Pedagogy of the Oppressed -- a contribution with a blindspot

I love long bus and train rides for reading. I keep flirting with the idea of buying a transcontinental ticket simply to read and write. Let me know if you're interested.

Yesterday I finally read the "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" , Paulo Freire's book that has sold over 1 million copies and has become so famous spellcheck knows his name.

This short book illuminates the challenge of revolution. The oppressed want to rise up but having been raised in oppression rarely have any true notion of freedom.

As a result, they aim for the role they have seen modeled by the oppressor. Oppressed and oppressor, Friere claims, around inextricably bound.

To maintain the status quo the oppressor need only do what he/she has always done. To be truly free, by contrast, requires a form of revolution that restores humanity to both groups.

The book came out in 1970 far before Mandela led the overthrow of South African apartheid in exactly the way Freire (I think) would celebrate.

In this way, his work makes such an outstanding contribution.

I once attended an event where I heard former Secretary of State Madeline Alright lament that she and all interveners have never figured out how to help liberate people without having them turn those same guns on others.

She was pointing out the phenomena observed by Freire. The oppressed, without authentic and humanizing leadership, will likely be no better than their oppressor.

Tough news. This means the underdog isn't necessarily a better guy. He's just under the thumb of someone. Intervention requires, Freier claims, standing in dialogue with one another. Learning together.

The book purports a pedagogy of education based on his work with some of Brazil's illiterate population.

That said, his work applied to conflict interventions. It is not enough to "free someone" we must stand together in the inquiry of "what does true freedom look like?"

True freedom doesn't mean oppressing the former oppressor. Freire also points out the fear of freedom many have. Freedom requires a kind of self-responsiblity foreign to both oppressed and oppressor

My only beef with Freire comes from his discussions about animals. He keeps distinguishing man from animal. Animal has no personal will, he says, and has no say on his environment.

He uses the distinction to highlight what it means to be human and therefore which aspects of humanity revolutionary leaders (and educators) must cultivate.

This distinction left me unsettled because it allows for man's oppression over the animal kingdom and planet. He promotes freedom for humanity.

I hope that by 2015 we understand that humanity's destiny is linked to that of the planet and the animals.

If we are kind to people and liberate each other but torture and incarcerate animals we still are not "humane."

If we treat the planet as our servant we may lack the humility necessary to care for our home.

Yes, the oppressor loses his humanity when he/she subjugates others. I claim we also lose out humanity when we treat animals and the planet as inferior.

Anywhere we draw a line between what's or who is worthy of self expression and who is not, we are in an oppressive mindset.

Even Americas Founding Fathers made faulty discontinctions, excludig Women and Blacks from their full pursuit of happiness.

I think Freire missed the boat too on this one.

Every generation will be seen by future generations as misguided in some way. I believe future generations will shake their heads in shame at how we treat animals (especially those we eat) and how we treat things that grow.

Thanks for reading...I awoke at 6:30am this Saturday having to get this off my heart and into the world.