“Never
Forget." It’s a thoughtful phrase of solidarity that unites
us all in compassion, care, patriotism, and love. A phrase that has an impact
on Americans that makes us feel strong, brave, comforted in our shared grief
and perseverance. We are “One Nation, Under God” and forever we shall be.
But today it feels
inadequate. I live 30 minutes outside of Manhattan, 4 hours from our nation’s
capital, just over an hour from Pennsylvania and work within one of the largest
public institutions in our country. I was not met by a flag flying at
half-mast, the day did not begin with someone calling for a moment of silence
over the loud-speaker, there was no assembly, and social studies instruction
continued without mention of the most impactful social, political, and economic
event in our living history.
I look out at the 5th
graders who are helping me learn how to teach and I realize how much I care for
them even though I have known them for merely one week – even though I am their
student teacher and not even the adult in the room who is primarily responsible
for their learning and well-being. I don’t ever want them to feel what I did
this morning on my commute while listening to a radio tribute through which
people called in and told their stories of the day we will all “never forget.”
I want them to know what it feels like to be in tears for someone they do not
even know, because that shows that they posses an active capacity for caring and a heart
for our shared humanity, but I never want them to be in tears because they feel
overwhelmed by hatred that infiltrates without warning and takes root in the
deepest parts of their individual and shared identities.
This morning a woman from
New Jersey called into the radio program and recalled her trip to LA exactly one week
after 9/11. When a resident asked her where she was from and her response was “New
Jersey,” the person had nonchalantly asked, “Oh, so how was it?” How was it? “She had no clue,” the woman
remembered, “It was like it happened in a different world.” I never want my students to embody a disengaged
apathy with the suffering of humanity; of their fellow countrywomen and men
nonetheless.
Thirteen years ago they
were but a thought, yet three years later they were born into a post-9/11
America that was brave, united, courageous, and caring. They were born into a
nation that was strong and hopeful. I
want them to embody all of those things. I want them to know about the social
and political factors that resulted in our country growing stronger in all of
these traits because they need to know how to care for one another, they need
to know the collective pain that hatred of this magnitude, of any magnitude, causes
because ingrained with the knowledge of the past matched with their intellect,
unique abilities and perspective, and their resilient attitude of caring for
and holding one another up, they have power.
They must know that they
are not powerless.
The generations that came
before them have proved just that in their immediate response and in their collective,
sustained remembrance and unity. They need to follow our lead but they also need
to know that they have the power to take what they’ve learned from us and do
better. Be braver. Be more loving. They must know that they can prevent and stand against hatred. In small ways everyday,
they have the power to prevent evil and perpetuate peace. They have the power
to work toward a world that is more inclusive, just, and loving.
Because as Steven Pinker
is quoted on the back of my Chipotle bag, “We will never have a perfect world,
but it’s not romantic or naïve to work toward a better one.”
Because…
We the people
of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity…
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