Not a lot of time today, but ran across these separate but interesting statements in separate but interesting documents online. First, from the World Factbook home page, established and maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and available to any and everyone with access to the Internet:
“The World Factbook, produced for US policymakers and coordinated throughout the US Intelligence Community, presents the basic realities about the world in which we live. We share these facts with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the truth underpins the functioning of free societies.” (Under the “About” tab then click on the “Did you know?” link)
I’m sure many could wax cynical about the CIA making such a statement, but I found it strangely encouraging. I hope there are still people in our government who operate under this paradigm.
Then this snippet from the Facebook page for my alma mater, Ohio University, the first land grant university established in the Northwest Territory. From the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 :
“Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
And to this I only say: if religion, or at least an understanding of belief in God, and morality based on that belief, were still viewed as foundational elements of the American education system. Bittersweet, isn’t it?
