Cultural literacy and Oak Ridge
In less than 24 hours, I experienced two events that illustrate some of things that people value in this community.
Tuesday evening’s staged reading of the one-act drama “Remembering Miss Meitner” at the American Museum of Science and Energy attracted a diverse crowd. We came to see some accomplished local actors tell a story that is fascinating to many Oak Ridgers, but would get little attention in most other places. Lise Meitner was one of the most brilliant physicists of her generation and had a central role in the discovery of fission, but was denied the recognition she deserved for reasons of politics (her family was Jewish and the Nazis controlled Germany) and strong male egos (she was a woman). I knew the story only in very broad outline, so I learned some science and history, while enjoying some fine performances. Few communities offer so many rich opportunities for people who appreciate science and the arts.
Next, the featured speaker at Wednesday’s Literacy Luncheon, Mim Eichler Rivas, told about the interesting directions her life has taken — as an increasingly successful author, co-author, and ghostwriter — following her formative years in Oak Ridge (where she grew up the daughter of a physicist who had a strong interest in film and drama). Several times in her talk she remarked about Oak Ridgers of her generation who are achieving a diverse variety of worthwhile things and explain it by saying “we’re from Oak Ridge — it’s what we are supposed to do.” I wish that every child could go out into the world with the same special sense of self-confidence, personal worth, and duty to serve that she described. I’m not sure that today’s local kids feel quite as special as her generation did. However, by raising funds for adult and child literacy programs in the local area, the sponsors of the Oak Ridge Literacy Luncheon (Altrusa International of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, with support from many other local businesses and organizations) aim to help as many people as possible to live full and productive lives.
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