Bruce Cole, Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities

Good evening. It is an honor and a pleasure to be here. I have long been a fan of the University of Dallas. Its seriousness of purpose, excellence of scholarship and commitment to teaching are exemplary and, I'm sad to say, increasingly rare.

I also want to express my admiration for the vigorous and rigorous core curriculum at the University of Dallas. At a time when many colleges and universities are sweeping away their last remaining required courses, the University of Dallas stands out as a shining exception. The University of Dallas recognizes that great challenges and rapid changes increase the need to learn from history, to understand from whence we came, and to benefit from the wisdom of the ages. Your curriculum offers something unfashionable, but priceless: the essentials of the examined life. May your worthy example be widely followed.

Tonight, I'd like to speak about the centrality of the humanities to democratic and civic life; the challenges facing the humanities and the study of history, the danger of American amnesia; and the possibilities of recovering our memory and protecting the best of our culture.

The NEH was founded in the belief that cultivating the best of the humanities has real, tangible benefits for civic life. Our founding legislation declares that "democracy demands wisdom." America must have educated and thoughtful citizens who can fully and intelligently participate in our government of, by, and for the people. The NEH exists to foster the wisdom and knowledge essential to our national identity and survival.

The range of the humanities disciplines is wide; their impact deep. The classics and archeology show us from whence our civilization came. The study of literature and art shape our sense of beauty. The knowledge of philosophy and religion give meaning to our concepts of justice and goodness.

The humanities are often thought of as largely theoretical fields, but their benefits are practical and immediate. Indeed, the state of the humanities has real implications for the state of our union. Our nation is currently in an international conflict driven by religion, philosophy, political ideology, and views of history - all humanities subjects.

Our tolerance, our principles, our wealth, and our liberties have made us targets. To understand this conflict, we need the humanities.

The values implicit in the study of the humanities are part of why we were attacked. The free and fearless exchange of ideas, respect for individual conscience, belief in the power of education& all these things are anathema to our country's enemies. Understanding and affirming these principles is part of the battle.

The attack on September 11 targeted not only innocent civilians, but also the fabric of our culture. The terrorists struck the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and aimed at either the White House or Capitol dome - all structures rich in meaning, and bearing witness to the United States' free commerce, military strength, and democratic government. As such, they also housed many of the artifacts - the manuscripts, art, and archives - that form our history and heritage.

Of course, the loss of artifacts and art, no matter how priceless and precious, is dwarfed by the loss of life. Each life that was snuffed out that day was itself a work of art and a historical record. Each person who died on September 11 meant the world to others. I often fear that the scholarly tendency to over-theorize under-estimates the importance of the individual. One of the clearest lessons of that awful day is that individuals matter - their decisions, their courage, their sacrifices, their hopes, their lives.

They -- not theories -- are the stuff of history.

Today, it is all the more urgent that we study American institutions, culture, and history. Unlike a monarchy or dictatorship, democracy is not self-perpetuating. Its continued flourishing requires a transmission of knowledge of, and a love for, the rule of law, the rigors of justice, and the rights of man. That knowledge and love must be transmitted from and renewed in each generation. Defending our democracy therefore demands more than successful military campaigns. It also requires an understanding of the ideals, ideas and institutions that have shaped our country.

This is not a new concept. America's founders recognized the importance of an informed and educated citizenry as necessary for the survival of our participatory democracy. James Madison famously said, "the diffusion of knowledge is the only true guardian of liberty." The humanities tell us who we are as a people and why our country is worth fighting for.

(McDermott Lecture, October 24, 2002)