March 2008 Ethical Hero – Colman McCarthy

Published: March 13, 2008

By Jim Lichtman
Image
Read More

Colman McCarthy is an anarchist… for Peace!

An adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center who teaches at three DC area high-schools, Colman believes peace studies should be part of the core curriculum at every school and University in the country.

“The most revolutionary thing anybody can do is to raise good, honest, generous children who will question the answers of people who say the answer is violence. That’s what the school should be doing.”

In 1985, McCarthy left the Washington Post as a columnist after twenty-eight years to found the Center for Teaching Peace. He believes the philosophy of peace, the writings of great peace leaders and non-violent conflict resolution should be part of a very practical, community-oriented approach to education.

“What makes us happy is service to others. If schools don’t expose students to the joys of community service, we graduate people who are idea rich but experience poor. It’s too easy to blame,” McCarthy says. “What’s harder is self-examination… what should I be doing everyday to bring about a peace and justice-based world, whether across the ocean or across the living room?”

I had the good fortune (not to mention, challenge) of teaching a couple of Colman’s classes recently and came away from the experience with a fresher, more enthusiastic outlook on students and the future. They were engaged, concerned and committed to learning and demonstrating a more “honest and generous” life!

To learn more about Colman McCarthy’s work, contact the Center for Teaching Peace, (202) 537-1372 or cmccarthy@starpower.net

Comments

Leave a Comment



Read More Articles
The Latest... And Sometimes Greatest
Jake, Your Better Than This
Jake Tapper is a respected journalist. I say that not as a casual observer, but as someone who regularly watches his reporting and respects his...
May 26, 2025
Short and Sweet
Eight Social Rules— 1. Silence in Arguments—Not every opinion needs a reply. 2. The calmest voice controls the room—power doesn’t shout. 3. Gossip once, lose...
May 23, 2025
Two Men. Two Visions.
With the constant churn of headlines—political strife, cultural division, and an unrelenting news cycle—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, even numb. So when this week’s TIME...
May 22, 2025
What’s the Cost of Integrity? Why 60 Minutes Matters Now More Than Ever
Week after week, CBS’s 60 Minutes has done what journalism is supposed to do: hold those in power accountable, no matter the cost. The current...
May 21, 2025
Why Facts No Longer Matter (And Why That Matters)
In 2012, Justice David Souter—long retired, rarely seen—offered a quiet but powerful warning during a talk in New Hampshire. Reflecting on the erosion of civic...
May 19, 2025
The Cost of Doing the Right Thing
I met President Gerald Ford while working at KMIR-TV in Palm Springs. The event was held at the home of a wealthy supporter in Thunderbird...
May 16, 2025