A publication of Mass Humanities Winter 2011 The Debate over Decline Questions Annual Fall Symposium Probes from the Where America Is Heading Audience On December 4, 2010, the Heights Room at Boston College was abuzz with reflection, conversation, and healthy “We are at a controversy. For the seventh year, Mass Humanities offered a provocative debate for citizens of the crossroads. This Commonwealth, this time on the question: Is America in decline? Moderated by author and blogger is the challenge: Ross Douthat, the Fall Symposium featured two panels, each presenting some of the country’s most Can we turn to each other, see incisive thinkers and their points of view. After each panel discussion, in a robust Q&A, the program each other, and then gave the 250-plus audience a chance to consider and confront the direction American civilization is build more com- charting. We’ve excerpted some of the highlights here: from the perspectives of our panelists to the great munity? We need questions members of the public posed. to transform institu- tions to do well. We invite you to address these observations and questions, or share your own thoughts on the matter, Which ones?” by joining the conversation on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/masshumanities. Enjoy! “Do you feel the me- dia has any respon- “I think the 21st “What does it “I’m neither an sibility for change in century will be matter to you optimist nor a this country?” the American whether Amer- pessimist. I’m century. Of ica is in decline an economist, course, there or not when the and on the one “I’m thinking back to are things justice system hand, we have a the 19th century and that could go in America U.S. with long- a moment of activ- wrong—national debt, national doesn’t necessarily treat you term structural unemployment, ism that was ignited hubris—but in the main, Amer- equally? I have a 10-year-old son an underclass, and lots of deficit by Harriet Beecher Stowe when she was ica’s influence in the world is a and I tell him, when you’re dealing problems. On the other hand, trying to rally a broad positive one. We’re winning on with the police, be respectful, be we have an incredibly dynamic women’s response most of our points: The world kind, but they’re not your friends. economy, still some of the world’s to slavery. She said is becoming more democratic, And I think: Is that the message best innovations, the world’s best slavery’s greatest crime and we’re still the model of the you should send about the arm of universities, and immigrants keep is against the family. world. America will decline in the state, of the country you live coming to the United States.” Family has permeated importance only in the sense in? So, when we have these con- the conversation today. that China, Brazil, India, Indo- versations about whether America —Carol Graham, senior fellow I wonder what you nesia will rise in importance, is in decline, I think we have to and Charles Robinson Chair at might substitute for that word, slavery. What is but that is as it should be.” consider people who are totally The Brookings Institution, and today’s greatest crime alienated from that question.” author of Happiness Around the against the family, which —Gregg Easterbrook, World: The Paradox of Happy is an American state in contributing editor for The —Ta-Nehisi Coates, senior editor Peasants and Miserable Million- decline?” Atlantic Monthly and author for The Atlantic Monthly, and au- aires of Sonic Boom: Globaliza- thor of The Beautiful Struggle: A tion at Mach Speed Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood Continued on page 2 Mass Humanities News Welcome to New Board and Staff Members Jeffrey L. Musman was elected to the Mass Humani- Brendan Tapley was hired as a part-time com- ties board of directors in September. He is a partner munications officer in December. He also works at Seyfarth Shaw, LLP concentrating in corporate for Bennington College on a consulting basis. For and commercial law, real estate development, land eight years starting in 2002, Brendan established use, and public and private finance. He has served as and directed the communications office at The a consultant to both the Massachusetts Department MacDowell Colony. He holds a bachelor’s degree MASS HUMANITIES 66 Bridge Street of Education, where he was responsible for the cre- in comparative literature and French from Hamil- Northampton, MA 01060 ation of student “help lines,” and the Massachusetts ton College and an MFA from Emerson College. tel (413) 584-8440 Board of Higher Education, where he co-authored fax (413) 584-8454 the Board’s Master Plan. Jeff’s civic affiliations Carlin Weirick joined the Mass Humanities staff www.masshumanities.org include the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts as a part-time development assistant last fall. STAFF (board chairman), Northeast ARC (board president), While earning her recent MFA in performing arts and the Israel Fund. He has served on the Mass Hu- management at the University of North Carolina, David Tebaldi EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR manities Advisory Board since 2008. Carlin held positions and internships in develop- [email protected] ment and special events. Pleun Bouricius ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Debate, continued from previous page [email protected] Deepika Fernandes FISCAL OFFICER “Education is “The United “One of my [email protected] still the path States has got- deep beliefs Anne Rogers to social and ten too much in about the SYSTEMS MANAGER economic the business of problems [email protected] advancement defining success we have in Rose Sackey-Milligan in the United by the frontiers America is PROGRAM OFFICER States, and of American that Amer- [email protected] we have to be sure that the thing power. You should judge the ica is a country that [always] John Sieracki that lures people here [American success [of America] by how lives in the future.” DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS higher education] allows also for Americans are doing at home. If EDITOR OF MASS HUMANITIES the best and brightest to remain things are not going well domes- —Reihan Salam, policy advi- [email protected] here.” tically, it doesn’t really matter sor at e21 and co-author of Brendan Tapley how broad the frontiers of your Grand New Party COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER —Alexis Gelber, former national power are. So, I think that is the [email protected] affairs editor and assistant man- language we need to recover; we “I don’t think Carlin Weirick aging editor of Newsweek, and need to ask ourselves: How are the Ameri- DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT currently an adjunct professor Americans benefiting from these can model is [email protected] at the New York University’s vast resources we are spending what it used Melissa Wheaton School of Journalism in Iraq and Afghanistan? Once to be. I think ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR we start to flip the way we talk it’s been [email protected] “Dr. King about American foreign policy damaged. To Hayley Wood reminded and make it more centered on me, this is an age of limits. SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER America that the concerns of average Ameri- What I worry about is the [email protected] the three cans—other than America’s place triumphalism, the denialism, Mass Humanities promotes the use of greatest threats in a global chess game vis-à-vis the nostalgia that acts as a set history, literature, philosophy, and the to American other countries—the closer we of blinders and hurts our in- other humanities disciplines to deepen our understanding of the issues of the democracy will be to recapturing a more terests and what we need to day, strengthen our sense of common were materialism, militarism, realistic understanding of what do to make the best possible purpose, and enrich individual and community life. We take the humani- and racism. We are certainly in America’s interests are. And adjustment to this new phase ties out of the classroom and into the a precipitous decline from the that’s ultimately the best way to of history.” community. dreams and promises of Ameri- prevent America from being in Mass Humanities, a private, nonprofit, can democracy.” systemic decline.” —Paul Starobin, contribut- educational organization, receives fund- ing from the National Endowment ing editor to the National for the Humanities; the Massachusetts —Peniel Joseph, professor of —Peter Beinart, senior political Journal and author of After Cultural Council, a state agency; and history at Tufts University and writer for The Daily Beast and America: Narratives for the private sources. author of Waiting ’til the Mid- author of The Icarus Syndrome: Next Global Age night Hour: A Narrative History A History of American Hubris of Black Power in America 2 Several of the grants fall under special categories: CCCC: Crisis, Community, and Civic Culture For application procedures and deadlines, visit: Recent Grants ENA: Engaging New Audiences www.masshumanities.org SMOG: Social Media Outreach Grant RIG: Research Inventory Grant Greater Boston $5,000 to Actors’ Shakespeare Project archival materials (1868–1908), a collec- $1,500 to the Scituate Historical Society, in Somerville to fund post-performance tion newly acquired from the Coppola to inventory its textile collection, assess it $10,000 to The 888 Women’s History panel discussions about four plays family that will augment an exhibition for programming use, and identify cloth- Project in Cambridge to hire a social during the company’s Winter Festival: at the E.N. Jenckes General Store, the ing and accessories that represent styles media coordinator to expand awareness Cymbeline, Antony & Cleopatra, and two Society’s museum RIG commonly worn in the 1930s and 1940s, of the documentary filmLeft on Pearl: contemporary plays, The Hotel Nepenthe for use in an exhibit on the 1930s work of Women Take Over 888 Memorial Drive, and Living in Exile.