|
June 08, 2006
From Amartya Sen's Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny (Issues of Our Time)
Education is not just about getting children, even very young ones, immersed in an old, inherited ethos. It is also about helping children to develop the ability to reason about new decisions any grown-up person will have to take. The important goal is not some formulaic "parity" in relation to old Brits with their old faith schools but what would best enhance the capability of the children to live "examined lives" as they grow up in an integrated country.
Very Socratic isn't it?
If identity matters in the sense that people need roots in some cultural soil or other, even if they should not be so rooted that they cannot migrate physically, linguistically, socially, and culturally, then we should acknowledge that we all possess multiple identities--ie., we are sexed, religious or not so, a worker and a Croatian.
Yet identity politics so often rest on hatreds that do as much damage to the aggressors as to their victims? 'Tis a puzzle isn't it.
|
