Professor Kim READ FIRST: Why Dorothy Kim Hates Me , The Color of the House of the Lord It’s back to class for those of us who teach in medieval studies, and my medievalist colleague Dorothy Kim , Assistant Professor of English at Vassar College ( pictured in 2014 ), wants to make sure you understand the stakes . The medieval western European Christian past is being weaponized by white supremacist/white nationalist/KKK/nazi extremist groups who also frequently happen to be college students. That does sound bad. But, wait, it gets worse! Don’t think western European medieval studies is exceptional.... ISIS/ISIL also weaponizes the idea of the pure medieval Islamic past in their recruiting rhetoric for young male Muslims. If the medieval past (globally) is being weaponized for the aims of extreme, violent supremacist groups, what are you doing, medievalists, in your classrooms? Because you are the authorities teaching medieval subjects in the classroom, you are, in fact, ide
thanks for writing!
ReplyDeleteI believe it is we who should be thanking you, FB, for sharing so much in a thoughtful and engaging style. In particular, you capture the struggle for discerning worth and gaining satisfaction in a way that resonates with, well, me, at any rate.
ReplyDeleteUltimately I believe even our restlessness will be redeemed; or, rather, we shall behold that for which we were yearning without having been able to describe it. In the meantime, the manner in which we handle our doubts and disappointments--how we struggle with whether we are, in fact, the people we should be--has a very large part in shaping our characters. The daily plodding of life 'counts.'
Your open, indeed, vulnerable recounting of how you approach that daily challenge has been instructive and encouraging to me, and, I suspect, many others as well. There's also a fun side to the FB, which is why it is always eminently worthwhile visiting here time and again. Best wishes for your continued success (yes, success).
[Big grin] It's been a pleasure, really, and an honor having readers like you. Fencing Bear is very much looking forward to sharing her further adventures with you this next year!
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