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One more foray into this discussion: Part of the problem seems to me the word "common". Jamie posits > My idea of citizenship includes active political participation by the > broadest range of people. Participation requires common reference > points, to name but two: a legal framework, and some aspects of > culture, including, but not limited to, aspects of language, mythology, > history, and the arts. The problem with common reference points seems to be that the cultural elite, those of the dominant social group who have defined those cultural reference points in the past, have expected not only acceptance of reference points like "Flanders Fields" but a shared perspective on such reference points. If by "reference" Jamie means points of contestation--the points at which we meet to fight out who we are as a collective--I wholeheartedly agree that we need them; however, if common reference means denying other points of reference or denouncing resistance to points of common reference then not only are we failing as a collective to be critical thinkers, but we have canonical tyranny. As Jamie asks > The question -- especially in Canada -- is not do > we want canonical tyranny on the one hand or anarchy on the other, the > question is how do we build on the tenuous common culture that we > have? By resisting it. Thus, there is a place in the creation of common culture for Anthony. His resistance to memorizing poetry, to the notion of shared culture generally, is precisely what will enable a community to forge values it shares, to challenge its own structures. As Marcie suggested in the original debate, why not let the students themselves decide what poems they might memorize. Why not! Of course, Anthony you may note that in this idea of common culture as points of contestation, your resistance is implicated in the creating of common culture. Resistance is futile, but necessary. Rob Irish -- ************************************************* Dr. Robert Irish Coordinator of Language Across the Curriculum Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering University of Toronto e-mail: [log in to unmask] *************************************************