In praise of the liberal arts
What is it about Frank Rich? What could he possibly have to say about media and politics and public affairs?
Here’s a guy who has spent most of his career as a film and theatre critic. A guy who studied American history and literature on his way to his bachelor’s degree.
Not a lawyer, scientist, engineer or big-thinking PhD. Or any other vaunted professional with *hard* credentials.
Yet, I invite you to read his column in this morning’s New York Times. Regardless of what you might think about his bias, I bet you’ll finish feeling more respect for Rich’s facility with hard issues.
Rich can navigate the vagaries of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and our war in Afghanistan as easily as the plays of Moss Hart and life in post-WWII New York City. Rich is an embodiment of what we used to regard as a well-educated person.
Is that because he pursued a liberal arts education? Probably not…or probably not just because he pursued a liberal arts education.
But it didn’t hurt.
I just caught a Shadow. While he lacks Rich’s experience with the fine arts, Ross Douthat also uses a liberal arts platform to write about complex matters. The liberal arts, however, are the only things about Douthat anyone would label liberal.
1Wow. Thanks for bringing our attention to that article. Loads of good information about this situation. It’s really sad that so few people care about the war – many fewer than did at its inception.
2Good morning, Kate. Thanks for the feedback. If you haven’t done it already, I’d urge you to read Douthat’s take on our options on the war, including his fervent hope that we get out of Afghanistan.
BTW, the link you gave to your stupid-question blog is broken.
DOUG
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