[lbo-talk] Japan schools to teach patriotism

[Miles Jackson]

Michael Smith wrote:
> On Sunday 20 May 2007 09:05, Doug Henwood wrote:
>  
> 
>>In the early 20th century, our elite decided they could assimilate
>>all the troublesome offspring of the immigrants into the American way
>>through the schools. It worked pretty well. 
> 
> 
> I'm not entirely convinced it did work all that well. It's hard to tell, of 
> course, but I wonder whether mass media may have done a lot more to 
> assimilate people than the schools ever did. 
> 
> For several decades now, the schools have been earnestly trying to inculcate 
> high-minded liberal and civic values -- diversity, tolerance, respect for 
> expertise etc. -- and the result has been a public which takes bloody-minded 
> delight in tweaking its nose at all these liberal palladia. 

Whaaaa--?  When you look at support for "liberal" ideals--desegregated 
schools, acceptance of same-sex relationships, support for women's 
participation in the public sphere--we've seen a tremendous political 
shift in the U. S. since (say) 1950.  Sure, you've got the dumbfuck Imus 
backlash, but the real trend--as the christian conservatives bemoan--is 
that the liberals is winning the "culture war".  --And note that every 
generation of Americans is yet more "liberal" about this stuff than the 
previous one!

Miles