http://www.openculture.com/2009/03/the_tolstoy_bailout.html The best free cultural & educational media on the web Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:17:07 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 http://www.openculture.com/2009/03/the_tolstoy_bailout.html/comment-page-1#comment-9284 Gary D. Collins Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:56:22 +0000 http://www.oculture.com/?p=2839#comment-9284 Thought that this would be interesting and well worth the read. Thought that this would be interesting and well worth the read.

]]> http://www.openculture.com/2009/03/the_tolstoy_bailout.html/comment-page-1#comment-3482 Dan Colman Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:58:33 +0000 http://www.oculture.com/?p=2839#comment-3482 I also frankly expected this article to elicit a few more responses. It takes a pretty "in your face" position (in a good way), and I actually found it a quite compelling defense of the humanities. As you said AJ, we could all use some anchoring and perspective, especially now. Tolstoy does that. I also frankly expected this article to elicit a few more responses. It takes a pretty “in your face” position (in a good way), and I actually found it a quite compelling defense of the humanities. As you said AJ, we could all use some anchoring and perspective, especially now. Tolstoy does that.

]]> http://www.openculture.com/2009/03/the_tolstoy_bailout.html/comment-page-1#comment-3481 AJ Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:05:39 +0000 http://www.oculture.com/?p=2839#comment-3481 I read this yesterday and today I'm a bit surprised that there were no posted comments. So here's one. As a social worker (still working) who has equal admiration for humanities and sciences, I would call this article one of the best of the recession. Perhaps the arts were only being financed in the past as a show of disingenuous taste. But it's intrinsic value does not diminish with time or based on whether I have enough money or not. Now, the issue at hand is whether culture is "fund worthy" in these times. Well, education is at it's root a cultural endeavor; is it worthy of funding? Public pools and beaches should be open in the summer, even if some casinos have to close and the auto industry contracts to a few greatly competitive companies. I find that we simply stumble over our own prejudices when we pick and choose what is valuable when money is tight. That's why we almost started charging for trash pick up in my town and are still bent on closing nearly a dozen community libraries and more pools. You want to drive away decent people who can afford to leave and further frustrate those who are trapped by closing public spaces. This is how the new rules are applied if we do not respect our roots. Without roots we will be blown away. Okay, now it's your turn to comment.. I read this yesterday and today I’m a bit surprised that there were no posted comments. So here’s one. As a social worker (still working) who has equal admiration for humanities and sciences, I would call this article one of the best of the recession. Perhaps the arts were only being financed in the past as a show of disingenuous taste. But it’s intrinsic value does not diminish with time or based on whether I have enough money or not. Now, the issue at hand is whether culture is “fund worthy” in these times. Well, education is at it’s root a cultural endeavor; is it worthy of funding? Public pools and beaches should be open in the summer, even if some casinos have to close and the auto industry contracts to a few greatly competitive companies. I find that we simply stumble over our own prejudices when we pick and choose what is valuable when money is tight. That’s why we almost started charging for trash pick up in my town and are still bent on closing nearly a dozen community libraries and more pools. You want to drive away decent people who can afford to leave and further frustrate those who are trapped by closing public spaces. This is how the new rules are applied if we do not respect our roots. Without roots we will be blown away. Okay, now it’s your turn to comment..

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