[MD] What "moral revolution" is called for by the MOQ?

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Platt]
> When government acts to assure freedom, in this case, freedom from brain-
> numbing, disturbing the peace noise, I'm in favor of it.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Your freedom, my restriction. Why don't we let market forces decide? :-)

You like making noise and bothering people?

> [Platt]
> I don't favor the right of an individual to expose himself to children. I guess
> you do, although hypocritically you won't practice what you preach.
> 
> [Arlo]
> You're touching on the psychological sexual hangups of the Americans here, and
> insinuating that I'd support molestation. Other countries have no such hangups
> on the human body, and are able to separate out nude sunbathing from child
> abuse.

We're not talking nude sunbathing. We're talking walking down town and city
streets buck naked.
 
> [Platt]
> Let's begin our revolution by emphasizing education in the arts beginning in
> kindergarten, discovering each child's artistic delight at an early age and
> building on it right up through high school. I don't just mean writing,
> painting, sculpture, music, dance, etc. although those are important.  I mean
> the art of cooking, rhetoric, mathematics, economics, medicine -- you name it.
> There's an art to every human activity -- "Beautifully done by little Platt and
> Arlo." (If not, little Platt and little Arlo are damn well going to hear about
> it. But, ideally, they will know it themselves.)
> 
> What do you think?
> 
> [Arlo]
> I think you and I are in more-or-less complete agreement.
> 
> Let me extend. As I see contemporary education, it consists of three
> artificially separated spheres. Academics, "Vocational" and (Fine) Arts. The
> traditionally "vocational" paths are often smirked upon and seen as the place
> where "dumbies" end up. Academics is heavily steeped in the type of "objective
> dualism" that almost goes without saying here. And as such the "fine arts" are
> seen as frivolous and irrelevant. Quality ends this. Being a "plumber" is an
> art, no less valuable or more pedantic than "engineer".
> 
> I am reminded of a line from The Breakfast Club. Johnson and Bender discuss the
> value of "shop" class.
> Johnson: Bender, did you know without trigonometry there would be no
> engineering? 
> Bender: Without lamps there'd be no light.
> 
> And the Arts aren't relegated off to some odd smelling dusty room, but are
> integrated into every subject. Indeed, "shop" and "art" classes become almost
> synonymous. Rotisserie assembly and sculpture are united. There would also be
> no stigma to drifting around until you found something you were GOOD at. If it
> is cookery, then you are supported to find and create art through cooking. If
> it is engineering, then you are supported to build beautiful bridges and
> buildings. If it is plumbing, then you are supported to build Quality and
> respected pipings.
> 
> Its a good start.

Great. I've always known we were on "the same page" philosophically if not
politically, and even there we're probably closer that we make out. If I have
time today I will send an e-mail based on an ad (gasp) in the current issue of
"Smithsonian" magazine headlined, "Discover a mathematical world of startling
beauty and insight." From "The Great Courses, a Teaching Company." Perhaps you
have heard of it? More later.
  




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