Mississippi Gubernatorial Inaugural
January 12, 2004

Thank you, Willis, for those kind words of introduction. And, more importantly, thank you for your service as Chairman of the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC). I realize that you are also the very busy leader of what has become the state's largest institution of higher education, and we at NEH--as well as citizens across this state--are grateful that you have given of yourself so freely in support of MHC's important work.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Barbara Carpenter, the Executive Director of MHC. Barbara and her dedicated colleagues have done such a wonderful job in fulfilling the crucial mission of the Mississippi Humanities Council--to share the wisdom of the humanities with every Mississippian. Barbara has pioneered several exciting initiatives, such as the Mississippi Oral History Program, which both documents and disseminates the fascinating history of the citizens of this state. Through this program, the stories of your citizens are told, preserved, and passed on to a new generation.

I understand that Cora Norman is here. Dr. Norman served for 24 years as the founding director of MHC. Thank you for establishing this wonderful organization.

I must also thank Elbert Hilliard, the Director of Mississippi Department of Archives and History and co-sponsor of this gathering.

I am a great admirer of the work you do, and I'm proud to note that NEH has been able to contribute to your efforts with the award last month of a Challenge Grant of $450,000 for your work at the Eudora Welty House. Her literary legacy is one of Mississippi's great contributions to our national culture and the MDAH has been a splendid guardian of that legacy. The MDAH's distinguished Chairman, former Governor William Winter is also present. Thank you for being here, Governor.

[I should point out a friend and former colleague . . . Peggy Prenshaw has been a chair of MHC and a member of NEH's National Council. It's great to see you again Peggy.]

I am also pleased to recognize Carolyn Vance Smith, who represents another recent NEH grantee in Mississippi, the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration. That terrific event will be supported by $100,000 in NEH matching funds.

It is a great honor to share the podium with such individuals as Secretary of State Eric Clark-who is distinguished both as a scholar and servant of the people--Justice James Graves--a wise and erudite jurist-Ms. Ricki Garrett--a great friend of higher education in this state--and, of course, the Governor-Elect himself, the Honorable--and inimitable--Haley Barbour.

Please accept my congratulations, sir, and my very best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

Tomorrow, as you take on the responsibilities of the Governor's office, we can all revel in what is truly "Mississippi's Moment" in the national spotlight.

One of the important tasks of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the preservation of this great hall. A lot of history has taken place within these walls. If they could talk, they would speak of the grand hopes of those who named (what was then) a small town after the great Andrew Jackson and erected this magnificent edifice.

How proud those ambitious early Americans would be today, to see this symbol of civic pride and democratic life in use as museum to convey the hard won lessons of history.

Inaugurals are a fitting occasion to reflect upon the privileges and duties of citizenship in our government of, by, and for the people. In his Inaugural Address, President Bush called on all Americans to be citizens, not spectators . . . to serve our nation, beginning with our neighbors… to embody the ideas that gave our nation birth.

That call took on new meaning after the attacks of September 11.

We witnessed the true meaning of what it is to be a good citizen-when evil is countered with acts of courage and compassion. Millions of American citizens gave of their time, money, even--quite literally--their life's blood--to help others in need.

We've also seen the amazing courage and extraordinary sacrifice from the men and women of our armed forces. In a matter of months, they defeated a murderous regime, liberated an oppressed people, and literally unearthed a tyrant.

Civic virtue takes many forms. But there are certain essentials to good citizenship, just as there are essentials to just government.

So today, I'd like to talk to you about the centrality of the humanities to democratic and civic life, the danger of American amnesia, and the possibilities of recovering our memory and protecting the best of our culture.

As the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, my duty is to share the wisdom of the humanities with all Americans. The humanities are, in short, the study of what makes us human: the legacy of our past, the ideas and principles that motivate us, and the eternal questions that we still ponder. The classics and archeology show us from whence our civilization came. The study of literature and art shape our sense of beauty. The knowledge of philosophy and religion give meaning to our concepts of justice and goodness.

NEH was founded in the belief that cultivating the best of the humanities had real, tangible benefits for civic life.

Our founding legislation declares that "democracy demands wisdom." America must have educated and thoughtful citizens who can fully and intelligently participate in our government of, by and for the people. NEH exists to foster the wisdom and knowledge essential to our national identity.

It is no exaggeration to say that the state of the humanities has real implications for the state of our union.

Over the past couple years, we have been engaged in conflicts--both in Afghanistan and Iraq--driven by philosophy, political ideologies, and views of history--all humanities subjects.

Our tolerance, our principles, our wealth and our freedoms have made us targets. To understand these battles, we need the humanities.

Indeed, the values implicit in the study of the humanities are part of why we were attacked on September 11. The free and fearless exchange of ideas, respect for individual conscience, belief in the power of education… all these things are anathema to our country's enemies. Understanding and affirming these principles is part of the battle.

Today, it is especially urgent that we study American institutions, culture and history. Defending our democracy demands more than successful military campaigns.

It also requires an understanding of the ideals, ideas and institutions that have shaped our country.

This is not a new concept. America's founders recognized the importance of an informed and educated citizenry as necessary for the survival of our participatory democracy.

James Madison famously said "the diffusion of knowledge is the only true guardian of liberty." Such knowledge tells us who we are as a people and why our country is worth fighting for.

Such knowledge is part of our homeland defense.

Our values, ideas, and memories are not self-sustaining. Just as free peoples must take responsibility for their own defense, they must pass on to future generations the knowledge that sustains democracy.

It has been said that the erosion of freedom comes from three sources: from without, from within, and from the passing of time.

Though not as visible as marching armies or as menacing as corrupt leaders, the injuries of time lead to the same outcome: a surrender of American ideals. Abraham Lincoln warned of this "silent artillery"--the fading memory of what we believe as Americans and why. And this loss of American memory has profound implications for our national security.

We face a serious challenge to our country that lies within our borders--and even within our schools: the threat of American Amnesia.

One of the common threads of great civilizations is the cultivation of memory. Many of the great works of antiquity are transliterated from oral traditions.

From Homer to Beowulf, such tales trained people to remember their heritage and history through story and song, and pass those stories and songs throughout generations.

Old Testament stories repeatedly depict prophets and priests encouraging people to remember, to "write on their hearts" the events, circumstances, and stories that make up their history.

We are in danger of forgetting this lesson. For years, even decades, polls, tests and studies have shown that Americans do not know their history, and cannot remember even the most significant events of the 20th century.

Of course, Americans are a forward-looking people. We are more concerned with what happens tomorrow than what happened yesterday.

But we are in danger of having our view of the future obscured by our ignorance of the past. We cannot see clearly ahead if we are blind to history. Unfortunately, most indicators point to a worsening of our case of American amnesia.

I'll give just a few examples. One study of university students found that 40 percent could not place the Civil War in the correct half-century. Only 37 percent knew that the Battle of the Bulge took place during World War II. A national test of high school seniors found that 57 percent performed "below basic" level in American History. What does that mean? Well, over half of those tested couldn't say whom we fought in World War II. 18 percent believed that the Germans were our allies in World War II!

Such collective amnesia is dangerous. Citizens kept ignorant of their history are robbed of the riches of their heritage, and handicapped in their ability to understand and appreciate other cultures.

If Americans cannot recall whom we fought, and whom we fought alongside, during World War II, it should not be assumed that they will long remember what happened on September 11 or why we must be prepared today.

And a nation that does not know why it exists, or what it stands for, cannot be expected to flourish. As columnist George Will wrote, "We cannot defend what we cannot define."

Our nation's future depends on how we meet these challenges. We all have a stake, and a role to play, in recovering America's memory. There are several things we can do to alleviate our case of American amnesia. This is where the National Endowment for the Humanities is answering the President's call to service with the launch of the We the People initiative.

The We the People initiative marks a systematic effort at NEH to promote the study and understanding of American history and culture.

The President has requested $100 million over the next three years to support NEH's We the People initiative.

We the People projects will span the range of research fellowships, grants for documentary films, museum exhibitions, and collaborative research projects; seminars and institutes for teachers, and preservation efforts to safeguard and disseminate the raw materials of history.

We are also launching new competitions, such as the annual Idea of America essay contest, where young people compete for $10,000 in prizes; the annual Heroes of History lecture, and a national history bee.

We are tremendously excited about the new opportunities the We the People initiative opens to the state humanities council to extend their excellent work. State humanities councils like MHC are essential partners in ensuring that citizens in every state have an opportunity to benefit from the President's initiative. Here in Mississippi, the We the People initiative will allow NEH to increase our support for MHC by more than 10 percent. That investment is one important measure of our confidence in the Mississippi Humanities Council.

The state councils are the vanguard in the effort to extend and enhance public understanding of our history and culture; the excellence of the efforts of the Mississippi Council and others are why I am optimistic that we can make progress towards restoring America's memory.

In the coming months and years, I want NEH and state councils to help lead a renaissance in knowledge about our history and culture.

Too many Americans, especially young people, have been deprived the tools of citizenship and the building blocks of the good and examined life.

This is a challenge that we need to meet and best. Our history must be preserved and passed on. We cannot expect that a nation which has lost its memory will keep its vision. We cannot hope that forgetting the past will not obscure our future. And we cannot neglect the great democratic imperative: to give each generation a brighter light, a broader perspective, and an enriched legacy with which to face the future.