My friend Laurie is going back to school to become a principal and is reading some interesting books. One of them is Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire, Donaldo P. Macedo, Myra Bergman Ramos. This book changed my life and still ranks as one of the best books I have read. I base my lifes work on the teaching found in these pages.
Page 55 – “Any situation in which “A” objectively exploits “B” or hinders his or her pursuit of self-affirmation as a responsible person is one of oppression. Such a situation in itself constitutes violence, even when sweetened by false generosity, because it interferes with the individual’s ontological and historical vocation to be more fully human.”
Page 128 – “Dialogue with the people is radically necessary to every authentic revolution. This is what makes it a revolution, as distingusihed from a military coupe.“