What, friends, is the subject of family, “Family Matters,” doing on the website of The Center for American Studies… at Concord, Massachusetts, alongside not just history, philosophy, literature, but “The Concord NOBLE Prize for Peace;” “The New World Drama: And Crown Thy Good with Sister- and Brotherhood;” a number of related initiatives on money/monetary reform; an offering that would “Bridge the Growing Divide” (in pretty much every arena of our lives?); research in the realm of Christology, above all its new commandment, “Love one another…”; “Dream Teams” for our youth; long awaited prison reform for the disenfranchised through the grace of Columbia-Isis Enterprises; a National Amends Offering; and a “Men Liberation Movement” on behalf, no less, of our women, sisters — for starters?
For those who know the story not only of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women*,” and men (who does not know those beloved tales?) but of The Concord School of Philosophy and Literature that grew out of the womb of mother Alcott and her four little women, out of father Alcott’s study in their Orchard House itself (who does know this vital and unprecedented chapter in the cultural history of our land?), the answer will be clear.
That is, with few exceptions most of us go, or have gone, out into the world each morning from our homes and circle of family relations “to work.” If this is clear, self-evident, who has not experienced the fact that, though their commute may have been but around the corner, it was hours before they arrived… that is, before they had disentangled their thoughts and feelings from misunderstandings, struggles on the home front, so as to be able to devote themselves fully to their vocations and avocation in, and for, the world — labors of love… hours before those left at home had found their own peace of mind, in order to kindle anew the holy flames of the hearth, the heart?
Anybody…?
If this answer is clear, then not much more needs to be said about the presence of “Family Matters” in the work of a Center for American Studies at Concord that is devoted, has devoted itself to applied American Studies, to seeking to shed light, as noted, on the most trying of issues facing our brothers and sisters, our human family today — to, in the Concord spirit, translate what some refer to as Transcendentalism into a language for our modern times. Problems-challenges–opportunities…
We invite you, friends, to turn the page… knock on the door… click the button… A home-coming may await you.
Con-cord-e,
Stuart-Sinclair Weeks, Founder
The Center for American Studies at Concord