.

And another thing: war and military expenditures may stimulate the economics of specialized suppliers, but it removes resources from other arenas of the economy and alters supply costs dramatically. Balance. Balance is delicate. It needs to be worked on. Balanced budgets, balanced approaches to managing situations.

Shaw was correct. Ignorance is dangerous. But false knowledge causes a great deal of damage, some irreparable. The Crusades have been irreparable. A schism of eternal proportions continue to separate Muslim and Jews and Christians. Even to the point of violence is this schism poised. For many generations, hundreds of years. And the Christian leaders made it happen. How utterly horrid. Based on false knowledge? Will anyone ever say that about the era?

Education is supposed to help us understand our world. James Baldwin said this powerful statement:

            “White people are trapped in a history they don’t understand.”

So simple and yet so true. Of course the history is white so black history, or Hispanic history or any other culturally based history will mislead the white population into false conclusions unless they are very, very careful. How many centuries has it taken to understand this? And yet educators taught young people all throughout the eras.

Education can be done wrong. Education can make mistakes. And many people rely on it to be the opposite!

Growingbolder.com provided this quote:

“A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have.”

A good life also requires having a good understanding of yourself and the world around you. Education and self discovery is needed for that.

I’m just saying…

March 4, 2014