COS Indiana Newsletter January

flaws and challenges, America in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries was a land of
promise, of possibility. But in the mid-20th century, in the 1960s things began to
change. While the innovations of science, technology, medicine, and business kept on
coming, the message that America was a land of plenty somehow morphed in our
national discussion into America as a land of lack. The discontent and discord of the
60s made it easier for cultural Marxism to invade our educational institutions, sports,
and corporations.
Today, our culture is awash in information. The proliferation of words flowing from
cable news, independent journalists, internet channels, or newspapers is
overwhelming. There is definitely a bad news bias and we are in the midst of a
continually expanding mess.
The negative messages are hard to ignore. We are told that we are a racist society that
creates victims and losers, not winners. Our children are taught that there are
oppressors and victims. They are assigned to one group or the other by virtue of the
color of their skin. We are surrounded by crisis, with little hope of pulling ourselves out
without accepting the help of an overreaching government. Slowly our freedoms are
eroding away and, too exhausted by the barrage of negativity, we don’t even notice.
But worse, much worse, is that we internalize the words we hear. They become what
we tell ourselves about ourselves. And those negative “can’t-do” mental images burn
themselves into our national self-concept, to become our children’s legacy.
The Imperative of Turn-Around
Like the pioneers, we are at a point where we have no choice – fight to survive or watch
a dream die. And America is not just a dream for the people who live here…it’s a dream
around the world. America was not birthed by ethnicity, location, or ideology. America
was birthed from an idea. It’s an experiment, and if this experiment is going to
succeed, we must turn this ship around quickly.
The Question is, How?
Simply put, we must change the narrative. Reshape it until the words we hear in our
heads, the words we tell ourselves, support the vision of opportunity and personal
responsibility that the pioneers held and others died to protect. Recognize that the idea
of America is truly exceptional, a country controlled by its citizens rather than by an
aristocracy of political elites.
By the way, this does not mean we ignore problems, or stick blindly to one approach to
governance. But we will never solve any problems – as individuals or as a country –
until we begin to believe that the problems have solutions and that we are capable of
finding them.
Next, we must change the world that surrounds our children and creates their reality.
Their achievements should not be limited by the color of their skin, their religion,
where they live, or their economic level. They must have the chance to believe that they
can become whatever they are willing to conceive of and work toward. Here are a few
suggestions for ways to help make that happen:
Teach your children to value and be grateful for America. Do this intentionally.
Don’t just hope that they will pick up those values because they live with you. The
culture that surrounds them is too strong, too pervasive, and too seductive.
Know the history of our country and the Constitution. Discuss both with your
children. Read and discuss books of historical fiction as a family.
Discuss the value of giving to others. America is the most generous nation on the
planet. When there is a tragedy anywhere around the world, the first country on
the scene is usually the United States. (The Yanks still go where they perceive a
need.) We can be very proud of that.
Don’t ignore the problems that we face. Instead, talk with your children about
possible solutions. Get them thinking like problem solvers, not problem
wallowers.
Help them learn to think critically, particularly about anything they see on the
television, cable, internet, or social media.
Get involved in your children’s school and – if possible – in school board activities
as well.