National Endowment for the Humanities: USA’s 250-year Anniversary
Questions at edsitement.neh.gov Answers by C. Jenny Walbridge
“Q: What does it mean for a union to be made ‘more perfect’?”
A: It means it gets more progressive: more able to adapt, change and grow in the future. It ensures that there is a future. Like a couple having children, improving a union lets its members be heard, developing themselves and their legacy: it is the work of life itself.
“Q: What roles do the humanities play in fostering ‘a more perfect union’?”
A: The creative process of the humanities uses play; it enriches and explains—illustrates—ourselves to ourselves, so we can figure out where we are and where to go. Including anthropology, we can use the humanities to study and see each other so we can reach out and touch and hold hands with each other—for comfort and company, as we try to go forward and ascend!
“Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of citizens and government in a democratic society?”
A: Society means we live near each other/together. Therefore, we intersect and interact, which means we need each other’s help. We have sense and can perceive others’ talents in taking care of us: we need to empower them to meet our needs. Together we can get work done and enjoy ourselves and each other, too!
As citizens, we should learn about our own talents so we can help our neighbors (the rest of humans and our home—Earth’s environment). Citizens must share their joys and sorrows in order for the representatives to cooperate, acting to move things along, getting needs met while enjoying life.
Democratic government needs to modify itself or be changed from time to time to keep up with differences in needs and conditions, in order to serve the voters and the environment, including children. It needs to learn who it is serving. The future should be listened for, and heard! Education of all community members is thus vital—the old of the potentials of the youth and the young of their elders and their elders’ natures and accomplishments.
Also, celebration should be a major aspect of the democratic society. If not fun, why done?