Actually, it is who we are

 Actually, it is who we are.

 

After every event of egregious violence, whether it is the recent attack on our Nation’s Capitol, the rampage in Charlottesville championing White supremacy, or the looting and store burning when the Black Lives Matter marches get out of hand… someone will write a column or give a speech proclaiming that this is not who we are.  Well in point of fact- it is exactly who we are.  Every one of those instances of extreme, unacceptable behaviors were committed by Americans and that is who we are.  More people are incarcerated in the United States than in any other western democracy.  We have more guns than any other western democracy.  Sadly, violence from the very beginning of our nation found a happy home on our shores.

In many ways, ours is a double-edged sword.  One the one hand, we are more religious but less organized, less class-conscious, and more libertarian than our western democratic counterparts.  On the other hand, we are more violent and more indifferent to economic inequality.  We are among the most charitable of all people and often resentful of government assistance to those most in need.  As the King says in the King and I, “’tis a puzzlement”.

What can we do about this for our children.?  First of all, we must conquer the racial divide.  The United States is no longer majority white.   Latinos are the largest minority group.  It is confusing as to the traits white supremacy folks believe makes them supreme?   Based on their behaviors, it is certainly not intelligence, reasoning ability or problem solving.  Is it just that they think peach is a better color than black, brown, yellow or red?  Makes no sense.

The United States is exceptional even though we mess up mightily on a regular basis.  The fact remains that we are the longest existing democracy that still clings to the rule of law.  The 46^th President of the United States was inaugurated in a peaceful process that included many of the pre-pandemic traditions.  The inauguration happened even if Washington, D.C. was guarded by national guard troops and the insurrectionists got that they shouldn’t show up.  

Our children do not know these facts.   The news media binges on all the negative.  They grab defeat from the jaws of victory every time.  Evidently bad news sells better than the good stuff.

As educators we must teach our kids enough history and civics so they can be stalwarts against the misinformation and partial information that is proliferating.  Amanda Gorman, the very young poet laureate who read her poem at the January inauguration reminded us, “there is always light if only we are brave enough to see it.  If only we are brave enough to be it.”   We must teach our children to both see the light and be the light for the next generation.