Another Perspective

 January 6, 2021 has become a date associated with a national tragedy. Once again, the nation is restless suffering from unnecessary trauma under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump. At some point during a long day, the entire world watched what was unfolding in the streets of our nation’s capital. What they saw can only be described as disgraceful.

The very people who champion liberty and freedom worldwide were denying it within their own nation. They were symbolically trying to overthrow their government. Some protestors became violent and destructive. Some carried weapons and later explosives were found. They entered the Capitol, occupied the offices of members of Congress, and took items as souvenirs. It was the most un-American action of a group trying to make America Great Again!

The instigators of the protests and the subsequent mobs are not unknown to the authorities. Their tweets and words, mainly lies and misstatements, were able to rile up thousands at a planned rally to do damage at a symbol of American democracy. Worse still was the fact that the protesters entered the halls of government carrying flags brandishing the name of the president of the United States and carrying the flags of the Confederacy. This protest largely disavowed all that Civil Rights advocates had championed during the spring and summer of 2020. The protesters turned a Pro-Trump rally supporting his claims of a stolen election into a repeat of the events of Charlottesville. Fox News, Newmax and other outlets had the audacity to claim that antifascists infiltrated the protests and they were the ones who incited the riot and waves of destruction at the Capitol. (In this case there were not good people on both sides. Some were angry and believed they were fighting injustices, but what they were doing was wrong and illegal.)

Most Americans are angry about these events but where do we go from here?  Do we outlaw protesting? No, it is a right of Americans to speak their minds. However, I do see a difference between this event and the BLM protests of the past year. Foremost, the BLM protests were based on acts of police brutality and social injustice. There were real people and people were in the streets because others had been killed.  Do we remove the president from office?  No, I believe he should complete his term. However, I do not believe he is not above the law and that he might be subject to future prosecution. Do we call out people as insurrectionists? Although it fits the description, I’m not sure that this is a wise course of action. However, I think something is in order – that we tell the entire truth! Let's do it in an open forum. I would love to have a teach-in with my colleagues!

As educators what responsibilities do we have in accurately explaining this story without bias? Obviously, I have a degree of bias because I am disappointed with the actions of the crowds and because I have expressed my opinion on the matter. But what should teachers tell their students now or in the future? 

K-20 educational periodicals are addressing student trauma, faculty shock and horror, and the ways in which educators will need to explain this chapter of America’s history to a generation of young people.  Their conclusions suggest that this will not be easy. Emma Whitford’s “The Worst Day for American Democracy in my Lifetime” is a summary of the reaction of college presidents to the events at the Capitol. Many university and college administrators felt compelled to send emails to concerned students and staff. The majority of these statements focus on the loss of democratic traditions and the need to protect democracy. I do see far more issues at hand. Social media has raised some of them including notions of race and class, issues of national security, the lack of preparedness, and the lack of arrests. 

As academics, such events tend to encourage us to speak out, to talk to our students and sometimes to write opinion pieces. There are dangers in doing all of these things, but they come with the responsibilities of being educators. The classrooms of America's colleges are the laboratories for solving problems. Our students are the best solutions to heal our nation!