“We could demonstrate that we know that our neighbor is the man to whom we show understanding, mercy and compassion, not solely the one who does us good. [...] We could demonstrate our faith in the natural and supernatural unity of mankind, of all races, creeds and social conditions [...] We could show that the US is the proper leader of a united world based on knowledge and love as compared to a [...] world based on fear and hate.”
Our Quote of the Week inspires us to envision a future in which we interact with each other with love, secure in the knowledge that we are all connected.
In a speech about the future of education, Sargent Shriver outlines the tools available for building a more robust and modern education system, one that is able to truly nurture its students. Shriver gave this speech in his capacity as head of the Chicago Public School Board and the Catholic Interracial Council. In it, he speaks about technology, infrastructure, financial support, and collaboration from the public and private sectors. He then goes on to talk about his aspirations for “education for the more distant future - the future world of 1980 and 1990 and the world of the 21st Century.” In this context, he says that for all of us to be able to live in peace, we must educate our young people to understand the main cultures of the past and present: from Ancient Greece and Rome to the contemporary cultures of the East and West:
“How can all of us — white, black, yellow and brown people — of different nations and different cultures — live together in peace? Instead of concentrating almost wholly on teaching Anglo-Saxon culture in our high schools and colleges, I suggest that we start to offer courses in the seven great world cultures, six of which are now vying for space on our ever-diminishing globe. The cultures I suggest are these: the Moslem Culture; the Hindu or Indian Culture; the Chinese or Japanese Culture; African Culture; Hebrew Culture; Christian Culture; and by way of background and perspective, the Classical Cultures of Greece and Rome.”
With greater understanding, Sargent Shriver reasons that we can feel secure that each of us is free to follow our own path. This in turn makes us free to act towards each other with compassion.
Sargent Shriver’s response to the question of creating an education system for the future illustrates the ideals that he would later be known for when he stepped onto the world stage as the first Director of the Peace Corps. His prediction for what was most needed in education in the 21st century has turned out to be truly prescient. By instilling in our young people a sense that we are all citizens of the world and that we are all interconnected, we can foster increased collaboration and understanding -- and reduce the risk of discrimination and violence.
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