File #999: "Mosaic_Spring2008_19.jpg"
Description
A Renewal of American Pride
Bess Ponder
America is the greatest nation on this planet. We are the world leader in many areas. A nation that is admired by most, yet found con- temptible by many others. I am not speaking of other nations. I am speaking of our own citizens. We are a nation torn, but not by the con- flict in Iraq. America is torn by a lack of pride. We have become a self- centered, “makes me feel good," and "don't hurt my feelings" society. Just as with any puzzle, there are many pieces that make up the big pic- ture, but the decline in American pride began with several things, in- cluding: stopping the draft, the decline of American history and civics classes in our educational systems, and the feminist movement to re- move fathers from American homes. Our government may never imple- ment the draft again and the divorce rate may never decrease. We may find the answer within Senator Lamar Alexander's American History and Civics Education Act of 2004. As Senator Alexander said in his speech on the Senate floor, "It is time to put the teaching of American history and civics bock in its rightful place in our schools so our chil- dren can grow up learning what it means to be an American.'
There seems to be three types of Americans: pride filled and involved, arrogant and self-absorbed, or lost and confused. One can find these Americans in all walks of life. America gives all citizens the right to be any of the three, but most citizens would like to be pride filled and involved, but they just need the tools to become so. The above men- tioned law intercedes for the next generation. It may well be the catalyst for creating pride-filled Americans. How can we expect the next gen- erations to foster pride in ideals if they have no experience or historical knowledge? "National exams show that three-quarters of our fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders are not proficient in civics knowledge, and one-third do not even have basic knowledge, making them civics illiter- ates" (Alexander). Civic responsibility has gone the by the wayside for so many Americans. Where there once was organizational involvement and community pride, many now believe that our only civil duty is to vote and pay taxes. Our once great fraternal brotherhoods which gave so much to local communities have become more social nightclubs than civil minded organizations.
My father served in WWII and my brother in Vietnam. These things are part of our family history. My mother read history and we talked about history, politics, and life. I took American history in highschool. My husband served three years in the Army. I've learned his- tory from all these people. My father told me stories of battles in Italy, Germany, and of malaria in Africa. I learned that Vietnam did things to brother that we will never know because he hasn't said one word my about it even after forty years. My husband has taught me the most about history because the television has been on the History Channel for twenty-five years. History starts at home with the telling of stories of the family. One doesn't have to know the whole lineage of our coun- try, but it is important to cultivate an interest beyond the concept of oneself. Once there is a spark of interest, one can move into community awareness and history. We had state history when I was in elementary school. We created a notebook made of construction paper and bound with yarn. I remember the pride of bringing home that notebook. I was praised as if I had written a New York Times best seller. I was in the second grade, and was hooked on history. I had Joel Hastings for American History in high school, and he was a great teacher because he made the class so enjoyable. I remember he asked me once how I knew the answers to some of the questions he had asked that were not from the book. I didn't know at the time, but now know that I had been ex- posed to history my whole life. I was as most children a sponge soaking up my environment.
I am a pride-filled American. I love my country, but I have been neglectful in keeping up with my history. I've gone back to col- lege and have been reawakened to the joys of history. I lost my parents in 1983, and it seemed my personal history stopped. I threw myself into being mother and wife. Life and its struggles become decades and al- most twenty years passed. Then on September 11, 2001, I was awakened as were many Americans. I didn't see it coming. I know everyone says that, but I mean I really didn't see it coming. I hadn't watched the news in years. It depressed me. If it was something I needed to know, I counted on my husband to tell me. I was registered to vote, but for those last few years, unless it was for President, I would call my hus- band and say, 'Okay now who do I vote for in the Senate and House?" He would always say vote for the issues, but I didn't know the issues. I was too busy cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and working an out- side job. I trusted him; his issues were my issues. When those towers fell so did the scales from my eyes. This is America. My grandfather, father, uncles, brother, and husband had all served for my right to be free and have choices. I believe they served for a greater good. They served so I could take up the cause for the lost and confused to help
Bess Ponder
America is the greatest nation on this planet. We are the world leader in many areas. A nation that is admired by most, yet found con- temptible by many others. I am not speaking of other nations. I am speaking of our own citizens. We are a nation torn, but not by the con- flict in Iraq. America is torn by a lack of pride. We have become a self- centered, “makes me feel good," and "don't hurt my feelings" society. Just as with any puzzle, there are many pieces that make up the big pic- ture, but the decline in American pride began with several things, in- cluding: stopping the draft, the decline of American history and civics classes in our educational systems, and the feminist movement to re- move fathers from American homes. Our government may never imple- ment the draft again and the divorce rate may never decrease. We may find the answer within Senator Lamar Alexander's American History and Civics Education Act of 2004. As Senator Alexander said in his speech on the Senate floor, "It is time to put the teaching of American history and civics bock in its rightful place in our schools so our chil- dren can grow up learning what it means to be an American.'
There seems to be three types of Americans: pride filled and involved, arrogant and self-absorbed, or lost and confused. One can find these Americans in all walks of life. America gives all citizens the right to be any of the three, but most citizens would like to be pride filled and involved, but they just need the tools to become so. The above men- tioned law intercedes for the next generation. It may well be the catalyst for creating pride-filled Americans. How can we expect the next gen- erations to foster pride in ideals if they have no experience or historical knowledge? "National exams show that three-quarters of our fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders are not proficient in civics knowledge, and one-third do not even have basic knowledge, making them civics illiter- ates" (Alexander). Civic responsibility has gone the by the wayside for so many Americans. Where there once was organizational involvement and community pride, many now believe that our only civil duty is to vote and pay taxes. Our once great fraternal brotherhoods which gave so much to local communities have become more social nightclubs than civil minded organizations.
My father served in WWII and my brother in Vietnam. These things are part of our family history. My mother read history and we talked about history, politics, and life. I took American history in highschool. My husband served three years in the Army. I've learned his- tory from all these people. My father told me stories of battles in Italy, Germany, and of malaria in Africa. I learned that Vietnam did things to brother that we will never know because he hasn't said one word my about it even after forty years. My husband has taught me the most about history because the television has been on the History Channel for twenty-five years. History starts at home with the telling of stories of the family. One doesn't have to know the whole lineage of our coun- try, but it is important to cultivate an interest beyond the concept of oneself. Once there is a spark of interest, one can move into community awareness and history. We had state history when I was in elementary school. We created a notebook made of construction paper and bound with yarn. I remember the pride of bringing home that notebook. I was praised as if I had written a New York Times best seller. I was in the second grade, and was hooked on history. I had Joel Hastings for American History in high school, and he was a great teacher because he made the class so enjoyable. I remember he asked me once how I knew the answers to some of the questions he had asked that were not from the book. I didn't know at the time, but now know that I had been ex- posed to history my whole life. I was as most children a sponge soaking up my environment.
I am a pride-filled American. I love my country, but I have been neglectful in keeping up with my history. I've gone back to col- lege and have been reawakened to the joys of history. I lost my parents in 1983, and it seemed my personal history stopped. I threw myself into being mother and wife. Life and its struggles become decades and al- most twenty years passed. Then on September 11, 2001, I was awakened as were many Americans. I didn't see it coming. I know everyone says that, but I mean I really didn't see it coming. I hadn't watched the news in years. It depressed me. If it was something I needed to know, I counted on my husband to tell me. I was registered to vote, but for those last few years, unless it was for President, I would call my hus- band and say, 'Okay now who do I vote for in the Senate and House?" He would always say vote for the issues, but I didn't know the issues. I was too busy cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and working an out- side job. I trusted him; his issues were my issues. When those towers fell so did the scales from my eyes. This is America. My grandfather, father, uncles, brother, and husband had all served for my right to be free and have choices. I believe they served for a greater good. They served so I could take up the cause for the lost and confused to help