I agree with the gist of what you're saying, but I have to wonder what the education of the Shining Path would look like in practice. I'm not sure that it would provide any financial guarantees, or even pose at making them. I think it would be more like a "reeducation" than an education, more ideological than informative. But we can still engage with Sendero in a more charitable manner, and pretend that their education is the sort we grad schoolers might be a fan of. It still seems problematic to rely on this instead of other avenues of social change. For example if high school education became highly partisan I wouldn't be a fan. There's a lot of ways to think about this though, thanks for opening the topic.
well put. Education is a double edged sword. On one hand it can be life changing and a way to a better future. But it also be used to oppress and deceive. Education alone is not unbiased or honest. It can be twisted and used. It's important to remember that there is more than one side to everything. Just like with Shining Path. Not excusing the bad things they did but it is important to also look at what they were fighting against.
Great title! Your comments on education as a means for social mobility and the myth of 'an objective truth' stand out to me and remind me of our class discussion of youth stuck between Andean and Western worlds and how their parents' Andean identities seemed remote to the myth of 'progress'... I really enjoyed reading your post, thanks for sharing your insights and your positionality! :)
You constantly raise the bar for us all with your brilliance!
Education is a tricky topic to tackle while being within an academic space. It's like the call is coming from inside the house. I like the way you are able to frame yourself in the text and I think that this myth of objective truth was and remains very valuable to causes like Shining Path. The tension between wanting access to knowledge and being sold a false dream was hard to untangle.
"This myth that education will hand you some objective truth is so alluring and of course, young people whose circumstances have left them with constricting options would want to grab onto this metaphorical golden ticket."
For sure! I find it so interesting that the students who eventually joined Sendero were caught at this particular point of tension: they were a generation given modernist dreams of truth and universality, but were faced with continuing the "traditional" lifestyles of their families, with no hope of better economic prospects. It seems that those lacking in hope are especially vulnerable to committing horrible acts of violence, for example, in the name of some ideal. (I suspect that the Peruvian army, and armies around the world today, prey on similar individuals).
Thank you for your post! Many of the largest movements ever have started at universities, and I think that's largely due to how easy it is to pass on ideas and information in settings where education (or the objective truth about certain subjects) is passed on. Aligning with what you said, the ideas we attain from education can liberate but also be authoritative, so we really have to pay attention to what we're being subject to and figure out right and wrong for ourselves! That is to say, the fact that we do go to an institution where we can openly advocate for our own ideas is something to be grateful for :)
Hi Orla,
I agree with the gist of what you're saying, but I have to wonder what the education of the Shining Path would look like in practice. I'm not sure that it would provide any financial guarantees, or even pose at making them. I think it would be more like a "reeducation" than an education, more ideological than informative. But we can still engage with Sendero in a more charitable manner, and pretend that their education is the sort we grad schoolers might be a fan of. It still seems problematic to rely on this instead of other avenues of social change. For example if high school education became highly partisan I wouldn't be a fan. There's a lot of ways to think about this though, thanks for opening the topic.
Gabo
Hi Orla,
well put. Education is a double edged sword. On one hand it can be life changing and a way to a better future. But it also be used to oppress and deceive. Education alone is not unbiased or honest. It can be twisted and used. It's important to remember that there is more than one side to everything. Just like with Shining Path. Not excusing the bad things they did but it is important to also look at what they were fighting against.
Hi Orla,
Great title! Your comments on education as a means for social mobility and the myth of 'an objective truth' stand out to me and remind me of our class discussion of youth stuck between Andean and Western worlds and how their parents' Andean identities seemed remote to the myth of 'progress'... I really enjoyed reading your post, thanks for sharing your insights and your positionality! :)
Warmly,
Niki
Hi Orla,
You constantly raise the bar for us all with your brilliance!
Education is a tricky topic to tackle while being within an academic space. It's like the call is coming from inside the house. I like the way you are able to frame yourself in the text and I think that this myth of objective truth was and remains very valuable to causes like Shining Path. The tension between wanting access to knowledge and being sold a false dream was hard to untangle.
"This myth that education will hand you some objective truth is so alluring and of course, young people whose circumstances have left them with constricting options would want to grab onto this metaphorical golden ticket."
For sure! I find it so interesting that the students who eventually joined Sendero were caught at this particular point of tension: they were a generation given modernist dreams of truth and universality, but were faced with continuing the "traditional" lifestyles of their families, with no hope of better economic prospects. It seems that those lacking in hope are especially vulnerable to committing horrible acts of violence, for example, in the name of some ideal. (I suspect that the Peruvian army, and armies around the world today, prey on similar individuals).
- Adam (in case I don't have an account)
Hi Orla,
Thank you for your post! Many of the largest movements ever have started at universities, and I think that's largely due to how easy it is to pass on ideas and information in settings where education (or the objective truth about certain subjects) is passed on. Aligning with what you said, the ideas we attain from education can liberate but also be authoritative, so we really have to pay attention to what we're being subject to and figure out right and wrong for ourselves! That is to say, the fact that we do go to an institution where we can openly advocate for our own ideas is something to be grateful for :)