Get to know Jim Leach

The Common Ground Awards are coming up (November 11).  If you want to come, get your tickets now!

“I believe that culture is far larger and more powerful than politics. Not to pay attention to the humanities, whether history, philosophy, or literature, is a costly mistake. Take relations between states: If a country respects another society, greater opportunity exists to have credible relations; if it doesn’t, there is a near impossibility of having constructive long-term relations. Culture comes first, and politics follows.” –Jim Leach, “The Gentleman from Iowa” interview in Humanities, November/December 2009

Yesterday we introduced you to Jim Leach, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Get to know Mr. Leach a little better in this November 2009 interview with Humanities, where he discusses growing up in Iowa, gaining admission to the Wrestling Hall of Fame, and what he thinks of being a “progressive Republican.”

In this interview with Dialogue host Marcia Franklin, Mr. Leach expounds upon his 50-state Civility Tour and talks about the role of humanities in politics.

“[The United States of America is] a society of many subcultures, some of which reflect cultural dynamics of people in other parts of the world. Diversity, often reflected in immigration, has historically been energizing for American society. But there can be challenges. An improvement in our relations to the Muslim world should include a better understanding and treatment of Muslim citizens in the United States. How we live up to our own ideals could have a lot to do with whether we are more likely to live under the rule of law or anarchy, the rule of civility or violence.” –Jim Leach, “The Gentleman from Iowa” interview in Humanities, November/December 2009