On August 5, Chavela Vargas died at age 93. She had just returned from a trip to Madrid, Spain promoting “La Luna Grande,” her new CD dedicated to the famous Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. “I came to say farewell to Federico, to my friends, and to Spain,…and now I return to die in my own country,” she said in a brief address at his gravesite. She became ill soon after the ceremony, and after 10 days in a hospital there she was brought to Cuernavaca where she passed away. In her lifetime she came to be an icon and a pleasure for those who heard her sing. For those who knew her, she was a unique and eccentric character. Her last words were, “I go with Mexico in my heart.” Continue reading A Legend Passes→
In English North American culture there is a long tradition of ‘educational hero’ films that show the power that one great teacher can make in the lives of many. In Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams’ individualism saves the boys from becoming shallow men of industry, in Lean on Me, Morgan Freeman’s strict principal transforms the challenged school into a place where students look to the future. In Dangerous Minds Michelle Pfeiffer’s tough marine teacher goes against the odds and earns the respect of her ghetto students and makes them envision a greater future for themselves.
By contrast in Mexico there is an absence of these kinds of films. What does this tell us about the value of education? In English North American culture we accept the premise that education will set you free of whatever circumstance you find yourself. Continue reading Valuing Education→
By Neal Erickson
You must be logged in to post a comment.