Dangers of Conjugation
This is post 12 of Section I. To begin at the beginning, go here.
“Dad never marches,” put in Stephen. “He says there’s lots of more important things about a person than sexual orientation, and when Classics scholars get a parade, he’ll be right out in front.”
“Singing ‘Superabiiimus,’” Jack finished, singing the verb to the tune of “We Shall Overcome” and conducting with his garlic bread.
“It’s hardly the same thing,” said Robert, with the self-righteousness that always grated on Bennett. “You don’t find Classics professors dismembered in dumpsters because someone was afraid they’d teach young boys to conjugate.”
“No, but we’re denied employment, subjected to repeated questioning about whether our work contributes to society or is somehow parasitic, and looked upon with suspicion if we don’t dumb-down the course material,” Jack said, ticking off the possibilities on his fingers. “And don’t forget Socrates. Mental molestation is less common than physical in our society, and therefore all the more frightening.”
Bennett leaned back in his chair and gave two loud, approving claps, then took up his glass, feeling exposed, as Jack inclined his head to acknowledge the applause.
Continue
“Dad never marches,” put in Stephen. “He says there’s lots of more important things about a person than sexual orientation, and when Classics scholars get a parade, he’ll be right out in front.”
“Singing ‘Superabiiimus,’” Jack finished, singing the verb to the tune of “We Shall Overcome” and conducting with his garlic bread.
“It’s hardly the same thing,” said Robert, with the self-righteousness that always grated on Bennett. “You don’t find Classics professors dismembered in dumpsters because someone was afraid they’d teach young boys to conjugate.”
“No, but we’re denied employment, subjected to repeated questioning about whether our work contributes to society or is somehow parasitic, and looked upon with suspicion if we don’t dumb-down the course material,” Jack said, ticking off the possibilities on his fingers. “And don’t forget Socrates. Mental molestation is less common than physical in our society, and therefore all the more frightening.”
Bennett leaned back in his chair and gave two loud, approving claps, then took up his glass, feeling exposed, as Jack inclined his head to acknowledge the applause.
Continue
posted by Hobbes at 6:55 PM
5 Comments:
Hmmm. I seem to get the idea that they are suggesting that the vast majority of average people are afraid and prejudice against intelligent people. Maybe similar to being prejudice about gays.
That's been my experience, T&I.
By the way, it's no great shakes being an idiot either.
It seems that Jamie Dawn was trying to say that people might be brilliant in a couple areas and muddled in some others.
Doug: Ha ha. I know what kind of test scores Deep Springs students have. And Jamie Dawn thinks you're brilliant (I'm not so sure about your spelling though).
T&I: To a certain extent, yes. But the sad fact is that the less one knows the less one has primed one's brain, and so the less new info sticks, and the less one knows in a continuing vicious circle.
The local paper once ran two headlines on the same page: "Stimulating Brain Can Prevent Alzheimers" and "Alabama: Highest Rate of Alzheimers in the Nation."
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