resistance is not futile...

[Loren A. Billings]

We all assume things in our messages.  I, too, cringe at the use of this
list to convince anyone to do anything politically.  But people do send
messages with various assumptions.  For example, many have written assuming
that enrollments should be bolstered.  Others have written that the field
of Slavic linguistics shouldn't be allowed to wither.  I detect a slight
bit of insincerity in the writer who objects to Keith's original posting
as though it were _solely_ out of principle.  I, for one, agree that
educating Americans (including our youths) in public schools, and doing
so effectively, is a moral imperative.  The Right argues that this nation
is going to hell (literally?) because of a lack of God in Americans' lives.
This may just be so.  The government is restricted from "making Religion,"
so I don't suppose it has the mandate to "fix" that problem.  As for the
shameful problem of illiteracy and lack of basic schooling of young
Americans, the government DOES have a responsibility to fix this.  For
that reason, I would suggest that people limit their appeals to the
message they want relayed (i.e., "foreign-language education should be
emphasized/funded") and let the reader decide how best to implement that
appeal.

Best,  Loren Billings
billings at princeton.edu