I just came across this largely trivial cultural skirmish. Obama said “I promise you, folks can make a lot more, potentially, with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree.” In fact from the transcript you can see him, Eddie Maguire like thinking that he’s ‘misspoke’ as they say. In any event he sent off a dignified apology lacking the cant and bullshit normally associated with such ‘damage control’.
1ccording to University of Texas art history professor Ann Collins Johns, Obama has officially apologized for his remarks, sending her this handwritten letter:
Ann —
Let me apologize for my off-the-cuff remarks. I was making a point about the jobs market, not the value of art history. As it so happens, art history was one of my favorite subjects in high school, and it has helped me take in a great deal of joy in my life that I might otherwise have missed.
So please pass on my apology for the glib remark to the entire department, and understand that I was trying to encourage young people who may not be predisposed to a four year college experience to be open to technical training that can lead them to an honorable career.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
It’s a nice simple and clear letter. I also like the fact that he didn’t defend the economic value of art history.
- A[↩]
Yep. Chock full of win. No doubt written by a staffer, but such staffers have to know exactly what their boss would want. Someone here knew that in the circumstances, his boss would be willing to actually cop to being glib.
Well it was hand written, so can’t see it being written by a staffer.
It reminded me of Lincoln’s plangent letters to his flock. Hardly to a bereaved war mother whose four sons died in for the noble cause but Obama fancies Lincoln a lot.
I kinda presumed there’s technology for the handwritten-ness. But maybe I’m a few years too early.