In Defense of Western Civilization

[ShawnaB]

I want to thank Mr. Cothran and the editors of The Classical Teacher for another excellent edition. I think it might be my favorite one so far. Mr. Cothran's In Defense of Western Civilization and Ms. Swope's Why Study Western Civilization were particularly helpful to me in answering some of the questions that I have been asked of last regarding classical education. I love this magazine. Thank you!!

[Beorn]

I want to thank Mr. Cothran and the editors of The Classical Teacher for another excellent edition. I think it might be my favorite one so far. Mr. Cothran's In Defense of Western Civilization and Ms. Swope's Why Study Western Civilization were particularly helpful to me in answering some of the questions that I have been asked of last regarding classical education. I love this magazine. Thank you!!

Absolutely agreed.

[Fireweed Prep]

The article articulates well my deep discomfort with almost every history program I have looked at (outside of MP), particularly for American history. Either 1) the author/publisher/source thinks that America is the New Jerusalem, ordained and defined by God Himself, and therefore America's leaders are unassailable leaders of light (with a sidenote that the Civil War was really about states' rights) or 2) America is a wretched country led by white supremacist men, and America has always subjugated women and people of color, and really, we'd be better off if we were taken over by Tibet. Or at least Germany.

My take has always been in the middle: America is a brilliant idea. The Declaration and Constitution, while not necessarily wholly original, were breathtaking and bold, but still require adaptation to today's society which the founders never even envisioned. There is still so much good about America, but it needs constant tending and strengthening and refining.