The Future of "American" Is Up To Us

Published on Monday, July 09, 2018
by People's Action Blog & CommonDreams.org

Many of our nation’s best moments have been when we heeded the call to stand down hatred and racism. Now should be one of those times.
by George Goehl

The Future of "American" Is Up To Us

We should be skeptical of the motivation and messengers behind calls for civility.

We hear people say that what is happening to migrants in the United States right now is un-American. I wish that were true. Sadly, American history is full of periods where children of color were routinely taken from their parents. Resistance and organizing, on the other hand, are truly American. In fact, many of our nation’s best moments have been when we heeded the call to stand down hatred and racism.

The Trump Administration has been off the rails since day one. But Donald Trump’s zero tolerance policy of arresting and detaining families seeking asylum in the US is a new kind of off the rails. History tells us in crises like these, if we do not stand up together in mass and say — no, yell: ‘this has to stop!’ — it will undoubtedly be a long and ugly haul to get back on track.

From the genocide of Native Americans to Slavery to Japanese internment camps, there is a well-documented history of forced separation, detention, and enslavement of people of color in the United States. Wreaking irreparable harm to indigenous, African-American, Asian-American, Latinx children is, sadly, a through-line in the American story.

But that does not have to be the America we are building. The future of “American” is up to us.

The America many of us want to build is one where all people have what we need to reach our highest human potential. An America that takes care of who is here now, has addressed sins of the past, and is welcoming of those to come. This would be an America that more fully lives up to the ideals of a beacon of democracy and land of opportunity.

As we create the tension needed to strive toward these ideals, there will be calls for civility. Merriam Webster dictionary describes “civil” as “ adequate in courtesy and politeness”. One of my organizing mentors, Shel Trap, said the “be nice rule” was really the “be nice to those in power rule.” It tells us to go through the formal channels to have your concerns addressed. Stand in line to file your complaint, submit your grievance in writing, wait patiently for the conclusions of the committee created to study the problem. Channels that were designed to wear down dissent and enforce subordination.

It’s easy to call for civility when you are doling out inhumane policy under the cloak of the law. I doubt the power structures that sought to enforce segregation, bust unions, or restrict voting rights would call the actions on the part of the movements that countered them “civil”. Count me among the thankful that these movements resisted such calls. This history of resistance continued last Saturday as 780 Families Belong Together marches and rallies were organized, and dozens more that led to protestors being arrested. Clearly millions of Americans find the President’s zero tolerance policy to be anything but civil and are responding accordingly.

The news of the day can be demoralizing and sap energy and hope from each of us: the Supreme Court upholding the Muslim Ban, the killing of Antwon Rose by a police officer, family separation at the border, Justice Kennedy’s retirement. Each another punch in the gut.

Before his execution, the labor organizer and songster Joe Hill famously said, “don’t mourn, but organize”. I think it’s ok to mourn. It’s human and we will fall apart without acknowledging the pain and disappointment we are experiencing. Some of us may need to rest and sit one out. At the same time others can say put me in coach, I’m ready to march. To risk arrest. To organize to elect candidates who want to create a country where when egregious events happen we can truly say “this is un-American”. And it will actually be true.

Thanks Liberals

Thank your local Liberals who really did make America great, not just for a few, but for all.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Need to brush up on your Declaration of Independence before Tomorrow's festivities? Watch a great (and moving) video of celebrities dramatically reading one of the greatest documents ever written. WHAT could be more American?



Tip of the hat to my good friend John McCarthy for this post

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/4/12: Celebrating the Summer Olympics and Paralympics

President Obama congratulates all of the American athletes competing in the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. These men and women have inspired us all with their hard work, determination, and their indomitable spirit as they present the best of America to the rest of the world. The President tells our Olympic and Paralympic competitors that the American people could not be prouder of them, and thanks them for reminding us that we are one people, and by working together we can achieve great things.

Quote of the Day: Further Evidence of Bush's Arrogance & Ignorance

"So what?"

-- President Bush, when told by Martha Raddatz that al Qaeda is only in Iraq as a result of the American invasion. Bush was trying to use al Qaeda's presence in the country as justification for the invasion and continuing occupation.

-Political Wire

Statement: Statement of Former President Bill Clinton on the Nomination of Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State

December 01, 2008 | New York | Bill Clinton | Statements

As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be Secretary of State and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud.
She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities.
She has already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the empowerment of women through access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. And Americans know, from her leadership in the Senate on national security, that she will always put the security, values and the interests of our people first.
In her service to the people of New York and our nation, Hillary has demonstrated the knowledge, passion, resilience, and capacity to learn that our country needs at this critical time. She loves being a Senator from New York, but as she has in all the thirty-seven years I've known her, she answered the call to serve. I commend President-Elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served.

The Night Old Dixie Died and a New Generation Was Born

The Hill's Pundits Blog - Brent Budowsky

It was a moment for the ages and the night Old Dixie died, when the trumpet sounded and a president like Caroline Kennedy's father came. In terms of race relations and America being a community of diverse people from countless backgrounds working together for the common good, it was the most important night since the Emancipation Proclamation.

It was the night Old Dixie died, when those who were whipped and beaten can have a president of their own, and we will have a president of our own. It was a night for the realignment of generations, as people age 18 to 30 have a president of their own, and just as profoundly, kids too young to vote in 2008 will have a president of their own. As they get older, they will change the demographics of our democracy for a generation, to the advantage of Democrats.

It was a night when the last became first and the first became last, when the small donors and hard workers and grassroots who were so alienated and maligned found a president of their own and made it happen. It was a night when the old and tired and corrupt told us that the Bradley effect would prevail and the American people left them behind, once and for all, now and forever.

It was a night for the ages, a night for the generations, a night for the historians. A night for the people and a night to begin the future.

It was the night Old Dixie died and the night a new generation was born, and from this night forward, every mom and every dad can tell every little boy and every little girl that anywhere in America anything can happen and anyone can rise as far as their talent and hard work will take them.

What a great country!

What the Next President Inherits

What could be more important than the upcoming election? What the next president actually does once elected. While a feverish media dissects Palins wardrobe and plumbs Joe Wurzelbachers biography, real challenges for America are piling up. Domestic struggles over marriage and abortion rights will define who we are, and our response to global conflicts and crises will define our place in the world. The end of the campaigning is just the beginning.