NEH Chairman Visits Center for Excellence
National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman James A. Leach met with
Mississippi leaders recently at an event hosted by Phi Theta Kappa Executive
Director Dr. Rod A. Risley and the Mississippi Humanities Council. Dr.
Risley is currently serving his second term as Chair of the Mississippi
Humanities Council.
Chairman Leach is on a 50-state tour promoting
political and public civility in discourse and the bridging of cultures.
He intends to visit all 50 states during the next 18 months to call attention
to the need for civil discourse in American society.
"We were
delighted to host Chairman Leach as he brought his Civility Tour to our state,"
Dr. Risley said. "His priorities are our priorities, as reflected in the
recently adopted long-range plan for the Mississippi Humanities Council.
Our four areas of focus are: civil discourse, Mississippi history and culture,
books and reading and capacity building. We join with Chairman Leach to
raise awareness of the critical need for engaging our citizens in civil
discussions about important issues and developing among them broader
awareness of and appreciation for differing cultures."
While
serving as a U.S. Congressman representing southeastern Iowa for 30 years,
Leach chaired the Banking and Financial Services Committee, the Subcommittee
on Asian and Pacific Affairs and the Congressional-Executive Commission
on China. He founded and co-chaired the Congressional and Humanities Caucus.
President Obama reached across party lines and tapped him to lead the National
Endowment for the Humanities in August 2009.
During his visit
to the state Leach gave opening remarks at the Mississippi Humanities Council's
2010 Public Humanities Awards banquet Friday evening at the Hilton Jackson
hotel. The annual banquet recognizes outstanding contributions by Mississippians
to the study and understanding of the humanities.
"Citizenship
is hard, and words do matter. Words and demagoguery can incite people to
hate and violence," Leach said. He recalled Lincoln's words in his second
inaugural address, "With malice toward none," and cited the need for unifying
partnerships that respect diversity.
"Civility is not just
about government, but has social aspects, and can ensure that people understand
each other," he explained. "Argumentation can be a social good when carried
out in a historical and philosophical perspective."
Last week
Leach and Dr. Risley were interviewed on "Mississippi Edition," a program
airing on Mississippi Think Radio.
