I work for the Peace Corps in a country with a long established Taker culture. I teach English, while at the same time dispelling myths about the ONE RIGHT WAY to live. Does this contradiction necessarily invalidate the education I give, i.e., teaching Ishmael?

I’ve said that changed minds are needed EVERYWHERE, and this is a prime example. Promoting the Taker vision worldwide is a sort of unstated mission of the Peace Corps, but I’m sure you didn’t take an oath to further this mission. So subvert it to the extent that you can by dispelling the myths that are driving us to the brink of extinction.

When I was in educational publishing, I did what I could to subvert the Taker mythology that is embedded in the materials published for children. I couldn’t do much, but that’s not the point. We must each do what we can WHEREVER WE ARE, and with millions of us doing that, it will add up to very significantly.

ID: 566
posted:
updated: 20 May 2002