Time for the Re-education of America

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Abstract

American ideals in ways to improve the country in the long term, such as:<ul><li>Address dangerous white angst. The white population is shrinking faster than expected, according to the 2020 Census. Among a vocal minority, a sense of victimhood stews in a broth of conspiracy theories, racial hatred, embrace of violence and a hostility toward government. As this nation has done with other racial groups, the Biden administration should convene experts in sociology, psychology, religion and economics to address root causes, determine strategies to curb this cancer’s spread.</li><li>Teach students how the online business works. Young people know how to use the Internet. What they don’t know is how the Internet uses them and how other countries use it to sow discord here. A few sessions in a junior high math or science class could explain algorithms, as well as issues of privacy and civility. Even just showing documentaries, such as <a href="https://www.thesocialdilemma.com">“The Social Dilemma,”</a> would help. Understanding how and why information is channeled to users would help students recognize conspiratorial rabbit holes. And they could help their parents.</li><li>Teach a detailed history of U.S. immigration. At least one high-school course should focus on how this country was shaped by waves of people from all over the world. It should explain their histories, the challenges they faced, how they acclimated and yet helped shape the national culture. Instead of viewing people as “the other,” young people wo

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uld understand that everyone is part of the whole.</li><li>Set up a broad civilian corps for young adults. The Biden administration’s budget includes money for a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/05/11/993976948/reaching-back-to-the-new-deal-biden-proposes-a-civilian-climate-corps">Civilian Conservation Corps </a>to hire about 20,000 young people to protect the environment and fight climate change. That concept should be expanded. Require some public service in exchange for proposed free community college or vocational training. Also, the current push to forgive college loans should include an obligation of community service.</li><li>Create an annual recognition of community leaders. President H. W. Bush’s “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Points_of_Light">Points of Light”</a> tribute honored people around the country who made a difference where they lived. Despite criticism of the spending by the foundation that ran the program, the spotlight on average citizens was appreciated. Something similar could be part of the nation’s Fourth of July celebration. It would highlight two key principles: that anyone can make a difference and that there is value in building community.</li></ul>The United States will never be a nation where citizens walk in lockstep. In fact, it was set up with different power centers that understandably conflict. But especially in this time of worry and discord, we should find ways to remind ourselves that we are all Americans. And we have some healing to do.</article></body>

Focus on common good, civil service, appreciation of diversity

A mention in a recent news story underscored the self-destructiveness brewing in the United States: A parent who objected to having school children wear masks to fight the pandemic got so angry she snatched the mask off a teacher’s face.

So, while insisting on her personal right to ignore the safety of all children, she refused the teacher’s right to protect her own safety. That is the type of hostile individualism that some now mistake as a constitutional right.

There’s a lot of twisted thinking right now about who has what rights, the priority of the common good, exactly what democracy is and whether it’s worth keeping. Painful political battles are under way to sort some of it out. Law enforcement and the courts are trying to draw a line against violence. And businesses and governments are issuing mandates for public health.

But there are also quieter actions that could reinforce American ideals in ways to improve the country in the long term, such as:

Address dangerous white angst. The white population is shrinking faster than expected, according to the 2020 Census. Among a vocal minority, a sense of victimhood stews in a broth of conspiracy theories, racial hatred, embrace of violence and a hostility toward government. As this nation has done with other racial groups, the Biden administration should convene experts in sociology, psychology, religion and economics to address root causes, determine strategies to curb this cancer’s spread.

Teach students how the online business works. Young people know how to use the Internet. What they don’t know is how the Internet uses them and how other countries use it to sow discord here. A few sessions in a junior high math or science class could explain algorithms, as well as issues of privacy and civility. Even just showing documentaries, such as “The Social Dilemma,” would help. Understanding how and why information is channeled to users would help students recognize conspiratorial rabbit holes. And they could help their parents.

Teach a detailed history of U.S. immigration. At least one high-school course should focus on how this country was shaped by waves of people from all over the world. It should explain their histories, the challenges they faced, how they acclimated and yet helped shape the national culture. Instead of viewing people as “the other,” young people would understand that everyone is part of the whole.

Set up a broad civilian corps for young adults. The Biden administration’s budget includes money for a Civilian Conservation Corps to hire about 20,000 young people to protect the environment and fight climate change. That concept should be expanded. Require some public service in exchange for proposed free community college or vocational training. Also, the current push to forgive college loans should include an obligation of community service.

Create an annual recognition of community leaders. President H. W. Bush’s “Points of Light” tribute honored people around the country who made a difference where they lived. Despite criticism of the spending by the foundation that ran the program, the spotlight on average citizens was appreciated. Something similar could be part of the nation’s Fourth of July celebration. It would highlight two key principles: that anyone can make a difference and that there is value in building community.

The United States will never be a nation where citizens walk in lockstep. In fact, it was set up with different power centers that understandably conflict. But especially in this time of worry and discord, we should find ways to remind ourselves that we are all Americans. And we have some healing to do.