Sat 20 Jan 2007
James Lee has penned a column in response to the KERA broadcast and notes the importance of churches and schools, and the fact that these topics were left out of the film. It’s a valid point, and not one that escaped my attention. The issue of churches and religion was left out of the film on purpose, along with a few other big topics like the role of media. I’m working on a post that talks about these matters. The bottom line on my view of the role of churches is that they can be connectors but, importantly, they can can also be dividers - it depends on the church and how politicized they are.
I especially appreciated this line:
I’ve traveled the world, and it has been my experience that, whether in neighborhoods or foreign countries, people generally get back what they radiate.
Absolutely. If everyone around you is cold, its very hard to be warm, and vice versa.
2 Responses to “What about Churches and Schools?”
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January 21st, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I agree, and coincidentally, this topic is discussed in a recent article by Chris Hedges:
http://www.alternet.org/story/46908/
(excerpt)
The Radical Christian Right Is Built on Suburban Despair
By Chris Hedges, AlterNet. Posted January 19, 2007.
“Millions of Americans live trapped in soulless exurbs which lack any kind of community, leaving them feeling isolated and vulnerable. Without alternatives for their social despair, they flock to demagogues promising revenge and a mythical utopia.
This despair crosses economic boundaries, of course, enveloping many in the middle class who live trapped in huge, soulless exurbs where, lacking any form of community rituals or centers, they also feel deeply isolated, vulnerable and lonely. Those in despair are the most easily manipulated by demagogues, who promise a fantastic utopia, whether it is a worker’s paradise, fraternite-egalite-liberte, or the second coming of Jesus Christ. Those in despair search desperately for a solution, the warm embrace of a community to replace the one they lost, a sense of purpose and meaning in life, the assurance they are protected, loved and worthwhile.”
January 21st, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I read with interest James Lee’s opinion piece “Feeling Connected” dated Jan. 18th.
I agree with James that Dean forgot to mention public gathering spaces, like churches and schools. They comprise the fourth of the four components of suburban sprawl as taught by Andres Duany, a “founding father” of the New Urbanism movement.
see:
www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3F372CFBA3A87C1F
Although a bit dated, this 1991 lecture and slideshow beautifully lays out the technical aspects causing the social disconnects that Dean Terry portrays in his film.
Although churches and schools still play a significant role in people’s lives, the fact that you need a car and a licensed driver to get you there have negatively impacted our children and our aging parents.
No longer are they able to just walk down a straight street to get there. We’ve isolated our children, we have marooned our TDL-revoked parents.
Another tragedy would be the unprecedented shift of wealth from the commons to the private sector.
Our fund-starved secondary schools and public buildings have become bland, unremarkable, gulag-esque institutions while corporate fortunes raise opulent temples to commemorate oil and gas, banking services and insurance policies.
You should SEE the lobbies in the newly built hospitals! They have a Starbucks!! (but no nurses)
It’s time to get our priorities straight, and take this country in a new direction.