To the Editor:
Together we can
Thomas Jefferson said, “A nation that expects to be both ignorant and free expects what never was and never will be.” Most Americans, of whatever background, race, status, or culture, value education for our children, an education based on facts, because we know those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.
We also understand that dictators and autocratic governments control the press and suppress other means of accessing accurate information: jailing protesters and shutting down presses.
Such suppression is starting here in Ohio with attempts by the Ohio House to whitewash history in our schools. A handful of legislators and candidates for offices claim that the truth about the Holocaust and slavery will make children feel bad about themselves and should therefore not be taught. There are bills in the Ohio House right now saying textbooks should be impartial, telling both sides of slavery and the Holocaust. Are they saying there’s a good side to exterminating Jews and millions of others? A good side of slavery? Of course not all owners were cruel, but they still owned people, broke up families, banned reading. They also got rich and did not share the wealth created by their slaves with their slaves. Many restrictions to keep descendants of slaves from gaining an economic foothold allowing them to advance in education, jobs, housing, and more are still in effect.
Suppression of truth certainly hurts children of color, but it also hurts my children and yours if we don’t have a clue about what African Americans and Jews have been through. We teach the truth not to make children feel guilty. They are not responsible. Instead, children are likely to feel empathy, something sadly lacking in many Americans today. It is this empathy and knowledge our children and grandchildren can use to make America even truer to its goals of liberty and justice for all.
We can join together to urge our leaders to eliminate obstacles, like voter suppression. We can elect people who believe in democracy and equal rights. We can welcome the diversity that enriches our culture, our talent pool, our world.
Jill Grubb
Gambier
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