Nothing can or sometimes even should stay the same forever. Take a raisin for example. Though it starts as a grape patience and ample time to dehydrate create this dried fruit.
Victor Davis Hanson born in 1953 and raised in the small town of Selma Calif. grew grapes on his family farm and learned a valuable lesson from this process. He has since spent much of his life studying truth and human nature making it a personal goal to dispel ignorance and lack of understanding in society.”I think people need to know more about history and they need to be less utopian Hanson said. They don’t have a realistic view sometimes.”
Hanson the spring 2009 William E. Simon Distinguished Visiting Professor for the School of Public Policy is teaching a course called “Global Rule of Western Civilization?” to further spread his message.
The class covers western civilization and globalization and explores the historical background and foundation of modern problems.
Hanson who received his Ph.D. in classics from Stanford University has been writing about these issues for more than 20 years. He is a notable military historian columnist and political essayist in addition to serving as a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. One of his most notable works “Carnage and Culture was written in 2001 and argues the military dominance of western civilization.
Hanson’s passion for seeking truth and justice was sparked at an early age. He grew up in a Democratic household, but he was also taught to uphold conservative ideals. As such, he learned to question both sides of the political spectrum.
I think that after the late 90s I began to worry about the Democratic Party … that Democratic ideas weren’t going to be successful in governing the nation he said.
Though Hanson has firm beliefs that govern his thinking, he finds it important to simply provide the facts and allow individuals to make of them what they will. This goes for his three children, Susannah, William and Pauline, as well.
I think they’re pretty independent minded I don’t worry much about their point of views Hanson said. I don’t even know who they voted for in the presidential election.”
In addition to his questioning of right- and left-wing politics Hanson has spent much of his career exploring and analyzing specific politicians and global events. He tackles issues ranging from agrarianism to Former President Bush’s controversial presidency.
For example he has written many works that give historical context to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 2001.
“I was trying to argue that though there was a lot of pessimism – people thinking terrorism was new and we were incapable of protecting ourselves – terrorism is old he said. It goes back to the Greeks and Romans.”
Hanson further stated there is no need for people to despair because society will shine again. He holds this outlook in many facets of life.
Hans Zeiger a student of the School of Public Policy notes that Hanson’s vast knowledge brings much to the classroom.”I’ve known no one who so thoroughly understands human nature and can analyze a situation based on his own life experience and the experience of the ages Zeiger said. He can tell you the relevance of a Roman battle in 216 BC for us today or he can explain the meaning of Cortez’s conquest of the Aztecs in the vast context of Western civilization.”
Zeiger took a course with Hanson at his alma mater Hillsdale College in Michigan in 2005 as well. Hanson teaches there in the fall semesters.
School of Public Policy Dean James Wilburn said he has been coordinating with Hanson for more than two years to teach at Pepperdine. At that time Wilburn raised the idea to Hanson when he was speaking at the University. Wilburn said he is pleased he was able to make this teaching opportunity a reality. “I think it will allow our students to be exposed to one of the most fertile minds in the scene today and give him the opportunity to spend an extended amount of quality time with them Wilburn said.
In addition, Hanson is still able to visit his 40-acre farm in Northern California, where his son William still lives. Hanson has office hours at Pepperdine on Wednesdays and teaches on Thursday, which allows him the weekends to visit his farm.I write a lot these days writing research more than I ever have but I still like to work outdoors and do gardening and ride bicycles Hanson said.
He tends to his raisin grapes, which have guided him so faithfully, each weekend – a simple reminder of that in which he so strongly believes.