excellent sheep

I saw a book by that title on the new bookshelf in the library, and it made me think about how people are when they first come to Evergreen. There are srsly many different kinds of people here – people who’ve already been working for years, people who took a year or two off, or are just out of high school.

Or single (sometimes married) parents, locals from around here, military vets, state workers. Some old folks. Then there are dreamers, stoners, general misfits, political types, entrepreneurs, athletes, exchange students. Old hippies and people raised by hold hippies. Who am I forgetting?

Maybe the rich? The children of the elite? We must have them here, though given the cachet of this place, they might want to fly under the radar.

The complete title of the book that started all this, is Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, is kind of interesting but it’s also kind of stupid, as far as I’m concerned. It goes over the harsh expectations organized and prosperous parents can place on their kids, and how otherwise perfectly innocent people get bullied into being corporate types and narrow thinkers. It is kind of touching to see “the American elite” do some soul searching, which is probably seriously overdue.

But it also makes me happy to be at Evergreen. Because, everything the guy says about leading the bullied children of the elite to a happier and more meaningful life is already on the agenda here. Critical thinking, open exploration, valuing ideas and ideals above output. Nonconformity for teh sake of experimentation and innovation, as well as for itself.