Update June 10, 2011 - Dreyfuss announces "major" new civics initiatives - "The first annual American History Play Competition (AHPC). The AHCP will award $350,000 to playwrights and theater companies for an original play that focuses on an event, person, or place in American history. . . "
"We live in a simmer of hysteria"
by C.J. Westerberg
Watch Richard Dreyfuss in a decidedly provocative segment on today's MSNBC "Morning Joe" with Mika Brzezinski, Pat Buchanan, Willie Geist and Mike Barnicle. Video below. Skip to 3:20 mark to miss the initial bantering between Dreyfuss and Buchanan.
you are you withdrawing the oxygen from the atmosphere of any representative democracy, and you don't share anything."
While the topic of his visit - civics education in this country - is important and controversial in its own right, Dreyfuss, by his very nature, always adds an edgy perspective. Along with the proceeds of the book, "America, the Beautiful" celebrating American culture, the Dreyfuss Initiative will be contributing to civics education in America.
Dreyfuss rails against our country's "partisan- addiction", fueled by the speed of technology, which "has removed time from the important decision-making" in geo-politics. Other topics included our lack of civility, our education system and lack of exposure to civics and history.
Two of his memorable quotes:
that we are preparing them for a Fred Astaire movie"
At the 6:00 minute mark, Dreyfuss talks about the curriculum he developed at Oxford which by design exercises the mind stressing the ability to have reason, logic, clarity of thought and critical analysis allowing for opposing views, dissent, debate and ultimately, civility.
He continued to say that we have reached a point in our national conversation where we "demonize everything" from our opponents. Later in this segment, he advises who should be
in charge of creating the research standard on the Web. . . which I can only expect will fuel yet another round in our uncivil discourse as it includes icons in the education and technology fields, such as Howard Gardner, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Supreme Court Justice,Sandra Day O'Connor, Touts Video Game Site for Teaching Civics
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I think some of the things said were very important, like, we are preparing our children for a Fred Astaire movie instead of the 21st Century. And the incivility of our society like demonizing every point of view from our opponents leaving out reason and logic. It is attitude. A very narrow attitude with no room for apposing views. Hello Fox News.
Verne- Whether you realize it or not, your comment, "Hello Fox News" demonstrates the very point Dreyfus was making in his argument. It is more important to demonize those we disagree with than it is to listen and respect opposing views. A point you made in your comments, but one you clearly do not exercise yourself.
And "opposing" is spelled with an "o", not an "a".
Well said Tcat... we must each raise our game not by demonizing others who have differing opinions or perspectives, but by better ennunciating our own opinions and perspectives such that they find resonance with others OR they ellicit constructive feedback that helps us refine or rework our own opinions and perspectives...
I couldn't have explained the topic better myself.
THE DREYFUSS INITIATIVE - FORUM ON AMERICA’S CIVIC CRISIS SET FOR JANUARY 17, 2011
A national forum on the deepening crisis in our civic culture will be held on January 17. The forum will be simulcast from the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC and the Kroc Center for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego starting at 1:00 p.m. EST.
It’s Time for a Talk; The National Conversation on Revitalizing America's Civic Culture
http://www.timeforatalk.org/ brings together leaders from across the political spectrum to review the current civics crisis and the loss of decorum and civility in our public processes.
“When those who serve our nation, and citizens participating in open public processes, are gunned down we have to take action”, stated Richard Dreyfuss, Academy Award winning actor and President of The Dreyfuss Initiative. “The January 17 forum will review a crisis that was years in the making and seek solutions for moving America back from the brink.”
The panel will include John Fund [WSJ], Bob Edgar [President, Common Cause], Roy Romer [Former Governor & School Superintendent], Admiral Bruce Boland [ret], Frank Luntz [Pollster], Rick Shenkman [VoteIQ], and Diane Ravitch [commentator].
Richard Dreyfuss will make opening remarks. Scot Faulkner [former CAO of the House of Representatives] will moderate the event.
For more information visit: http://www.timeforatalk.org/
Coverage of the event and media availability of panelists before and after the event should be arranged with:
San Diego: Eva M. Stimson, EMS MC, Inc.,
828/832-8297, 858/864-8536 (mobile), emsmarketing1@cox.net
Washington, DC: Scot Faulkner, Executive Director, The Dreyfuss Initiative
304-535-2757, 703-598-5548 (mobile), smf53@aol.com
Richard Dreyfuss paid a visit at my school last year and it was a disaster:
http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/17/the-richard-dreyfuss-show/
http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/04/do-you-want-richard-dreyfuss-teaching-your-kids/
Today is the first time I have heard of the Dreyfuss Initiative and I am thrilled. When I was in the 8th grade everyone in our school district was required to pass a "Constitution Test", or he didn't pass the 8th grade. I thought everyone in the country was required to do this. Now I find out that we were unique. We had to memorize the Preamble to the Constitution and the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence, plus have an understanding the Constitution, the amendments, how laws were made, the three branches of government and their responsibilities, the Cabinet, names and responsibilities and a basic knowledge of American History. This should be basic to any education of anyone living in this country. Here, here Mr. Dreyfuss. How can I help0?
Charlene
The issue as I see it is people like Mika Brzezinski and Richard Dreyfuss who are not professional educators becoming the voice of professional educators. We need dynamic, exciting people to jump in and lend a voice to those things that matter in education. Left to Mika, we would stop using computers and teach kids to sew...