There is a sense of ethical crisis, and much of the blame goes to the 
American school systems.  If a parent wishes to include ethics in the 
education of his child, the state apparatus cannot argue; except that 
it may say that the religious viewpoint may not meet standards.  That 
point may be rebutted if the parent cites the classic Greek and Latin 
works as the source for his curricula. 
 
At one time, every American who considered himself educated began his 
studies with Plato, Aristotle, Ceasar's Gallic Wars, etc.  And if one 
reads the writings of our founding fathers, and then goes to read the 
the stoic philosophers and the ancient classics, it is pretty obvious 
where their ideas of justice and truth came from. 
 
I do not suggest that you teach Latin and Greek.  Modern translations 
take in to account the cultural differences between our time and that 
of the original and render the meanings far better than a rudimentary 
understanding of their original language.  Moreover, they are not dry 
as dust by any means; Plutarch, Ovid, and Aesop were skilled writers, 
the source of many of the metaphors still in our language, and likely 
to entertain as well as instill ethics. 
 
The public educators can hardly criticize such a curricula, and would 
likely praise it.  But, for bureacratic reasons, by the time it would 
be a part of their public education, your kid has graduated. 
                ***SAMPLE*** 
Aristotle said that we always remember the good that we have done, while 
at the same time, try to forget the wrongs we have wrought; furthermore, 
we always satisfied with the good we have done for another, and dismayed 
with the results of the good we try to do for ourselves, feeling that it 
is never quite up to expectations.  He went on to wonder why folks do so 
much more of the latter when the former is always so satisfying. 
 
The shrinks tell us that we all need positive self images; so wrongdoing 
is repressed to satisfy that need.  But, if repression is successful, it 
also means that the situation that lead up to it must be forgotten also. 
Indeed: the Greeks knew that as a result, the wrongdoers never learned a 
thing from the experience of life, and remained fools.  Whether they had 
as a result, vast power and wealth or not, it did not deceive the wise. 
 
Either the shrinks were unaware of the connection between repression and 
the lack of personal growth, and thus, did not advise clients to reform, 
or they were- and knowing that if reform was accomplished, their service 
would no longer be necessary, or lucrative. 
 
... OFFLINE 1.50  "No, I ain't lost it... I never had it."
--- WtrGate+ 0.93.PRE9-o beta sn 26
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