A Way Out of Madness
Solar Systems
Solar Systems
We live in the same universe and share the same planet. Why can't we
live on it in peace?
Acrylic on Canvas/ 16" x 20"/ $ 299
A Way Out of Madness
People are concerned about how our country is going to heal the current
political divide before it leads to a full fledged civil war. If you
don't think that scenario is possible they say, look at Syria. It used
to be a vibrant country of 22 million that was considered a political
and military heavyweight in the region. It's rich history is both
complex and diverse. Before the war, it boasted bustling marketplaces
in Damascus and Aleppo with an innovative IT industry despite economic
sanctions imposed by the west. It was known for having a sophisticated
literary tradition, film industry, supermarkets and modern shopping
centers to go along with the old. Friends and family welcomed all who
knocked on their door. It was a melting pot of religion and
ethnicities, allowing for mixed marriages between Christians and
Muslims. Now it is in shambles. Are we headed in this direction? Is
this image from Syria a possibility for us?
Syria in Ruins
Syria in Ruins
A friend told me how upset she was because her conservative
brother-in-law made demeaning, nasty comments on Facebook about her
liberal leaning brother. She now understands how families, split over
political beliefs, were devastated by the Civil War. Hopefully this
will not happen for most people realize that war is not the way forward.
Wars benefit ammunition dealers, financiers and those hungry for power.
They rarely help citizens who are instead used as fodder. They kill
thousands of ordinary people, destroy homes, and leave families and
friends destitute and bitter. As with our own Civil War, some people
never heal and put the conflict behind them. PTSD and long lasting
grudges spill into future generations. Is war the training we want to
give our children?
Syrian training
Syrian Training
USA
USA Training
Who will stop the madness taking over America? It has to be tackled on
many fronts but I look to our children and challenge schools to cover
topics that will turn them into competent adults. Youth today view the
world differently than their elders. They are more accepting of
differences and better educated in environmental issues. However, the
quality of their schooling is not evenly distributed throughout the
country. Our job as adults is to change that trajectory and insure that
everyone receives a comprehensive education. Certain subjects have
tools hidden within that can help heal the nation and should to be
included in curriculums.
a) Let's start with bullying, a problem that makes young people afraid
to attend classes. According to Do Something, a global organization of
6 million youth making positive change, 3.2 million students are
victims of bullying each year. In the U.S., 1 in 4 students say they've
been bullied at school. Parents are coming together to change this
harmful situation making schools pay attention to harassment. My
grandson's school has an anti-bullying program that begins in
kindergarten and continues through twelfth grade. These types of
programs are spreading throughout the country. My hope is that
graduates will put a stop to the derogatory rhetoric that has invaded
the highest levels of government.
I was taught that "sticks and stones will break my bones but names will
never harm me." Unfortunately, that's not true. Labeling people
Horseface, Black Jackie, Pocahontas, Bimbo, and dumpy pundit, is not
hurtful, ugly and childish. With early indoctrination in kindness and
tolerance, the next generation may lead the country in more civilized
ways.
b) Another subject for inclusion is history, for it is not only a
presentation of facts from the past, but it is a search for
interpretation making it useful for today. To be insightful, history
has to be presented in honest, complete and unbiased ways. Textbooks
slanted towards the white race at the expense of other groups will not
heal the divide. Topics need to be included that are often glossed
over, such as the Indian Wars of the late 1800s, the growth and
suppression of labor unions and racially motivated immigration laws. By
hearing all sides of issues minds become open to understanding
divergent concerns. Studying the past enables youth to see why people
act the way they do. It helps identify where nations have gone wrong so
we can avoid their pitfalls.
c) It is important to learn how to search for truth, but even more
important is being inspired to want to do so. Encouraging curiosity is
a difficult task for educators. From an early age questioning should be
encouraged. There are negative consequences to society for complacency
and ignorance. If a parent or teacher does not have an answer then the
child should be challenged to discover what it is. What they learn and
experiences has to be discussed for full impact. There is no substitute
for talking to children and encouraging them to analyze what they are
reading. Deep explorations will prepare them to be thinkers and
intelligent voters.
d) With the exception of a few states, most students are introduced to
environmental issues around global warming. The teens I speak to are
knowledgeable and concerned, often more aware of the human influence on
climate change than older adults. It is important to understand the
scientific reasons for warming, but it is also useful to bring economic
factors into discussions, for they are the crux of the reason congress
is unwilling to act. To combat rising temperatures, w have to change
the way the live, eat and transport ourselves. Climate change a subject
that can not be glossed over if we want our children to flourish.
e) Identifying winners and losers, and debating pros and cons of
various economic, religious and political systems is challenging but
also interesting to young minds. Most youth I speak to love to
philosophize. If you want to have a lively discussion, choose to
explore the notion of "the common good," for it is at the base of
political and economic beliefs.
My neighbor said to me while we were riding exercise bicycles, " I
don't believe in the common good. I believe people should sink or swim
on their own merits. I started out dirt poor. I'm a self made man. It
wasn't easy, but I was determined. Anyone who works hard can do the
same. I probably will wind up living in a gated community."
This man of color pulled himself out of poverty. He is intelligent,
college educated, earned a pile of money that allowed him engage in
entrepreneurial ventures. Unfortunately, most people do not have his
skills nor the support that helped him become an NBA player. Thousands
fall through the cracks of poverty, poor schooling and parental
ignorance.
f) Lastly, public education has the potential of being the great
equalizer. But adults need to provide schools with resources and
teachers who are unafraid when students express concerns and think for
themselves. They need to hire educators to shown them how to find
information so they know when they're being duped by fake news.
Collecting and considering information is something curious people do.
image
Analysis made by my curious son Talik is worth studying
Education is under attack and we can not let that happen. The move to
use public money for private schooling through vouchers will only
exasperate the divide. Religious indoctrination doesn't belong in
public education. I would like to see integrated schools maintained,
marginal students given extra help, and pre-schools available for all
little ones. I hope we maintain school meals for the hungry, special
education for those with disabilities, and add programs for the gifted
and talented and vocationally minded. I see sound reasons for
subsidizing college tuitions and decreasing the space between haves and
have nots. Good schooling will allow our children to heal the social
divide and make America great again.
I'm not hopeful about our country right now. I don't like being
marginalized and told I'm not a true patriot. We are all Americans and
need to work together to maintain a democracy. If we don't have the
ability to join together an compromise, let's make sure our children
do. Let's give them the tools to govern rationally.
References:
Do Something web site. (2018) 11 Facts about Bullying. DoSomething.org
, retrieved from
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-bullying
Saleh,S. (2014) Five things you never knew about Syria before the war.
news.com.au. retrieved from
https://www.news.com.au/world/five-things-you-never-knew-about-syria-bef
ore-the-war/news-story/50aee87307f613edcd8505f7bce12d0b
Krueger, H., Hardiman, K., Kelly, C. (2015)Trump's most notable
insults. The Hill. retrieved from
https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/249102-trumps-most-notable-insults
Art is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.
Please comment on my blogsite .
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