Great article, it's funny I started school in the 50's, high school grad '71. We were taught all those "ugly" things about America then. I hear people saying our history wasn't taught honestly then, but I remember a lot about the negative parts we were taught. We spent a whole year in 3rd grade studying the history of the relationship of our town to the Indians we conquered to live there, the whole bloody mess. That was 1965.
It's like the left suddenly decided nothing had ever been done about racism in 2020, nothing had ever been taught about it, and now protesting young people were going to straighten us all out. I wonder if future history classes will teach about the brutality of the current protest movements and how off base they were. I will be pushing for that.
The truth from a person who has the right perspective and education. We learned about the greatness and atrocities, maybe not in great detail because the volume of historically significant events is massive, but in sufficient detail to understand that our nation has had moral failings, but we are the ones who first overcame them. Well written and spot on.
We also learned all of those things in the 1980s and 1990s. It's strange when I hear people say we weren't taught history. We were. I haven't been in school for a while, so when did they stop teaching these things. Being from Mississippi, you would think we would be behind in teaching the bad with the good, but we always did until...? Or, maybe we still do, just not in an us vs them way. I agree with your article 100%.
Preach it, brotha! Yes. This is dead on point. So true. We can ‘walk and chew gum’ as Dems like to say, at the same time. America is profoundly flawed and imperfect, yet it is simultaneously a wondrous beacon of democratic glory. The far-right view that criticizing our nation is unpatriotic is ridiculous; that said, so is CRT. The idea that CRT is the antidote to far-right historical extremism is patently absurd. Consider the so-called 1619 Project. Prominent historians have pointed out the obvious historical holes in this ideology. I think we have, can and should teach American history from all sides in all its glorious, nasty complexity. Slavery, for example, historically-speaking, was horrific yet incredibly common; Africa itself was doing it (Africans enslaving other Africans) before, during and after the West ended the disgusting institution. We fought a brutally bloody civil war to end it. Much has changed for the better. We aren’t perfect. In some ways we can still improve. But c’mon. Middle ground, people; between the two extremes is the solution. And that’s where most Americans stand. Gordon Wood’s ‘Power and Liberty’ and James M. McPherson’s ‘Battle Cry for Freedom; The Civil War Era’ are recommended reading in this vein. Honest, in-depth, not extreme or ideological, and from the center-left POV.
This article is wonderful and reminded me of when I was a grad student in Astronomy. It was trendy for certain academic circles to "Take Science Down a Notch" pointing out flaws, etc. Once, a prof overheard us talking about this and said something powerful:
Science is done by humans and is influenced by human nature. However, when you compare the scientific endeavor with other human endeavors, it is far from the worst thing humans have done and, in fact, it looks pretty special in comparison.
I apply that to the United States of America - it was founded and run by humans and is influenced by human nature. However, when you compare the USA against other nations, it is far from the worst country humans have founded and it looks pretty special in comparison.
Too many in Academia today compare America against some ideal that has never existed and seemingly delight in finding ways it comes up short. They never judge America in the context of a nation of flawed humans trying to do the best they can. They hold America to a standard that no group (including Academia itself) could ever live up to.
When I meet these folks I challenge them: "If America is that bad, there must be dozens of nations that are more socially equitable - nations we can emulate. Can you list ten of them?"
Why do we fail to educate and teach kids and everyone about our rich diverse history that built America and that it would not exist without the people of all races and ethnic backgrounds that played important and at times lifesaving roles for our early leaders?
Why do schools not celebrate and teach about Gen. Richard Cavazos, James Armistead Lafayette, the Oneida Tribe, the 333rd Artillery Battalion, the Chinese Railroad, and the varied ethnic backgrounds of the Union Soldiers that died and so very much more? Our history is filled with people of all races, ethnic, and religious differences that came together and made America. Teaching American History should be easy to show people of all races that they are part of what was built.
Yet the Liberals of today bear no resemblance to those Founding Fathers. Analyzing the past from today’s prism is not only unfair, but it also borders on the ignorant. Liberals today do not seek to educate; they seek to destroy and rebuild in their image and only their image. They simply are a plague of people who would never fight to retain what America has built.
They are great on ideas and then patting themselves on the back and never looking back at the results. BLM and all the money raised. How much got to those who needed it? ANTIFIA that destroys the infrastructure where the poorest live. Defund the police that raises the crime rate for the poorest. Closing schools, remote learning, and dumbing down education. Who pays, the poorest students who will never catch up? Put illegals in hotels with money and support, but let the homeless sleep on the sidewalk, go hungry, and no medical help. Solar panels great, ignore the tons of them in dumps leaking toxins, along with the wind blades that never decay. Fossil fuel bad, but infrastructure bill so great. Needs fossil fuel equipment and asphalt comes from what?
What is their answer? Trump did it and it’s from his watch, not Slow Joe Brandon’s and their destructive ideas. Trump was by no means perfect, but he had a lot of good policies. Where are the good policies today?
Sorry, but today’s Liberals are destroyers, hateful of others, and not futuristic builders.
I am homeschooling my sons, and part of what I'd like to do with their studies is to remember the virtuous as well as the less than ideal aspects of American History and culture. Indeed, our constitution and restrained federalism seemed to be the only things keeping at least certain parts of our country free over the last few years, versus many other "first world" nations. Anyways, is there a curriculum you would recommend? Both high school and for younger kids. Thanks !
From local food banks and community outreach programs to nonprofit organizations and government assistance programs, these initiatives strive to make the holiday season a little brighter for those in need. https://christmasassistancehelp.com/
Thomas Jefferson living in an age of pseudoscience that justifies slavery... And again we are in an age that also uses bad science / pseudo-scientific and philosophical ideas that justify oppression and unequal treatment. (now focused on skin color, sex, and sexual orientation - and discriminating based on...) The sooner Critical thinking and knowledge of fallacies become standard in school the better. (This was the education of the classics. - As kings were educated.)
What to think and not how - is the education of a follower of the next poor idea. and not interested in allowing individuals to become truly free.
It should be as you point out, but it isn't. The modern liberal mind is more interested in destruction rather than thankful that they are where they are, though getting here had plenty of bumps. It's the bumps that they fixate on while at the same time ignoring, or not divulging, the bumps they will inflict if there's no counter to what they desire.
Great article, it's funny I started school in the 50's, high school grad '71. We were taught all those "ugly" things about America then. I hear people saying our history wasn't taught honestly then, but I remember a lot about the negative parts we were taught. We spent a whole year in 3rd grade studying the history of the relationship of our town to the Indians we conquered to live there, the whole bloody mess. That was 1965.
It's like the left suddenly decided nothing had ever been done about racism in 2020, nothing had ever been taught about it, and now protesting young people were going to straighten us all out. I wonder if future history classes will teach about the brutality of the current protest movements and how off base they were. I will be pushing for that.
The truth from a person who has the right perspective and education. We learned about the greatness and atrocities, maybe not in great detail because the volume of historically significant events is massive, but in sufficient detail to understand that our nation has had moral failings, but we are the ones who first overcame them. Well written and spot on.
We also learned all of those things in the 1980s and 1990s. It's strange when I hear people say we weren't taught history. We were. I haven't been in school for a while, so when did they stop teaching these things. Being from Mississippi, you would think we would be behind in teaching the bad with the good, but we always did until...? Or, maybe we still do, just not in an us vs them way. I agree with your article 100%.
Preach it, brotha! Yes. This is dead on point. So true. We can ‘walk and chew gum’ as Dems like to say, at the same time. America is profoundly flawed and imperfect, yet it is simultaneously a wondrous beacon of democratic glory. The far-right view that criticizing our nation is unpatriotic is ridiculous; that said, so is CRT. The idea that CRT is the antidote to far-right historical extremism is patently absurd. Consider the so-called 1619 Project. Prominent historians have pointed out the obvious historical holes in this ideology. I think we have, can and should teach American history from all sides in all its glorious, nasty complexity. Slavery, for example, historically-speaking, was horrific yet incredibly common; Africa itself was doing it (Africans enslaving other Africans) before, during and after the West ended the disgusting institution. We fought a brutally bloody civil war to end it. Much has changed for the better. We aren’t perfect. In some ways we can still improve. But c’mon. Middle ground, people; between the two extremes is the solution. And that’s where most Americans stand. Gordon Wood’s ‘Power and Liberty’ and James M. McPherson’s ‘Battle Cry for Freedom; The Civil War Era’ are recommended reading in this vein. Honest, in-depth, not extreme or ideological, and from the center-left POV.
Michael Mohr
Sincere American Writing
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Amen! Perfectly articulated.
Thank you for this very thoughtful, balanced essay on how history can and should be taught. Ideas, not ideology.
This article is wonderful and reminded me of when I was a grad student in Astronomy. It was trendy for certain academic circles to "Take Science Down a Notch" pointing out flaws, etc. Once, a prof overheard us talking about this and said something powerful:
Science is done by humans and is influenced by human nature. However, when you compare the scientific endeavor with other human endeavors, it is far from the worst thing humans have done and, in fact, it looks pretty special in comparison.
I apply that to the United States of America - it was founded and run by humans and is influenced by human nature. However, when you compare the USA against other nations, it is far from the worst country humans have founded and it looks pretty special in comparison.
Too many in Academia today compare America against some ideal that has never existed and seemingly delight in finding ways it comes up short. They never judge America in the context of a nation of flawed humans trying to do the best they can. They hold America to a standard that no group (including Academia itself) could ever live up to.
When I meet these folks I challenge them: "If America is that bad, there must be dozens of nations that are more socially equitable - nations we can emulate. Can you list ten of them?"
Jeffery, a great read and well done.
Why do we fail to educate and teach kids and everyone about our rich diverse history that built America and that it would not exist without the people of all races and ethnic backgrounds that played important and at times lifesaving roles for our early leaders?
Why do schools not celebrate and teach about Gen. Richard Cavazos, James Armistead Lafayette, the Oneida Tribe, the 333rd Artillery Battalion, the Chinese Railroad, and the varied ethnic backgrounds of the Union Soldiers that died and so very much more? Our history is filled with people of all races, ethnic, and religious differences that came together and made America. Teaching American History should be easy to show people of all races that they are part of what was built.
Yet the Liberals of today bear no resemblance to those Founding Fathers. Analyzing the past from today’s prism is not only unfair, but it also borders on the ignorant. Liberals today do not seek to educate; they seek to destroy and rebuild in their image and only their image. They simply are a plague of people who would never fight to retain what America has built.
They are great on ideas and then patting themselves on the back and never looking back at the results. BLM and all the money raised. How much got to those who needed it? ANTIFIA that destroys the infrastructure where the poorest live. Defund the police that raises the crime rate for the poorest. Closing schools, remote learning, and dumbing down education. Who pays, the poorest students who will never catch up? Put illegals in hotels with money and support, but let the homeless sleep on the sidewalk, go hungry, and no medical help. Solar panels great, ignore the tons of them in dumps leaking toxins, along with the wind blades that never decay. Fossil fuel bad, but infrastructure bill so great. Needs fossil fuel equipment and asphalt comes from what?
What is their answer? Trump did it and it’s from his watch, not Slow Joe Brandon’s and their destructive ideas. Trump was by no means perfect, but he had a lot of good policies. Where are the good policies today?
Sorry, but today’s Liberals are destroyers, hateful of others, and not futuristic builders.
Im Canadian and thoroughly enjoyed this piece. It applies to us all.
Excellent piece. Thank you for this.
I am homeschooling my sons, and part of what I'd like to do with their studies is to remember the virtuous as well as the less than ideal aspects of American History and culture. Indeed, our constitution and restrained federalism seemed to be the only things keeping at least certain parts of our country free over the last few years, versus many other "first world" nations. Anyways, is there a curriculum you would recommend? Both high school and for younger kids. Thanks !
From local food banks and community outreach programs to nonprofit organizations and government assistance programs, these initiatives strive to make the holiday season a little brighter for those in need. https://christmasassistancehelp.com/
A Plea To My Posterity
When gazing back through mists of time
And you feel grateful for what I’ve left behind
Don’t turn a blind eye to the wrongs you find
Think me not a proud deceitful man
Who sits content in shadow lands
Honor the good that I hope you’ll see
But do not defend what new light dispels
For the deepest yearning of my heart
Is to embrace the whole, not just a part
So if it’s on my shoulders that you now stand
With greater sight to navigate this fallen land
Take note of what to me was hidden
That kept me from a grander vision
Turn your heart to me my child
Integrate the past with present
Do your part to reconcile
Redeem my wrongs by doing better
This is how you’ll honor me.
This is how you set us free.
Thomas Jefferson living in an age of pseudoscience that justifies slavery... And again we are in an age that also uses bad science / pseudo-scientific and philosophical ideas that justify oppression and unequal treatment. (now focused on skin color, sex, and sexual orientation - and discriminating based on...) The sooner Critical thinking and knowledge of fallacies become standard in school the better. (This was the education of the classics. - As kings were educated.)
What to think and not how - is the education of a follower of the next poor idea. and not interested in allowing individuals to become truly free.
It should be as you point out, but it isn't. The modern liberal mind is more interested in destruction rather than thankful that they are where they are, though getting here had plenty of bumps. It's the bumps that they fixate on while at the same time ignoring, or not divulging, the bumps they will inflict if there's no counter to what they desire.
One of the best explanations I've read sanctioning my decision to leave the D/R universe for small "L" libertarianism.