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AUTHOR Shlensky, Jane TITLE Short Course in South Asian Literature and Culture. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1994 (India). INSTITUTION United States Educational Foundation in India. PUB DATE 1994-00-00 NOTE 39p.; For other Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1994 reports, see SO 028 135-143. Some pages may not reproduce clearly. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Asian Studies; *Course Content; Course Descriptions; Course Organization; Ethnic Groups; Foreign Countries; Global Education; Higher Education; *Indians; Interdisciplinary Approach; Multicultural Education; Non Western Civilization; Religion Studies; World Literature IDENTIFIERS Asia (South); *India

ABSTRACT This syllabus describes a college course developed to address South Asian literature and culture with a focus on India. Suggestions for student readings and discussion, oral communication, listening, writing, and field trips are included. The empires of South Asia, its religions, social stratification, parallels of history and religion with the arts, and a discussion of gender roles and social issues are addressed in the study. (EH)

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_. Short Course in South Asian Literature and Culture Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1994 (India) Curriculum Projects Developed by 1994 Seminar Participants

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zzzzz zzzzz The North Carolina School(- of Science and Mathematics

P.O. Box 2418 1219 Broad Street Durham, North Carolina 27715 (919) 286-3366

December 29, 1994 ear Friends,

Namaste'. I apologize for the delayin sending these materials to you. t has taken more time than I'danticipated to sort through all Ilearned hile I was with you and to skillfullyapply those understandings and students. I have an idea that Iwill be aterials in my lessons with my own to eflecting on and applying theexperiences of my summer with you for years fluid and moving 'ome, so that theideas I enclose are hardly static, but as s the Ganges at flood, as ourown selves. I started school four daysafter I still sort T return, hardlytime enough for me to unpack and washclothes. .hrough my pictures and slides,arranging and reproducing. My students are telping me to put the slides onvideo so that they will be moreaccessible to :hem for class use. The music you recommended webuy and a few tapes you adn't recommend but that I stumbled uponin my frequent bookstore tripswill well, selected by the studentsthemselves according ,e used on these tapes as The art :o their tastes andideas of appropriateness. So far, so good. >rints and books have gotten perhapsthe greatest use by students who are .nterested in sculpture, in visualarts, in simple beauty, andin the :onnectedness of art with the historyand literature of India. Students come )y to borrow from mypersonal library (they say that Ihave "strange and luirky" books. Is that good?) fortheir personal research projects. While I lave not read 1/10 of whatI've most recently purchased,it is gratifying to believe is an interesting work ofliterature or see someone read what I have research. Even my salwar kamees outfitsand saris and multiple scarves Deen useful for localcelebrations of devali and classical danceperformances. I was most pleased that yesterdaythe last shipment of books thatI'd sent arrived--this one, the firstfourof the twelve volumes of The lahabharata. I'd received volumes 5-12earlier and had begun to despairof office being able to read the beginning. Allof the shipments handled by your arrived earlier and in good condition. Thanks for your care andfine packaging. I cannot begin to tell you howmuch the trip to and throughIndia meant coming o me and through me, to mystudents. I had read extensively before my rid had taught South Asian literatureand history for 3 years, slowly eveloping the small amount I knew byreading, studying, researching. I was of a bad teacher of Indian Studiesbefore I came, but now I feel I am amuch ,etter one, a sensitive one, a moreassured one, one who has seen,heard, :ouched, smelled, waded through, eaten,sweated, questioned, appreciated, An affiliate school of BEST COPY AVAILABLE The University of North Carolina wed, and sometimes understood India. That has to make a difference to my tudents and to the works we study. The scholars you selected were all first ate, all so kind and open in entertaining ourquestions and interests; all of le staff members of USEFI were asattentive and available to us as we could Dpe. Frankly, being a backpacker from my youth,accustomed to sleeping in any an unsavory hovel andeating whatever presented itself, I felt absolutely ampered by the hotel staffs, the restauranteurs,the drivers and flights and rains and guides and teachers and USEFI staff and ourbeloved mom Neetra. We Bcame spoiled, I'm afraid, forit was far too good. Coming home was Dmething of an anti-climax, except for seeing ourfamilies whom we'd missed.

Although I'm tardy in sending you thisproject, I have not been so tardy n sending the bibliographies of BanarasHindu University and American nstitute for Indian studies to my travel mates of the summer. I've heard rom a few of them saying they'dreceived them and were only now realizing hat a wonderful summer we'd spent. I enclose a rough outline of how I've usedin my classes the materials nd ideas gleaned during my stay this summer. I'm sure these studies will xpand and improve as I incorporate what is mostuseful to this age group and lter the syllabus of readings and activities. Nevertheless, I hope to use any of the books and arts, culturalobjects and ideas in individual students' esearch projects which change each year. For your edification, I will send ou shortly a list of the books Ibought while I was with you this summer. I ecall that O.P. was particularly curious about whatAmerican teachers bought. don't know that my taste is typical of all of us,but it clearly represents hat I individually will pursue in my ownreading and research and/or what I eel will intrigue my students and assistwith their personal studies.

I wish you all the very best of the best,hoping to see you again, either ere in the U.S. or there inIndia. Know that you are welcome to my home and tate should you come to the United States. The accomodations will not be so plendid nor the food so deliciously spicy, but the welcomewill be heartfelt.

All Love and Respect,

425/1-4."b'Aid* Jane Shlensky

BEST COPY AVALABLE 3IAN HUMANITIES: COURSE DESCRIPTION What is truth and What is the place of manin relation to the universe? and pursued? How shall welive in this world with mw is that truth valued gods/cause(s) of :her human beings? What ishumankind's relationship with questions across time in West,South, )ing? This course will examine these civilizations as they id East Asia, contrastingbeliefs and practices of Does this civilizationregard man as superior to Iswer these questions. Is man iture or as only one part ofthe harmonious scheme ofthe universe. less, than a rock, a flower, abird? While in South and East ) more, and no cycles of the sia, he may find himself a partof the eternally changing ienomenal universe (tao or Brahmanmade manifest), in WestAsia, he may grant imself "steward" or lord of nature,the dominant creation of ahigher being. all human activities concernedwith ?gardless of geographic space, are fellow man, or to thieving harmony, whether inrelation to himself, to his le universe? mind as it has To help students understandboth the Asian and Western questions, the course inAsian Humanities will restled with answering these of West Asia (the Dncentrate on the philosophicalbases of the civilizations (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh),and of East iddle East), of South Asia concepts as they sia (China, Japan, and Korea)and the expression of these histories and social structures, ppear in thedaily life, the literature, the dance of these lands andcultures. The course, he art, and the music and the first of which alled the Asian World, willbe divided into two semesters, 1500; the second of whichwill examine the ill examine these areas until the course on eriod from 1500 to the present.The following outline records however, is to connect the 'die only. A primary goal of the course, eographies, cultural studies,literatures, belief systems,histories and estinies of all these areas.

SHORT COURSE IN SOUTH ASIANLITERATURE AND CULTURE: lbjective: study of (a) to understand theHindu vision of life through the the philosophical basis ofthe Hindu religion: the conceptsof karma, dharma, moksha,enlightenment (b) to see how Hindu concepts arereflected in Indianliterature, dance, and theatre (c) to see how these concepts areexpressed in art (d) to see how these concepts areexpressed in music (e) to become acquaintedwith the major writers andprimary texts of literature (f) to connect the history,geography, social order, art, politics, and religions of SouthAsia with these literary texts and concepts (g) to understand therelationships and contributions ofother emerging belief systems of Indiawith Hinduism (Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity,Jainism, and Parseeism primarily) in history, art, andliterature (h) to set up a student newsservice for each country ofAsia, linking history and literaturewith the current eventswithin the country (in this case,India) which will be sharedwith the student body (i) to make available to studentsworksheets and projects whereby their study of India can be betterfacilitated (assorted worksheets, guidelines, andarticles are enclosed) of (j) to develop individual topicsof study pursuing some facet Indian Studies culminating in amajor research paper/project

BEST COPY AVA/LABLE 4 :xts and Materials for Study ofIndia up to 1050:

A. South Asia Patterns in History: Comparative History of Civilizationsin Asia, Vol. I, Farmer, et.al. (chapters 1-8) A History of Asia, R.Murphey, (chapters 2 and5)

B. South Asian Literature: and rebirth World Mythology, DonnaRosenburg, all creation, death, stories and Indra's fertilitystories. Discussions of Hinduism Excerpts from Rig Veda Upanishad Excerpts from Taittiriva Sanskrit and Excerpts from Bhagavad-Gitain two translations with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi commentary onBhagavad-Gita The Ramayana, read boththe Rosenburg version inWorld Mythology and the Narayan translation forcomparison of the two texts Application of Campbell'sheroic cycle to characters inThe Ramavana Excerpt from The Mahabharata,"Savitri's Love" Excerpt from The Book ofAnimals Excerpts from the Kama Sutra,Ananga Ranga, and PerfumedGarden regarding ideal men and womenin literature and society Poems of Okkur Macatti Excerpt from the works ofKalidasa Bhatta Somadeva's "TheConfidence Men"

C. Early South Asia in Film and Art: Art prints of major eventsfrom the Bhagavad-Gita Art prints of major scenesfrom The Ramayana Art prints from works ofKalidasa Moghal art prints Video dance performance fromGita of Arjuna and Krishna'sdiscussion on the battlefield(JVC World Cultures Series) The Ramayana Selected South Asian dances (JVCWorld Cultures Series andlive performances by students) Video of "Moghal Architecture andArt in India" Video of "Hindu and Buddhist Artand Architecture in India" texts and Materials for Study of India1500 to the present:

A. South Asia Patterns in History: Comparative History of Civilizationsin Asia, Vol. I, Farmer, et.al. (Chapters 9-10) A History of Asia, R.Murphey, (chapters 2 and 5) The Asians, T. Welty

B. South Asian Literature: Keshub Chunder Sen, "Loyaltyto the British Nation" "The Asiatic Christ" Henry Derozio, "LetterProtesting His Dismissal" "India's Youth--the Hope of HerFuture" Thomas Babington Macaulay, "Minute onEducation" Rudyard Kipling, "The Return ofImray" and poems

5 MST COPYAVAILABLE Rammohun Roy, "In Defense ofHindu Women" Shri Ramakrishna, "Parables andSayings" Swami Vivekananda, "America andIndia's Poor" Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, "TheLanguage of the Masses" "Hail to the Mother" Mohandas Gandhi, "Through Love toGod" "Hindu-Muslim Unity" "The Message of Asia" "The Untouchables" Muhammad Ali Jinnah, "AnInternational Problem" Liaquat Ali Khan, "Pakistan'sMission in Asia" Mulk Raj Anand, "The Gold Watch" A.K. Ramanujan, "Obituary" Kamala Das, "An Introduction" Nissim Ezekiel, "Night of the Scorpion"and "Poverty Poems-2" Sarojini Naidu, "The Pardah Nashin" Selections from R. Tagore's works from Other Voices, Other Vistas Anita Desai, "Pigeons at Daybreak" Mahasweta Devi, "Dhowli" Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, "TheInterview" R.K. Narayan, "A Horse and TwoGoats" Khushwant Singh, "The Wog"

C. 20th Century South Asia in Film and Art: Gandhi Passage to India Jewel in the Crown The Home and the World Salaam, Bombay The People Bomb (documentary onworld population with 3 segments of Indian focus)

>tudent Activities:

1. Reading and discussion of Hinduscriptures and literatures, social systems and history dharma and karma 2. Discussion of heroes and heroines, men and women, in the texts and in daily life

3. Oral communication: dramatization of scenesfrom plays oral reports on individual researchprojects team projects presented orally to class

4. Listening: Films in both English and in SouthAsian languages (such as The Ramayana withintroduction Telegu, Hindi, and Marathi) Recordings of Indian music Outside speakers invited to discussvarious topics

Le.LE BEST CPY MAU 5. Composition: In-class and research papers on any facet ofIndian literature or history, art or philosophy Evaluation of character, plot, theme in literature Group analysis of facets of longer texts Team reports on projects presented orally In-class tests/essays defining Hinduphilosophical terms, application of Hindu principles to theart of living, and interconnectness of India with other cultures and beliefs of Asia

6. Field Trips: to museums, Asia Society programs,Hindu meditation societies, Hindu temple for special celebrations, performances of Indian dance and theatre (both at our own school and at neighboringuniversities) rimary Points of Discussion and Exploration: Discuss empires and empire building in South Asia (Dravidian, Aryan, Vedic, Hindu, Mogul, and so forth)

Discuss stratification systems of South Asia (caste, economics, gender, and so forth) Discuss religion(s) of South Asia (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism,Parseeism (Zoroastrianism), Jainism, and so forth)

Discuss parallels of history and religion with the arts (architecture, music, literature, sculpture, painting, dance,cookery, and

Discuss gender roles (ideals) and social issuesimpacted by gender concerns Examine modern applications of Hindu attitudes and texts: afilm project (teams of 2 students will develop topics/ideas ofinterest and make a short film (6-8 minutes) for classviewing (such as use of ancient texts for modern business, television programs, ortheatre) A few examples follow: a. the Mahabharata and Gita and modernbusiness (see India Times, July '94) b. yoga, meditation, and ayurvedic medicine in the modern age c. the Eastern influence on Westernmusic or the Western influence on Eastern music or film (example: sitar in Beatlesmusic or Bombay as Indian Hollywood) d. Westernization?Indian democracy and Indian needs e. the beauty of commonality?multiple languages and traditions in India f. caste or recaste: modern social stratificationin India g. woman's place: sati or nosati, sari or no sari h. the population question in India and her attemptsat solutions

BEST COPYAVAIABLE 1. GOD gas.ifierf BASIC QUESTIONS OF EXISTENCE B. God'sGod's.existenCe motives1. - ' - 2.3. ThaTheThe freecreation creation rein of'of of manevil. the universein world . Froin A ere lia:fe I come and C. God'stiod's nature-...,rtiiipation4. in oui.exisien:C. ThL ouestiOn justice.'. ShipWhy. withhaVe tlie'Manifold 1 tome. What. is".rity'relation- . . !!. NAN'S PURPOSEB.A. DefinitionCoping with of suffering, a "successful. poverty, life" disease 2". :1N/hat is ttie.eSsential andhuman what beings is the ?.' essential nature of nature of universe and other my. being. the IAN'S NATUREAl Z.Mortality Where civilizationsis headirq, .. .3. What is the world'?consciousness:,manifested world and relationship of the and its cause'? the objects of the center of B. Existence of soul 2. 1.2.Reincarnation 1.AfterlifeBrevity Death of days 4.. What is the.. hownames do o_ they f .the serve objects of the nature of the ,forms the essential nature world and and of C. Existence of good/evil. right/wrong2. 1.In Insociety our nature 5 ',What. , .marforaswelive-m universal the natural are the guidelines fdriCtion consciousness? as long D. 3.2.Our 1.3.Dreams Emotionscomposite MemoryIndependent parts of man or society rationalafterWhat death? isconclusions-- truth, hoW d0 we arrive body? Do we live at E. 6.5.4. MindSubconsciousPerception mind truth? on questions of IV. QUERIES ON THE UNIVERSE 2.Our1. needsLove and desires 8 B.A. Questionsits age, size,on time, parts, the extent,4th dimension, 5th destination inhabitants, dimensionpurpose. BEST COPY AVAILABLE The basis of our investigation into Eastern philosophies BASIC QUEST/QUESTIONPHILOSOPHICAL SPREADSHEET STUDENT QUESTION TERM RG VEDA urAmiSAIDS Shavivad Gits 1. universe?naturewhatrealityunderlying is of the theof the -ntoBrahman Confucianism Taoism 2. doeswithinthatNow Brahman dous?Brahman we Mowknow is Tat tuamAtmanasi 3. whatrealizewhy weroist do are? we whowithin not or us? Maya h. oreventualWhat destiny? is man'sgoal floksa 5. there?how do we get Karma 6. obstacles?What are our flays 7. obstacles?overcomeMow should these we yoga S obstacles?comebotherwhenthat these happenswe to don't over- Samsara 3. we livesurviveapproachMowmust should ourdo ortodailythings Cowe I. anyusedsimiles/anecdoteslist of to the analogies/illustrate - ESTCQ YAVA LABL7 LIFE AS A SCHOOL OF TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING:The Hindu Quest

We enter into PRAKRM(world of Nature)

and drawn into MAYA(stuff of the universe which makesus think It the only reality)

create our own KARMA(spiritual consequence of action).

We seek DHARMA(the root of being)

and MOKSA(release, deliverance)

from SAMSARA(cycle of rebirth).

Through YOGA(discipline of union, through restraintsviolence, deception,theft, sex, greed through disciplinescleanliness, serenity,asceticism, yogic studies, Grounded motivation through withdrawal of senses--asana (conditioning of body), pranayama (breathing rhythm) dbarana (concentration) through dhyana (meditation) point of departure is ekagrata (concentrationon a single object)

we know SAMADHI(still mind) and realize TAT TUAM ASI("That Thou Art": Atrnan=Brahman, or individual soul/consciousness=Unitive Consciousness/Ground of Being)

BEST COPY AlWiLiSLE Four Levels of Consciousness: (Freud's iceberg analogy)

oP

,AN Conscious Waking State Withdrawal of senses Restraints

,,- Disciplines / U Concentration Subconscious Dream State

M

Unconscious Dreamless State

Nir AUM ??? Unitive Consciousness Goal of yoga (Outside Nature; the Real; Essence; Ground of Being)

AVNLAAE, BESTCOPY

13 le Asian World to 1500 ilensky and Lit le ROUP QUESTIONS FOR STUDY OF THE RAMAYANA le class will be divided into 5 groups,each of which will address one of le sets of questions below and lead theclass in discussion of that issue. ith your group, answer the following questions,making references to page ambers and passages from the text of The Ramayana to prove yourassertions. wife? Do women have power? . Women: What are the qualities of the ideal How and from where is this powerderived? Do women have a dharmic code? Ramayana? List "flawed" women or . Women: Are evil women necessary to The feared improper behaviors and what isgained by their existence in the story. hero? Does every caste . Heroes: What are the qualities of the ideal have the possibility of being heroic? Canevil beings (such as Ravana) also be heroic? animals? women? Is dharma different for eachcaste? . Dharma: What constitutes dharma? for each person within caste?How much flexibility is possiblewithin the concept? (note that Rama, Bharata, andLakshmana disagree on some points of correct behavior) Ramayana?Are there . Leadership: What constitutes a good leader in The occasions that good leadership and righteousbehavior seem to conflict?

Pi[VtaNBLE Ts5 14 mparative Translations le Ramavana, William Buck

56-157 Ravana's sister, Surpanakha, isdescribed

70 Ravana described

77 Indra's decree of Ravana's punishmentif he rapes/takes women Concerning Sita's innocence/rape and Ravana'sevil

15-246 Sita's rape implied; Ravana's impatience/love?

91 Rama's adherence to common people'sjudgment--rejection of Sita

94 Lakshmana's disapproval of Rama's decision asunjust and cowardly

15-417 Sita's return to gods

LE BEST COPYMIA

115 r" Jane Snlensky NCSSM

FOES 410 Lord Raglan, in his study of the hero, identifies another pattern in hero myths, one based on incidents and circumstances which seem to occur with regularity in hero stories of many different cultures.Here is the pattern he identifies:

1. The hero's mother is a royal virgin; 2. His father is a king, and 3. Often a near relative of his mother, but 4. The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and 5. He is also reputed to be the son of a god. 6. At birth, an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grandfather, to kill him, but 7. He is spirited away, and 8. Reared by foster-parents in a far country. 9. we are told nothing of his childhood, but 10. On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future kingdom. 11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant dragon or wild beast, 12. He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor, and 13. Becomes king. 14. For a time he reigns uneventfully, and 15. Prescribes laws, but 16. Later he loses favour with the gods and/or his subjects, and 17. Is driven from the throne and city, after which 18. He meets with a mysterious death, Often at the top of a hill. His children, if any, do not succeed him. 21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless 22. He has one or more holy sepulchres.

Try applying this pattern to such mythical and historical heroesas Oedipus, Romulus, Heracles, Perseus, Jason, Apollo, Zeus, Elijah, Joseph, Moses, Jesus,Bao Chu, Pao Yu, Tripitaka,Kotan Utunnai, (Rama,, Siegfried, Arthur, Robin Hood, Hiawatha...Others???

BESTCOPYAMLABLE HERO CYCLE

DEPARTURE:

WHAT SOCIETY IS THEHERO IN? HOW DID THE HERO RECEIVEHIS/HER CALL? WHAT WASTHE HERO'S REACTION TOTHE CALL' WHAT PROTECTIVEFIGURE DOES THE HEROHAVE? WHAT THRESHOLD GUARDIAN DOES THE HEROMEET? HOW DOESTHE HERO CONQUER THEGUARDIAN? INITIATION:

WHAT TRIAL DOES THEHERO ENCOUNTER' IS THERE A MARRIAGE?WITH WHOM? WHAT ISTAUGHT' IS THEREA FATHER? WHO? WHATIS TAUGHT' WHAT DEATH DOES THEHERO UNDERGO? FIGURATIVE? IS IT LITERALOR WHAT EGO-ENLARGINGLESSON(S) DOES THE HEROLEARN? RETURN:

HOW DOESTHE HERO RETURN? ISTHERE A THRESHOLDGUARDIAN? WHAT LESSON(S) DOES THEHERO TEACH RELATED TOTHE SOCIETY? ITSHOULD BE EGO-ENLARGINGLESSON. IS SOCIETY WELCOMING TOTHE HERO OR NOT? WHY ORWHY NOT?

ZEST COPYAVACALF CALL A HELFE

THRESHOLD CROSS I BROTHERBATTLE DRAGONBATTLE DISMEMBERMENT CRUCIFIXION THRESHOLD OF ADVENTURE ABDUCTION RETURN NIGHTSEA JOURN RESURRECT I ON WONDER JOURNEY RESCUE WHALE'S BELLY THRESHOLD STRUGGLE

TESTS FLIGHT HELPERS

SACRED MARRIAGE FATHER ATONEMENT APOTHEOSIS ELIXIR THEFT(y-Zome.7,s04 or c AsflCA C" ng )

Joseph Campbell.The Hero With a Thousand Faces.Princeton..

BEST COPY AVAIABLE he Asian World to 1500 one Shlensky and Jim Lit le, instructors INDIAN LITERATURE The Ramayana, Rig Veda, Upanishad, andMahabharata Examine the concept of DHARMA. HOW MUCHFLEXIBILITY IS POSSIBLE WITHIN HE CONCEPT? SINCE RAMA, BHARATA, ANDLAKSHMANA ARE ALL EARTHLY FORMS OF ISHNU, WHY DO THEY EXHIBIT RADICALLYDIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW? kKSHMANA: (a) Hesuggests Rama fight Bharata forhis title; (b) Heleaves his wife while Rama takesSita with him; (c) Hetakes an arrow meant for Vibhishana; (d) Heleaves Sita unprotected at herbidding, against his will; (e) Helives and fights beside his brother Rama.

HARATA: (a) Is he justified in his treatmentof his mother? (b) What is the nature of dharma thathe treat her so?

AMA: (a) He questions Sita's chastitytwice (b) He caters to publicopinion/popularity (C) He teases Ravana's sister (d) What temptations does he findirresistible? Does his behavior contradict his professions of duty and dharma?

POET'S PURPOSE IN CONTRASTING BROTHERS:VALMIKI (POSSIBLY) (A) SHOWS A VARIETY OF JUSTIFIABLE RESPOINSESIS POSSIBLE IN ANY COMPLICATED SITUATION (B) SHOWS RAMA IS SUPERIOR TO BROTHERSTHROUGH CONTRAST

. ANALYSIS OF THE HEROIC IN THE RAMAYANA RAMA: earthly form of Vishnu; armor ofgods; love of dharma; wonderful relationship with wife, brothers, parents; concernfor all people; return to deity status;heroism in war; protection in single combat of loved ones; acceptanceof fate

HANUMEN: gifts of gods; choice of deathallows him to be more heroic; magical powers; great warrior; believesin gods and dharma; loyal follower of his king and Rama

RAVANA: magical powers; great power against gods,his own people; great warrior with fine armor;unkillable by gods; given hero's funeral

KUMBHA-KARNA: huge; great power against enemies;fearsome creature; cannibalistic in battle

VIBHISHANA: tells brother truth; offers aid to Rama;great warrior; uses logic and bit of dharmarather than purely self-

9 BEST COPY AVAILABLE gratificationas Ravana does; rewardedin outcome; honorable

. VISIONS OF WIFELY/WOMANLY PERFECTION: SITA What qualities mark Sita as the ideal Indian wife?

What womanly weaknesses cause pain for herself andRama?

Is Sita's revenge justified after her secondrenunciation?

COMPARE SITA TO SAVITRI OF THE MAHABHARATA. IN WHATWAYS DO BOTH

BEST COPY AVAILABLE CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE 19011897 DeathonSwami return of Justice toVivekananda India; M. founds G. Rana& (1862-1902) Ramakrishna receives Mission. (born 1842). triumphant welcome 1498Modern India and Pakistan Vasco da Gama rounds the southernmost tip of Africa and lands I 1905 dhyay5920),rendranithPartition (1861 Rabindranith of Banerjea-1907) Bengal and arouses(5848-1926),Tagore Aurobindo nationalist(1861-1941), Bal Ghose Bratunabindhab Gangadhar Tilakagitation, (1856- in which Su- (1872-1950) take Upii- 16.2o1690 CalcuttaofQueenon thethe EastMalabarElizabeth founded Indies." coast. grants by an charteragent of to the English East "certain adventurers for the trade India Company. 190919071906 MuslimExtremists.Indianprominent League National part. founded. Congress split by quarrel between Moderates and LL.1 578417571742-1754 Dupleix (1746-1794).AsiatickClive's victory Society at Plassey founded gives in Calcutta English controlunder Sir of Bengal.William Jones Governor of Pondichiry for French East India Company. 19131911 CalcuttaPartitionates. toof Delhi Bengal announced. annulled. Transfer of the Reforms grant Muslim demand for Indian capital from separate elector- elector- ae:C tfliti1815-18301799-1803 AbuRanunohun -Taleb (5752-1806?)Roy (1772-1833) Defeatsocial reform of Maratha in Calcutta. Peshwa ends effective Indian resistance to visits England and Europe. active in religious controversy and 19161915 forModerate,DeathRabindranith a national of G. Extremist K. legislativeTagore Gokhale and awarded Muslim(born Nobel League Prize leaders for his assembly to be elected on a communal 1866). agree on demand Gitanjali. OCi)1.1.1CO 18331828:827-1831 H.L.V. Derozio ( 5809-1831) RimmohunBritishEast rule.India Roy Company founds deprived Brahma bySan*. Parliament of all teaches at Hindu College, Calcutta. commercial 59201919 DeathbeginMontagu-Chelmsfordbasis. of in Tilak. 1921. GandhiAmritsar Reforms massacre. provide for legislative starts first nation-wide civil disobedience assembly to 18431835 DebendranithEnglishfunctions.recommendation. system Tagore of education introduced, following ( 1857-1905) re-establishes the Brahmo Macaulay's 1930-19341930192o-1924 SecondMuslims.MuhammadKhilifatmovement nation-wide Movement, (suspended Iqbil civil led disobediencein by 1922 Muhammad after outbreaks All of (1873-1938) proposes separate state for India's movement. (1879-1930). violence). 18581857-1858 MutinybyEastIndia.Sarni the India British of Company'sSepoy crown. troops rule and replaced widespread by that rebellionof a viceroyj. appointed in Northern 194519401935 SubhfismandsMuslimGovernment creation Chandra League, of Bose sovereignIndia under (18'97-1945) Act President Muslim grants provincial self-government. escapes to joinMuhammad the Axis powers.state. All Jinnah, de- 18751865 bay.SwamiSarni'.Keshub Syed DayanandaMunad Chunder Khan Sen (1824-1883) (1817 (1843-1884) -1898) founds founds secedes the Muhammadan Arya from Sarnal the Anglo- Brahmoat Bom- 19471945-19471942 Pakistan,India,governmentAmidCongress under communal under rejects preparesPrime Prime Cripps' Ministerrioting to Minister grant offer, and India threats demands complete British Jawaharlal Nehru (1889- of mutiny, the British Labor self-government.quit India. ), and 1886188518791877 OrientalDeathKeshubIndianQueen Collegeof Chunder NationalVictoriaSri Rainakrishna at Aligarh.Sen proclaimedCongress proclaims (born inaugurated Empress the 1834)- New of in India.Dispensation. Bombay. 195o1948 IndianahGandhibecome (born becomes assassinatedindependent1876). a ,dominions.in New republic within the Commonwealth. Delhi. Death of Muhammad All Liiquat Ali Khan (x895-4951) Jin- 18941893 21 DeathlawyerMohandis ofin BankimSouth K. Gandhi Africa. Chandra (1869-1948) Chatterjee begins (born twenty 5838). year's work as BEST COPY [xvI MAMIE 19561951 -1952 PakistanCongress adopts Party wins Islamic national Constitution. elections. First Five-Year Plan begins. 22 In protecting their commercial interests the sea-borne Europeans were CHAPTERTHE OPENING XX OF INDIA fourteenFrenchishdrawn finally differentinto rivals, emerged the theystruggle. found major languages, withvictorious over both the When in the earlythemselves masters of two-ninths of them nineteenth centurylocal thecontenders and their a population speaking following Brit- , Thetimhammem. spreading of European lig TO THE WEST a religiouscrazy-quiltZoroastrianism,castes,Islam and butand thewith a mostsecular Nestoriansmall of theminorities new rulers of India imposed rest belonging to various Christianity and Judaism. professing Sikhism, a pattern of their ownnot Hindu castes and sub- Jainism, Buddhism,Onto this cultural India.haveintrusionsof the Because the globe effects into she in the of cultures this of the recent centuries can be viewed penetration been power and civilization over the entire non-European world. Nowhere more profoundly felt than in as a continuing series of in Asiasurface bowedtrade, down were theWhile some Indians to them and worshiped them.new gods, and all Indians opposedone. and Law the andmajority order, efficient hoping for worldly ignored the coming ofgovernment and free success beenundersion, deep andforeign and the lasting. rule,onlyThe themajor first Europeans was the first to receive the impact of influence of the West civilization on the continent on her life and thought has European expan-to fall directly arehistoryWest.the considered new of Four this order, representativeperiod in others this chapterone and leftactively to posterity abetted the men, each of whom played a Hindu merchant of the writtenopening records of oftheir his a notable part in the country to the 174osthinking, and producedsolicitousSeventy-fiveintrepid many Emperorcaptain, years of laterthe VascoAkbar. da rarities wetoof reachtheirfind them India received by sea at the InGama, the words landed of on Akbar's the were the Portuguese. Their Malabar coast in 1498.Mughal court bybiographer: the "They overcomingtwoscholar-reformertiansos, were theof mixedactive theirsecond earlier inEuropean a Calcutta Muslimand founder and Indianaristocrat ofin the the early azosjust 180os, of a new religious ancestry, and the fourth at the time the British movement. The last the third a Chris- a brahman were sacredEurope.quiriesdive heart[the about It Emperor] isseemed the wonders received of a depot of spiritual and physical as if he did this from Portugaleach one andwith the special country, and the appreciative Khe-a desire of knowledge, for his mannerssciences. and But customs his boding of favor and made in- gionalEnglishpatterns, backgrounds, education. and shortlyAlthough before these four the question of what men came from quitereluctance different to interfere they took the decisive with established cultural step of introducing religious and re- ferredtheirsummonedi.e.soul familiarity his religion, wished three Jesuit hundred thatin which missionaries these he or sociability) this savage [unsocial] inquiries might be the was much interested, but he from Goa to expound means of civilizing (istines, race." 1 Akbar later the principles oflaughingly pre- differedantionhis aversion toward noticeably.culture toward other wassome in theaspects forefront of the of their The attitudes which aspects, but even in their likes new culture and (except for the each reveals in his minds.to do All about showed the Westerner and dislikes they writings there- an inclina-Christian) and sway.in theirthe seventeenthA tiny century trading later settlements itWhen had collapsed, the French and British century, the great empire of the wives to the Christian along the eastern and East India Companies and various Muslim and ideal of western coasts of India Mughals still heldmonogamy.first established Indiancrucialfore givethoughtperiod, us andunique as it responded to the furnish us withinsights into the valuable clues complexity incessantof Indian challenge of to the later evolution of society in this the West. 23 chieftains were fighting Abiel Fizi. AF bar-Nirsa (tr. among themselves for possessionby H. Beveridge), III, 37. 1 EST COPY AVAHAOLEof its remnants. Hindu [ 2 ] 'tCa re 17naLak. Te.GLI vs, cot

BUSINESS FEATURE

MANAGEMENT Guiding Principles

Realising that Indian cultural tradition is rich in leadership values, corporations are beginning to analyse and absorb the wisdom of the scriptures

By ARUN KATIYAR and SHEFALI REKHI Athreya, who earned his doctorate at Harvard and leads the new interest in the shastras today. has used his knowledge of URUKSHETR A. Arjun pauses, then declines to fight. Is the Gita to reorganise Indian family businesses like those of there glory in a victory that kills fathers, sons, teachers Harishankar Singhania, transform the political culture of the and students? One of the most able warriors in the land L.M. Thapar group to that of a business culture and has helped is paralysed by emotion. Lord Krishna reminds him of the workers at Shaw Wallace come to terms with the fight consequences to the state and society. between brothers Manu and Kishore Chhabria. Modern day managers face the same situation everyday At the Rs 240-crore Excel industries, says Managing a conflict between tough decisions and the larger good. Director K.C. Shroff, who bases his management methods on "Corporate playing fields are much like Kurukshetra," says the Upanishads, the company hasn't wasted an hour on Delhi-based management consultant M.B. Athreya. "They industrial disputes in its 53-year history. Shroff quotes the can be viewed as Dharam Kshetra, where the role of leadership Upanishads: "Together we will work, together we will do great is to re-establish dharma and resolve the conflicts that arise things. But never envy each other." between customers and suppliers, pollution and the environ- The rediscovery of ancient wisdom is quickly being ment, manipulative politics in the organisation and unfair recognised as turbo vidya. "The Bhagvad Gita works because it practices towards workmen." is about self-management," says Alok Chopra, an acharya at Concepts like Utthistha (stand up and be counted), the Vedant Academy, a non-profit organisation which holds Vishadha (doubt). Swadharma (duty) and Nlshkama Karma courses on vedic principles. "We tell people, if all you want is (work without attachment to results) have always existed Inmore money and power, go to a financial institution. If you the shastras. Now, driven by the understanding that the want to know the rightful place of both, the Gita will help." Indian cultural tradition is rich in these leadership values. According to Bangalore-based economist S.L.N. Simha, managements are beginning to examine the wisdom embod- author of Management with Dharma All the Way and books on ied in the scriptures. Many across the country who have tried the Ramayan and the Mahabharat, values are critical to the to inculcate the values prescribed in the Gita are starting to performance of individuals and also to the outcome of show positive results. Says Dr Sul* Chowdhury. director, corporate efforts. "The principles of management tell you how Indian Institute of Management (um), Calcutta: "It's back toto acquire skills. But people don't have the courage or basics. If traditional values are transplanted to modern times, character to use those skills correctly," says Simha who was a new management style can develop as opposed to the the founder-director of the Institute of Financial Management Japanese and the American style." and Research, Madras. and currently lectures on the subject. Companies like Crompton Greaves, Larsen & Toubro, Many are convinced that western management has outlived Excel Industries and the Mafatlal Group are beginning to reinterpret business in Illustration by JAYANTO the context of Indian heritage. Asea Brown Boveri Limited's (Asa) unit in Vadodara is one such place which has been experimenting with the Vedanta style as part of its total quality manage- ment programme for the past four years. Consultant Vanraj Jhala was called to hold workshops for workers. The results are visible and can be quantified. AtABB,one group of workers re- duced the time to make a circuit breaker from 120 days to 68 days, while cus- tomer delivery has improved 100 per cent. "The foundation of the change programme lies in getting away from the hand-body syndrome and engaging the minds of people in a creative manner towards an overall vision," says ABS Vice-President K.K. Kaura. The shastras have been used in more sophisticated management missions than improving shop floor objectives.

41t12.4 1 ,11 1(11A it': "4 fig t1 25 \ BEST COPYAVAILABLE '''-'7,7mA7,1f1 r

its relevance in the context of the Indian psyche. I began to appreciate their Excessive emphasis on competition significance. "Things moveso and not enough on smoothly now that I'm sitting idle Integrative cooperation has begunto expose its imperfec- most of the time." says Bahl. tions. "In line with the integrative The changes caught theattention of a tratwsporter who mode, companies like ships products between Logic Control Thermic and Sundaram Fasinershave been trying to evolve and his company called 'shared vision' and core corporate Controls and Switchgear. It seldomtook the transportermore values," says Jhala, "Once than 10 minutes to get material that Is done, it hasa powerful emotive appeal within the off-loaded at Logic Control organisation." premises. But back at his own office,it took him hours. When Jhala says that he is amazed at the the transporter decided to speakto the Logic Control people, he resonance with which discovered that there was Indian workmen take to concepts likeKarm a Yoga. H is studies no bureaucracy or hierarchy. He have shown that even three was told that this was a result of the weeklyVedanta sittings. years after the training in Soon, Controls and Switchgear's 2.000 shastras, the new set of values survive employees, including erosion. He thinks that the top management, were looking when a management educatoruses the shastras. he literally at the Vedas for corporate taps into what Carl Jung calls the 'collective guidance. Says Controls and SwitchgearManaging Director unconscious' or Ravindra Na th Khanna: "I too wanted the sanskaras. Better work ethics,cooperation between de- to be in the same boat." partments and improved management-unionrelationships begin to emerge naturally. HAT Khanna discoveredare key solutions which every management aims for. "The Vedas Results appear to match the theory.And companies like combine the Logic Control Private Limited, which dynamism of the West with thepeace and serenity of manufactures voltage the East," says Khanna. "Secondly, stabilisers, are beginning toexperience them. "Most workers they tell you to be true to lack a purpose in life," what you are doing." Khannagives the example of standing says S.K. Bahl, managing director of the for a yagna, throwing ahuti in the Rs 1.96-crore Logic Control. "Theirlives are full of misgivings, fire in the hope that the fire doubts and complexes." Within god will shower his blessings.A factory is like a havan kund; two months of lectures on the your efforts are like ahutiif they Vedas, the transformation at Logic are pure and sincere, you Control became evident. will be rewarded. "We Workers became aware of the encourage workers to deliberate on contribution they make and their actions," says Khanna. "I've seen it transformingmy people psychologically." Theshastras are being used The transformation is inevitable. suggests Dr Y. Jayadev, directorof to meet management needs Bombay's 75-year-old YogaInstitute. His experience has shown that theVedas and shop floor objectives. as well as yoga help cultivatean other- worldly attitude. With industryand business showing an increasinginterest in the value of the shastras,In' Delhi is conducting an efficiency studyat Logic Stat to quantify the gains. Whateverits findings, the need for a specificallyIn- dian movement has becomeimperative to balance the western dynamicsof progress. "A sobering effect to the mind- less rat race is the need of the hour,"says Chowdhury of tovt, Calcutta wherePro- fessor S.K, Chakraborty is settingup a Centre for Management of HumanVal- ues. Recognised as one of the first touse the shastras in management, Chakraborty has been holding work- shops and lectures formanagers for more than six years now. Unfortunately, many consultants who use the shastrasare sometimes viewed as cranks oreven religious fundamentalists. But they continueto look towards the great Indianepics for inspiration, helping resolve thecon- flicts between individual,corporate and social objectives. The attitudeis in keeping with what Sirnha observesin I his book: "Public interest must always take precedence over privateinterest. That is the path of Dharma." A paththat could help bring in improvedwork ethics and enhance productivitya mission statement that anymanage- ment would be proud of. -with RUBEN BANER1EE

IU1.1 IS. VAN INDIA TOPA% 11 I Asia: Literature and History Jane Shlensky and Jim Litle, instructors Moring, 1993 dern Age: 20th century short stories from Other Voices, Other Vistas and Prize-winning Stories from China 1980-1981**. Short Stories:

India: M. Devi, "Dhowli" R.K. Narayan, "A Horse and 2 Goats" K. Singh, "The Wog" M.R. Anand, "The Gold Watch" (handout) R.P. Jhabvala, "The Interview" (Western view)

Japan: S. Ariyoshi, "The Tomoshibi" Y. Mishima, "Act of Worship" Y. Tsushima, "Silent Traders" K. Abe', "Magic Chalk"

China: Wang M., "Kite Streamers" Lu W., "The Man from a Peddler's Family" Chen R., "Regarding...Piglets in Winter" Zhang L., "Are You a Communist Party Member"** Hang Y., "A Saleswoman"**

1. In teams of 2 or 3, select a story to present to the class, focusing on any of the following themes that are prevalent in your story:

A. family relationships (including extended family). How are family relationships affected by 1. poverty of circumstance and of spirit 2. housing problems 3. enforced traditional values B. effects of governmental oppression on individuals C. plot and circumstance in geographical context (cite historic and geographical foundations occuring in the society that are reflected in the story) D. the writer's purpose, message, audience in the writing of the story, i.e. in what way might the writer hope to change or inform his society's or the world's opinion through his work.

2. Presentation: you and your partner(s) should discuss the story with the class, noting specific references from the stories pertinent to your investigation into the ideas above. Should the story make reference to specific historic incidents, please give the class background information about this history. Students should read all of the above stories before the presentation is given. Each presentation should last no more than 10 minutes, so useyour time well. Be prepared to present your stories by April 23.

REST COPY AVAUBLE 2 Indian Poetry A.K. Ramanujan "Obituary"

iographical note:Born in 1929, he spent first 30 yearsof life in India, ut now lives in Chicago. His poetry is about Indian myths andhistory, the nvironment, folklore and his family. He has also translated love poemsfrom heKuruntokaiand other classic Indian literature.

iscussion: What has the father left to his sons? What is found in the ashes after thebody has been cremated? What does the son hope to find in thenewspaper?

How old do you think the narrator wasat the time of his father's death? Contrast the last 3 stanzas of teh poemwith the first 5. What change of mood has taken place? The poet writes about the death in a matterof fact way. How does this affect the feeling created in the poem?

Kama la Das's "An Introduction"

Biographical note: Born in Malabar in 1934. She won early recognition with her many booksof short stories and in 1963 shereceived the PEN Poetry Award (Asian Award). Her poetry is to some extentautobiographical and confessional. She has been likened to Sylvia Plath and AnneSexton.

Discussion:

1. Look at the way this poem is written. What is the effect of the way the lines often end at anunexpected point of the sentence? whole? 2. Do you like this effect? What does it contribute to the poem as a

3. What aspects of Indian society are revealedin the poem?

4. What does it tell us about the position of womenin India?

5. What does it tell us about Women everywhere?

6. What does the last sentence mean?

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 28 e wish you good philosophy, bothin word and in practice. Jane Shlensky and Jim Lit le

induism: "This is the sum ofduty; do naught unto others which would cause pain if doneunto you." uddhism: "Hurt not others inways that you yourself wouldfind hurtful." udaism: "What is hateful to you, do not to yourfellow man. That is the entire law, all the restcommentary."

onfucianism: "There is one maxim of loving kindness:do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you."

aoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your owngain,and your neighbor's loss as your own loss."

oroastrianism: "That nature alone is good whichrefrains fromdoing unto another whatsoever is not good foritself."

hristianity: "All things whatsoever ye would that menwould do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the lawand the prophets."

Islam: "No one of you is a believer until hedesires for his brother that which he desires for himself."

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 29 eSgt oc,s tc

I

es Havewe outgrown theageof heroes? 3hts Bill Clinton's ascendency to the White House, despite his Americans no longer look to men of steel admissions of marital impropri- we want honest and flexible leaders eties and exposure to illegal

substances, symbolizes a new

era in American life, argues dation cultural observer Walter Truett Anderson. We no longer seek 3hts salvation in unblemished,

omnipotent heroes. Instead, sive t must be very hard we're learning to place our trust for Americans in the 1990s In flexible leaders who Integrate especially younger Ameri- many points of view into the cansto imagine how it could be process of decision-making possible that, throughout the 12 what some might call a more years Franklin D. Roosevelt occu- feminine style of pied the White House, most people didn't isive 0 leadership. Heroism. know their president was disabled. however, hasn't disap- The history of that elaborate national scam

Igton peared. Millions look up to sports was told a few years ago in a book admiringly

stars and entertainment Industry entitled FDR's Splendid Deception. It's fascinating to read h Review giants for Inspiration. But about how it was done, how the photographers and reporters who spent time with FDR (even those from the opposition according to celebrity beat newspapers who hated him) conspired to avoid publishing any lation reporter Christina Kelly and image of the president in a wheelchair. Even es more fascinating is sportswriter Matthew Goodman, why it was donethe unquestioned consensus that the public they may be looking in the wrong should be shielded from the truth. place. Still, there is a place for Times have changed, and are changing. Now, in theera Voice heroes in modern life, contends of let-it-all-hang-out-before-somebody-else-hangs-it-out-for- Ted Tollefson, a minister and you, we have grown accustomed to such information. We know mythologist who offers an that President Roosevelt was not a man on a white horse, but a tne Reader, exercise to bring you Insight man in a wheelchair. We know, if we care to, about Eleanor about your own heroes. Roosevelt's ambiguous sexual orientation. We also know all

May/June1993Utne Reader 95

, BEST COPY AVAILABLE '- 3Q bout John F. whole we don'tseem to he too upse*about it. Slowly, Kennedy haltingly, in the messyway such things always happen, his crookedwe are moving away from the 'old idea of father, leadership. his Leadership now seems to have lessto do with hero- crooked elec- ismat least with heroism aswe have known it. It is tion, the seri- tempting to read the recent deathof Superman, that ous case ofcomic-book colossus,as a pop-culture symbol of this Addison'stransition. if the man of steel ismortal, how can we go disease thaton?unless, of course,we didn't really need immortal was concealed men of steel to begin with. Unlesswe are moving toward from the public,a different idea of leaders, beginning his ambitious(and to see them as much more complex, vulnerable,dependent, and apparently near- changeable. successful) crusade to I would not exactly call BillClinton the perfect become the first presi-embodiment of the new leadership, dent to screw every but certain aspects wom-of his style are instructive.Note, for example, his an in the United States. tendency to base his We know, and on the power on relationships rather than to tower over everybody around him.He chose a vice

My hero MA GANDHI, to mention woman who lives in News only a few. Segonia (Nevada-Shos- hone land), she continues Robert Bly her way of life as instruct- Some heroes ofour heroes poet ed by the creator. The fed- The hero I choose is WILL- eral government has for H. H. Dalai Lama nomic well-being of women Carl Sagan IAM STAFFORD. He was a two decades tried to dis- Tibetan Buddhist leader, worldwide. UNIFEM's sup- through his representa- astronomer conscientious objector in place her from her land, port for women through tive Thubten Samphel I tend to be skeptical World War II and has never but she maintains that it innovative local projects about the entire Institu- wavered in his public sup- is her land, and with many Ever since His Holiness leads to larger, national visited India in 1956 to tion of heroes, since it is port for non-violence. Ws others resists illegitimate programs of economic de- attend the 2500th birth so close to the uncritical commitment is ongoing authority. To Carrie, natu- velopment and protection and, one could say, imper- ral law, "the creator's anniversary of the Bud- of the environment submission to fallible dha, and having visited leaders that gets us hu- sonal. Yet every morning law," is preeminent the memorial to MAHATMA mans into so much trou- he sits down and writes a GANDHI, he has always P. J. O'Rourke ble. Our propensities in poem out of the delicate Spalding Gray performance artist considered this apostle of humorist this regard go very deep, personal feelings that are swirling that very morning. non-violence one of the My hero is anyone whose and are almost certainly My hero is the DALAI As a hero, he unites the main Inspirations In his annual federal income connected with submis- LAMA, which comes from life. On the same account tax bill is more than sion to the alpha male in outer and the Inner life. interviewing him. He em- His Holiness also has S4,300. This is what the primate dominance hier- bodies that rare great respect and admira- U.S. government spends archies. Being a primate balance of political tion for MARTIN LUTHER on each of us per year. myself,1 do have some he- and spiritualthe ;FP KING. THE AMERICAN TAX- roes, but they tend to be power of meditation PAYER who pays more those who teach reasoned and silent prayer Jenny Holzer than $4,300 in taxes and compassionate skep- combined with a artist funds all our nation's ticism toward acceptance life of political ac- My hero is SHARON rights and privileges. of prevailing dogmas tor tion to change the CAPELINGALAKLIA, di- And, because that person example, DEMOCRITUS world.) heard an Albert Einstein rector of UNIFEM, the Unit- Is usually middle class OF ABDERA, FREDERICK Interviewer ed Nations Development ask him, "When you look and often a European DOUGLASS, CHARLES Winona LaDuke at the depressing condi- Fund for Women. I admire male, he also shoulders DARWIN, ELEANOR Ojibwa activist her personal commitment the blame for all our na- tions found all over the ROOSEVELT, THOMAS CARRIE DANN Is my per- and the commitment of tion's wrongs and depri- world and the Injustices JEFFERSON, ALBERT sonal heroine, if I must UNIFEM to raising the eco- vations. that happen to people ev- EINSTEIN, AND MAHAT- choose one. A Shoshone erywhere, how can you be

96 Utne ReaderMay/June 1993

dL ST COPY MAKABLE. 31 striking differ-multiple than singular. Kenneth Gergen, apsychiatrist dent who is a peer and an equala believes that in a rapidly chang- motif of the previousat Swarthmore College, rom the Batman-and-Robin ing, culturally pluralistic society thetraditional mental- 1 ministration. Helets the world see his wife as a smart, identity has become her own agendas, a markedhealth ideal of firm and fixed :ompetent woman setting "limiting and in many waysincapacitating." He says :ontrast to the publicspectacle of Nancy Reagan gaz- "elasticity" are healthier admiration at her man and thenthat people who demonstrate ng in rapt, passive and more fulfilled. Other psychologists,therapists, and playing palace politics in secret. in politics. If youcognitive scientists are talking aboutsubpersonalities This shift is not happening only and widely quoting these days in such fieldsand pluralistic concepts of identity. take a look at what is going on Walt Whitman's famous line: "I amlarge; I contain as psychology and managementtheory, you can hardly shift in social values ismultitudes." avoid noticing that a profound human personality ideas about the human This way of thinking about the under way. New, revolutionary different ways. First, personality are emerging, and so arerevolutionaryis politically important in a couple of it enables us to avoid getting toohung up on a one- ideas about the dynamics of largeorganizations. Both dis- about leadership, anddimensional image of any leader. We can accept a of these have something to say abled-but-vigorous Roosevelt, atainted-but-idealistic about leaders. Clinton who is also Various schools of "postmodern"psychology seeKennedy, an anti-Vietnam War Bill quite capable of serving as commanderin chief in the the individual as more changeablethan stable, more

Phil Jackson ests, and not by the rich her grievance in the optimistic?" The Dalai Chicago Bulls coach for theirs. He believed courts. (When the conduc- Lama let out a deep, loud that a world of peace and tor tried to evict her from belly laugh, and then re- My personal hero is DR. international cooperation her seat, Ida, no shrinking plied, "What else would ALBERT SCHWEITZER. could be achieved and violet, bit his hand.) She you suggest?" His contributions to the also was one of the first to world of music and the that war could be elimi- see the importance of unit- arts, medicine, and hu- nated Marianne Williamson ing the movements for Af- under, A Course in manity in general are posi- rican-Americans' and wom- acles seminar Susan Faludl tively insurmountable. journalist en's rights. She formed the personal hero is 14/ IDA B. WELLS-BAR- first black women's suf- JESUS. He dwells on a Michael Crichton NETTa amending jour- frage organization, the Al- plane that is beyond hu- novelist nalist and daughter of pha Suffrage Club. man illusion, and people Thomas Jefferson My hero is GEORGE slaves who, as editor of who relate to him deeply barked upon by African- SCHALLER, the most bril- Free Speech, challenged in their hearts are lifted Americans and others. liant naturalist of the 20th lynch mobs at great per- at least partially from Powell also marched to century. lie has made ma- sonal danger and sacri- their bondage. I see no the beat of his own drum jor contributions to our ficebelieved that not other way for the planet and was never intimidat- understanding of the natu- only was It permissible to survive than through a ed Into submitting to oth- ral world. And he exempli- for reporters to practice mass awakening to a light ers or other ways of life. fies the life of the disci- social activism, it was that lies beyond this plined scholar working their moral obligation, world. Jesus is a door, a Rembert Weakiand and engaged in the real the basis and engine of all Catholic Archbishop of direct beam. world. Milwaukee reporting of any worth. Ida B. Wells-Barnett She continued to write in Al Sharpton FATHER THEODORE HES- Bernie Sanders spite of repeated threats Lynda Barry civil rights activist BURGH (former president Vermont congressman to her life and a white cartoonist, humorist ADAM CLAYTON POWELL of Notre Dame University ) mob's destruction of the JR. personified the grace has walked with the great- EUGENE VICTOR DERR, killer of Sheep by film di- offices of Free Speech (In yet strength, defiance yet est but always keeps the labor and socialist lead- rector CHARLES BUR- which she had sunk her effectiveness, militancy common touch He has er, articulated an ex- NETT is the greatest mov- life's savings). Long be- yet flexibility that I ad- been deeply involved In traordinary democratic ie ever made, and all of fore the 19808 civil rights mire in a person. Powell political issues but has vision for this country his other films are the and for the world. He be- movement, in 1884, she single-handedly began kept himself unsullied. ; second-greatest movies refused to give up her large parts of the civil He believes in advancing lieved that government ever made. should be run by working seat in the "white" rail- rights and political em- the whole of the human people for their inter- road car, and followed up CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE powerment struggles em- person.

May/June 1993One Reader 97

PeNINILABLE BESTCOPY people who hate him orher. But you can find different idea of our own 1990s. Second, it gives us a plenty of subnationalheroes, demigods and We can, perhaps, be- internal authority structures. goddesses of this or thatsubculture. In the intimidated by a dominant gin to be a little less absence of national heroes wenow have of psychic self-image that functions as a sort a pantheon ofsecond-string superpeo- dictator telling the rest of ourinner voices to ple who are revered by themembers of shut up. racial, religious, cultural,and ideo- Gergen believes that there is aclear logical groups and more orless ig- connection between culturalpluralism and nored by everybody else:Madonna, the inner psychologicalpluralism that he Jackie Chan, Ice-T, RushLimbaugh, and other psychologistshave identified. Shirley MacLaine, RichardPetty, For most of us, there justisn't a single social Bill Gates, Wendell Berry,Kim Gor- reality out there that isgoing to justify an don, Thich NhatHahn, Norman unmovable personal identity. Schwarzkopf, Camille Paglia,Billy Gra- also offers a clue This growing pluralism ham, Noam Chomsky,Jesse Jackson, David about where to look forheroessimple, old- Duke, Adrienne Rich, JamesHillman. too cultur- fashioned heroes. We have become While the social scientistsstudy the in admiration of any ally fragmented to unite changing shape of cultureand personality, the national hero. Name me oneand I'll name you

white, and for revealing a Susie Bright and what mysteries it CONTINUEDFROM Thoreau or the Muir of very Important truth: sex educator, can reflect PREVIOUS PAGE our time. He's done more That the powerful white businesswoman than anyone to build the Ishmael Reed Americans who control Iwill always be inspired novelist James Hillman modern environmental the equipment upon movement Now BO, he's by heroic actions, but I psychologist Nightly we get television which most Americans CANNOT NAME ANY HE- as active as ever, stillfar footage of black drug rely for information don't Please, give me a break, ROES. Cherishing heroes ahead of his time, insis- gangs, welfare idlers, want blacks to lose and let me name three: FED- Is like having a crush: As tent on beauty and integ- when anybody with mon- don't want blacks to win. ERICO FEWNI, ROBERT soon as the subject of rity, full of vision and hu- ey to buy a newspaper ALTMAN. AND WIM WEND- our affections is widely mor, devoted to a long knows that these activi- ERS (all film directors). acclaimed, his or her future Ml of liberty for ties are not black activi- Not just for their Immen- frailties and contradic- all life. ties exclusively. sity of imaginative ex- tions are exposed to all. pression, their baroque The fans are left to deny I was waiting for these beauty, despair with hu- and disclaim, or they're networks to comment mor, social sensitivity, - left holding the bag, hu- about the death of REGI- vision, compassion, etc., miliated. I've been In all NALD LEWIS the richest but that they are rut' those seats: the infatuat- black man in America, tars of management. and the head of a multina- ed, the grim defender, Eleanor Roosevelt They mobilize troupes of the betrayed, and the tional corporation, Beat- artists, technicians, and heroine herself. I don't rice International who Michael Stipe wheeler-dealers for the like any of it. Hero today, died In February. !found musician, REM. wide world to enloy and this strange. that the ig- Bonze tomorrow. rd rath- I always thought ORSON learn from; they have nored Reginald Lewis. who er be thrilled with one WELLES was kind of a more value for our cul- gave millions riddle's to Federico Fellini modest act of courage, hero. Even when reciting ture than three other he- cultural and educational or Impressed with a sin- volce-overs for stupid roic mobilizers of troops: enterprises. Al Franken gle honest declaration, commercials or perform- Powell, Schwarzkopf, and comedian than to be in love with a Reginald Lewis is a hero ing magic tricks on bad Scowcroft. not only for scaling the My hero would be AUDIE myth again. talk shows he had a cer- heights of the business MURPHY because he taln class and Integrity, Garry Wills worldgoing vArere no killed so many Nazis in a self-effacing humor. Amory Loins historian, journalist black man has ever gone environmental activist World War II. He jumped When you know your tal- before (it must have been on top of a tank and just SAINT AUGUSTINE, more DAVID R. BROWER, my Lonely) but also for his ant you don't have to wiped out like a whole than anyone. keeps beloved mentor of YOudd shout IL lie was a bril- teaching me what a generosity toward Ameri- battalion of Krauts. So he liant train wreck. years, is the greatest liv- cans both black and would be my hero. tricky thing the mind is, ing conservationistthe

98 Ihne ReaderMay/June 1993 BEST COPYMIELE 11°agement experts arestudying the changing shape of rganizations. An amazingtransformation has been weeping over business in recent years.Corporations all over the country are"downsizing," "flattening." moving Leadership, toward structures based more onflexible networks and American style teams than on rigid top-downhierarchies. This has been partly forced on themby economichard times, by the pressure of foreigncompetitionbut it also reflects a We have met our leaders deep, and probably irreversible,change in thinking about and they are us what makes a company effective.Some people call it the "organizational revolution." As organizations change, so,of course, do the WHAT IS OUR COMMON SENSE OF LEADERSHIP? TOPARAPHRASE people in them. Managementresearchers and theorists former Supreme Court. Justice PotterStewart, are now discoveringandtrying to describea new leadership, like obscenity, is impossible todefine,, type of businessperson.Historically, two character types but we know it when we see it. Or dowe? Just what have prevailed in the businessworld. One was the do Americans see as leadership and, moreimpor- rugged individualist, the "self-mademan"Henry tantly, how does it make a difference? Ford, Andrew Carnegieof theearly industrial era. In When they are asked to define leadership, the post-World War II years,the dominant type ap- Americans generally respond by describing alead- peared to be the other-directed,security-seeking con- er. We articulate the conceptoileadership as the formist described by William H.Whyte Jr. in his 1956 special qualities or abilities a leader possesses or study, The Organization Man. Wehad not only organi- as what a leader does. zation-man business executives butalso organization- The American tendency to see leadership as man presidentsEisenhowerwas the classic exam- the remarkable individuals we callleaders creates pleand organization-man heroes:the astronauts, a profound barrierinhibiting social progress. Be- whose "right stuff" was a capacity tofunction smoothly cause Americans seeleadership as an expression in huge, technologically complex systems. of individuality, we fail to perceiveleadership as gikBut the great corporate machinesof past de- an expression ofcommunity. Because we see lead- l/desGeneral Motors and IBM, sayarenot run- ership as something "they" do, wefail to see ning at all smoothly these days.They have been falling leadership as something "we" do. Because we see behind their competitors, and so hasthe organizational leadership as the exercise of power, wefail to see philosophy that built them. Newmodels of corporate leadership as the exercise of democraticvalues. excellencesuch as the "learningorganization" pro- Leadership is a dynamic of human interac- claimed by Peter Senge in his recentbook The Fifth tion, a configuration of relationships andenergies Disciplineare coming to the fore.The management that moves things forward. The forward momen- gurus are talking aboutdifferent kinds of employees, tum of progress begins when wecooperate in the "knowledge workers," who cannot behandled accord- invention of a shared future. Yet, for manyAmer- ing to the old bureaucratic rules.They are also talking icans, participation in the inventionof a shared about a different kind of executive,the "learning lead- future begins and ends in the solitudeof a voting er" who comes to work prepared tomake mistakes and booth. to change course when necessary.Such leaders are Current notions of leadershipdistance valuable because of their capacity toseek out and Americans from active involvement inthe inven- understand new information. They are notexpected to tion of a shared future. If we want avital and be flawless or to know everything. flourishing future for our children, we musttran- This is a massive, awkward,complex shift of scend a view of leadership that encourages usto American values and beliefs, and manythings play a place the invention of our future inthe hands of part in it. The role of the massmedia in shaping public our leaders withoutlending a hand of our own. perceptions of leaders can't beunderestimated. It was Nancy Berry media self-censorship that hidfrom us the truth about Firethorn Quarterly previous leaders; it was manipulationof the media that enabled shrewd operators to rigimages of Ronald Sub- Reagan, the public-hero model atits most vapid and Excerptedfrom Firethorn Quarterly( Spring 1993). makes it harder and scriptions available from 2650 N. Lakeview#2303 , Chica- cynical. Media gabbiness now Back issues: $3 from same harder for people to spend muchtime in public life go, IL 60614; 312/348 -2184. without having their quirks andtheir dark sides ex- address. .sed. This is a rough way for ademocracy to grow up, tit's better than continuing tofollow an endless

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34 BEST COPY AVAILABLE morerather sequence of heroes on horseback,would-be supermen sense of how organizations run, we are than lesslikely to find leaders with someof those with secrets. image admirable characteristics. We are also likely tosend It would be easy to misunderstand the new that are of leadership and heroism, to assume thatit dispenses forth a useful message to the many countries with mass democracy. with older values such as vision, strength ofcharacter, now beginning to experiment energy, moral purpose. I don'tthink it does. As we Walter Truett Anderson, author of RethinkingLiberalism and become more willing to struggle publicly withthe vast Reality Isn't What It Used to Be, is a commentatorfor Pacific complexity of human character and todevelop anew News Service.

CHRISTINA KELLY SASSY Why do weneed celebrities?

What have Luke Perry or JuliaRoberts done for humanity? Nothing, says a reporter fromthe teen idol beat

trying to think of A lot of times, fans will talk about LukePerry or Iwas in the shower, hero. But interview, when I had aJulia Roberts or Kurt Cobain being their a celebrity to celebrities are not the same thing as heroes.Heroes existed philosophical crisis. I wondered: Why way before celebrities ever did, eventhough celebrities do we need celebrities? Who even camenow outshine heroes inthe public consciousness. The traditional definition of a hero is someone whosacrifices up with the idea tomake people into stars?himself or herself for a higher purpose: to saveother And why do we idolize them? Forwhat people or to support an idea. Moses is thepre-eminent possible reason does a job like mine exist? Is it asign ofJudeo-Christian hero, because he took a journey upthe the decline of Western civilization? mountain and came back with the TenCommandments. People think what I do is so glamorous becauseIJesus is the Christian hero, because he diedfor the re- get to interview stars. AndI have to admitthat when Idemption of humankind. Thomas Jefferson is anAmer- first started working at Sassy in 1987 Iwas all psyched about that part of my job. For the first coupleof months, anyway. Then I noticed how celebrities(via With rich, perfectly airbrushed their publicists) would jerkme around for months, celebrities crammed down rescheduling our interviews or completely backing out at the last minute. I could never getenough time with a our throats allthe time, you'd celebrity to find out anything interesting, and some of acted just plain rude. I started getting resentful overthe have to be a powerhouse way I was treated, and I was reallydisappointed to see self-esteem not to feel inferior. that these people I had sort of worshipped fromafar were pretty ordinary. So I decided Iwould just tell the ican hero, because he helped found a new order.Harriet truth. instead of perpetuating their myths. If theceleb Tubman risked her life to bring slaves north tofreedom. was a jerk, I would say so. If Ithought anyone was Now, what has Luke Perry done to redeemhumanity? At stupid, a no-talent, pretentious, or inane, I did nothold press time, nothing. Still, heis widely adored. back that information. One of the little lessons I have learned in myjob is I thought readers would appreciate thatkind of that worshipping celebrities leaves you with adistinctly honesty. Instead, many of them hated me for it. Ihave empty feeling. Experts say it'sbecause celeb worship gotten so many attacks on my character,like the over- doesn't teach that you'll have to make sacrificesif you 1,000-letter barrage of hate mail following my negative Adulation of true New Kids on the Block article, for example, thatI'vewant to achieve anything worthwhile. heroes can inspire people to make sacrifices, both tohelp become sort of immune to it by now.

100 Utne Reader May/June 1993 BEST COPY AVAILABLE selves and for the benefit of society at large. Up on the screen, so much larger than life, they seemed No-talents become celebrities all the time. Thealmost mythical, and the audiences became fascinated result is that no one in any walk of life seems to careby these projections of seeming perfection. People about achievement or talentfame is the only objec-wanted to know all about them, and fanzines were tive. Everyone wants to be famous, because in ourstarted to satisfy that demand. Once TV started, the society you are not considered .a success unless you arewhole celeb-creation and -worship thing careened out famous, no matter what your career. So doctors, law-of control, because information could come out in- yers, designers, politicians, magazineeditors, writers,stantly right into people's houses all over the world. and artists all hire publicists. Even being famous forTV gives you the false impression that celebrities are doing nothing, like Linda Evangelista and Vanna White talking right to you, and you feel like are, or just being related to someonefamous, like they're your friendsso much so that Sean Lennon and LaToya Jackson are, is more some people will go right up to a star desirable than being truly creative and tal- if they see one on the street. ented, but obscure. So, in effect, the media creat- Further proof that celebrities ed celebrities to satisfy our primal are not heroes: People who have been need for gossip. Over time, talk- involved in scandals and crimes are ing about people we have never treated like celebrities. Iran-con- met and are never likely to tra flunky Oliver North was made meet became an obsession. into a national hero It's 'gotten to the point where some people are for his involvement klk in clandestine activ- more interested in ities that violate our the personal lives of Constitution. Mafia the stars than in the boss John Gotti has lives of their fami- kissed media butt so suc- ly and friends. No cessfully that at his trial he joke. That is why it s treated like a movie star is so ludicrous when her than the criminal he is. a celeb wants to discuss How did these people become only his or her work in an celebrities? Like Luke, Johnny, Wi- interviewlike we care! We want nona, Paula, Axl, and (your mostbe- the dirt on their personal lives. loved celebrity here), they satisfy our in- Besides the huge media ma- satiable demand for something to talk chine in which I am but a cog, about outside our own inconsequential little there's another reason we wor- lives. Yes, inconsequentialto be human is to feel ship celebrities. As a whole, inconsequential. Now, with glamorous celebrities our society is not as reli- being crammed down our throats wherever we gious as it once was. I turn, we feel about as faceless as bees in a hive. I don't pretend to have mean, this stream of famous, rich,powerful, perfectly all the answers, but it airbrushed, implanted, and liposuctioned stars is so seems like people need endless that you would have to be a powerhouse of self- something to fulfill them the way organized religion esteem not to feel a little inferior. It's so dumb; weonce didspirituality, art, some kind oflife. Celebrity worship celebs because our lives are pointless, butworship exists as a warped and unfulfilling substitute. doing it makes us feel even worse. True heroes often die for their people or their cause. Let us briefly trace the history of the phenome-That might be why we feel vindicated when a celebrity non that can make a perfectlywonderful high schooldies, particularly if it's from self-destructive practices girl feel less worthy than, say, cross-eyed diamond-like drug or alcohol abuse. We make them stars, but ring wearer Shannon Doherty. Before there was TV,then their fame makes us feel insignificantand we before even newspapers, people loved to gossipit is truly feel better about ourselves when they die. I am a human nature to do this. At first gossip was confinedpart of this whole process. No wonder I feelsoiled at to family, neighbors, and royalty. Then in the1850s, the end of my workday. printing innovations resulted in the first magazines. They published stories by people like Mark Twain and Excerpted with permission from the teen magazine Sassy ( June oatharles Dickens, who became celebrities by virtue of 1992). Subscriptions.- $14.971yr. (12 issues) from Sassy, Box ching a big audience. Then when silent movies 57503, Boulder, CO 80322 -7503. Back issues: $2 from 230 arted in the 1890s, the first film actors became stars. Park Ay., New York, NY 10169.

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Jackson are famous, but who would Is a hero really nothing claim that their adoring fans find life more abundant? but a sandwich? Heroes are catalysts for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the Exercises to help you pick yours skill and the charm to move the masses. They create newpossibili- FOR SEVERAL YEARS A PICTURE OF WARREN the skins of our heroes as we moveties. Without Gandhi, India might Spahn of the Milwaukee Bravestoward new phases in our lives. still be part of the British Empire. hung on my closet door, one leg Like many of my generation-,-Without Rosa Parks and Martin poised in mid-air before he deliv-I have a weakness for hero wor-Luther King Jr., we might still have ered a smoking fastball. Timeship. At some point, however, wesegregated buses, restaurants, and passed and Spahn's picture gave all to question our heroesparks. It may be possible for large- way to others: Elvis, John F.and our need for them. This leadsscale change to occur without char- Kennedy, Carl Jung, Joseph Camp-us to ask: What is a hero? ismatic leaders, but the pace of bell, Ben Hogan. These heroic im- Despite immense differenceschange would be glacial, the vision ages have reflected back to me whatin cultures, heroes around the world uncertain, and the committee meet- I hoped to become: a man withgenerally share a number of traits ings endless. good moves, a sex symbol, an elec- that instruct and inspire people. Though heroes aspire to uni- trifying orator, a plumber of depths, A hero does something worthversal values, most are bound to a teller of tales, a graceful golfer. talking about. A hero has a story ofthe culture from which they came. Like serpents, we keep sheddingadventure to tell and a communityThe heroes of the Homeric Greeks who will listen. But a hero goeswept loudly for their lost comrades beyond mere fame or celebrity. and exhibited their grief publicly. Heroes serve powers orA later generation of Greeks un- principles larger than them-der the tutelage of Plato disdained selves. Likehigh-voltagethis display of grief as "unmanly." transformers, heroes take the Though the heroic tradition of white Americans is barely 300 years old, it already shows some unique and unnerving features. While most traditional heroes leave home, have an adventure, and returnhome to tell the story, American heroes are often homeless. They come out of nowhere, right what is wrong, and then disappear into the wildtrn-ess: Throughout most of the world, it is energy of higheracknowledged that heroes need a powers and step itcommunity as much as a,communi- down so that it can bety needs them. used by ordinary mortals. And most Americans seem The hero lives a life wor-to prefer their heroes flawless,in- thy of imitation Those who imi-nocent, forever wearing a white hat tate a genuine hero experience lifeor airbrushed features.Character with new depth, zest, and mean-flawsunbridled lust, political in- ing. A sure test for would-be he-correctnessare held as proof that roes is what or whom do theyserve?our heroes aren't really heroes.Sev- What are they willing to live anderal heroes on my own list have die for? If the answer or evidenceprovided easy targets for the pur- suggests they serve only their ownveyors of heroic perfectionism. fame, they may be celebrities but The ancient Greeks and He- not heroes. Madonna and Michaelbrews were wiser on this count.

102 One ReaderMay/.tune 1993 37 BEST COPYAVAILABLE They chose for their heroes men and women with visible, tragic flaws. Oedipus' fierce curiosity raised him to be king but also lured him to his mother's bed. King Dav- id's unbounded passion made him dance naked before the Ark and led him to betray Uriah so hecould Where have take Bathsheba for his wife. Atherican heroes lack a sense of home that might limit and you gone, ground their grandiose ambitions. American heroes avoid acknowl- edging their own vices, which makes them more likely to look for Joe DiMaggio? somebody else to blame when things go wrong. Our national he- roes seem to be stuck somewhere Heroics in the sports arena don't between Billy Budd and the Lone Ranger: pious, armed cowboys necessarily produce real-life heroes who are full of energy, hope, and dangerous naïveté.

HERE ARE SOME EXERCISES TO GIVE YOUll hese days, it seems, the sports pages have insights into your own ideas aboutUU heroes and villains: come to resemble a policeblotter. The fan ft1. Draw a time line with seeking box scores and game recaps must first rkings every five years in your wade through news stories about drug abuse life. For each era, name an impor- tant hero (male or female). Identi- Tamong athletes, arrests fordrunk driving, betting and fy three core qualities each stands recruiting scandals, and, most disturbingly, reports of for. Look at the overall list for rape and other sex-related crimes.What's going on here? American recurring qualities. Who or what sports fans ask over their morning toast and coffee.What's happening do your heroes serve? to our heroes? 2. Make a list of enemies, the It's not difficult to understand our desire for athletes to be heroes. people who really push your but- On the surface, at least, athletes display many of the classical heroic tons. For each specify three quali- attributes. They possess a vital and indomitable spirit; they are gloriously ties that make your blood boil. alive inside their bodies. And sports does allow us to witness acts that can Now look for recurring qualities. legitimately be described as courageous, thrilling, beautiful, even noble. What emerges is your "shadow," In an increasingly complicated and disorderly world, sportsis still an parts of yourself that you fear, arena in which we can regularly witness acertain kind of greatness. loathe, and therefore loan to oth- Yet there's something of a paradox here, for the very qualities a ers. What does your shadow know society tends to seek in its heroesselflessness, social consciousness,and that you don't? the likeare precisely the opposite of those needed totransform a 3. Make a collage of your talented but otherwise unremarkable neighborhood kid into aMichael heroes, leaving room for their trag- Jordan or a Joe Montana. Becoming a star athlete requires aprofound ic flaws and holy vices. Hang it and long-term kind of self-absorption, a single-minded attention tothe opposite a large mirror. development of a few rather odd physical skills, and anoverarching Ted Tollefson competitive outlook. These qualities may well make a great athlete,but Special to Utne Reader they don't necessarily make a great person. On top of this, oursociety reinforces these traits by the system it has created to produceathletes Ted Tollefson, a Unitarian Universalist a system characterized by limitedresponsibility and enormous privilege. minister, is co-founder of the Mythos The athletes themselves suffer the costs of this system. Trained to stitutein Minneapolis. measure themselves perpetually against theachievements of those around them, many young athletes develop a sense of what sociologistWalter

May/June 1993Urne Reader 103 38 BEST COPY AVAILABLE "of

outside the ring acquiringand learn lifetime, he spent his time Schafer has termed"conditional self-worth": They his desire: houses,automobiles, the importantdiscarding the objects of very quickly thatthey will be accepted by In the wake of the publicity coaches, peersto thejewelry, clothes, and women. figures in their livesparents, surrounding his rape trial,countless women have come "winners." Their egos come them extent they are perceived as forward to relate storiesof Tyson propositioning precariously, upon the narrowplank of what was to rest, all too and then, upon beingrebuffed, exclaiming in athletic success. apparently genuine surprise,"Don't you know who I am? Young athletes learnthat success, rather thah champion of the world"Needlessto And forI'm the heavyweight hard and honest play,is what brings rewards. there are plenty of big-time say, not allathletes are Mike Tyson; those successful enough torise to the level of that they have been granted some artificially athletes who recognize college sports, the"reward" is often an extraordinary gifts in this lifeand want to give something back to the community. athlete requires Some remarkableindividuals will always rise Becoming a star created. above the deformingathletic system we've self-absorptionnot aquality After retiring from football,defensive tackle Alan Page became a successful lawyer for in heroes. of the Minnesota Vikings which we look and established the PageEducation Foundation, the helps minority anddisadvantaged kids around controlled social environment, onethat shields themcountry pay forcollege. Frustrated bythe old-boy face. from many of theresponsibilities other students network by which Minnesotajudges had traditionally Coacheswhose own jobs, of course,depend on main- challenged the system in court tobeen appointed, Page Court, taining winning programshoverover their athletes and finally won electionto the state Supreme threatens their eligibility to com- becoming the first black everelected to statewide office ensure that nothing law, for pete. If an athlete getsinto trouble with the Martina Navratilova recent- in Minnesota. Tennis star plaintiff in instance, a coach will verylikely intervenehiring anly joined six otherlesbians and gay men as a attorney, perhaps evenmanaging to have the case by the cities of Denver,Boulder, and a lawsuit filed law as quietly dismissed. In someschools, athletes don't even Colorado's recent anti-gay theAspen challenging choose their own classes orbuy their own books; unconstitutional. Thankfully,there will always be some athletic department doesall this for them. It's not legitimate heroes (or, to usethe more contemporary term, unheard of for athleticdepartment staff to wake uprole models) to be found amongprofessional athletes. for society to look to athletes in the morningand to take them to class. Still, it's probably misguided Given this situation, it's not toosurprising that have been left many youngAmerican athletes seem to Professor Sharon Stoll of world, sports is with a stunted ethical sense. In a complicated the University of Idahohas tested more than10,000 where we canregularly student athletes from all overthe country, rangingan arena from junior high to college age;she reports that in the greatness. low- see acertain kind of area of moralreasoning, athletes invariably score non-athletesand that they growworse the er than athletes for its heroesany morethan we look among in athletics. longer they participate the ranks of, say, actors orlawyers or pipefitters. The Coddled by universities,lionized by local commu- athletes is indeed important by the public, endowedwithsocial role played by nities, accorded star status (imagine a society withoutsports; I wouldn't want to salaries, successful athletesinevita- that six- and seven-figure live in it), but it'sfundamentally different from bly develop a sense ofthemselves as privilegedbeingsas (andof heroes. indeed they are. The dangerarises when the realistic and uncompromis- understanding of personalprivi- Thanks to the years of hard thus probably healthy) ing work that athleteshave invested in themselves, personal entitlement. that lege mutates into a sense of sports is often able toprovide us a glimpse of Mike Tyson, of course, is the mostblatant example Bertrand Russell wrote of as Having been taught as a young man "supreme beauty" that of this phenomenon. "sublimely pure, and Cus D'Ama to, reported- characteristic of mathematics: that he was specialhis mentor, capable of a stern perfectionsuch as only the greatest ly had one set of rulesfor Tyson and another, more art can show." stringent. set for all his otherboxing protegésand hav- that? life surrounded by a cortegeof Can't we just leave it at ing lived his entire adult Village eventually came to believe, Matthew Goodman has writtenabout sports for the fawning attendants, Tyson The Voice. Washington Monthly,Z Magazine,and like a medieval king, that allhe saw rightfully belonged to last a Guardian. him. Blessed withmoneyand fame enough to

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