Sarah Lawrence, With Guns
We asked a former West Point professor about teaching literature at the nation’s most prestigious military academy. What he told us revealed the truth behind the country’s most elite warrior caste — and how liberal heroes like Thoreau and the Beats inspire the next generation of “Runaway Generals.”
Greg, a tall, lanky, and unusually thoughtful cadet, waited for me after class. While most West Point “plebes” (first-year students) ran out at the end of the fifty-five minute period, Greg almost always lingered, wanting to further parse this or that novel, play, or poem.
He regularly and passionately participated in class discussions while large groups of the cadets dozed. He took unpopular positions when I ventured into controversial territory and sought me out for “A. I.” — additional instruction — whenever he wanted to discuss something above and beyond the curriculum.
But Greg was unusually silent that day during a debate about the value of “literature” and interpretation for our future military officers.
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