Ignoring Our History Won’t Restore Truth and Sanity

In a different world, an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” would be about funding research, expanding archival studies, improving educational institutions, and bolstering mental health resources. You’d think it would focus on increasing our knowledge about the past to better understand and learn from it. However, the actual order from President Trump disregards uncomfortable realities, removes diverse perspectives, and rejects exploration of societal issues.

The order, released last week, continuously boasts about America’s “remarkable achievements,” “progress,” and “greatness,” but dismisses the challenges we’ve had to—and still need to—overcome in pursuit of said greatness. How can we celebrate “advancing liberty” without also acknowledging that we weren’t all free when we came to or were born in this country, and many still don’t have the same governmental protections? How can we remember our “consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union” without addressing our divisions—political, economic, philosophical, etc.—and the people responsible for them (i.e., those honored with public monuments and markers)? And how can we claim an “unparalleled legacy” and “unmatched record” of “human flourishing” when many countries surpass us in indexes of happiness, freedoms, healthcare, education, and environmental conditions? Don’t we need to recognize the negative aspects of our history in order to value our growth and aspire towards a better future?

The Trump administration’s order focuses on “our shared past” without comprehending—or caring—that we all have different experiences in this country. We’re each impacted by how our ancestors were treated, which identities we hold, available resources, our personal struggles, current events, and the people we live in community with. Ignoring and silencing diverse perspectives lends itself to an incomplete and inaccurate history, and destroys decades of progress.

Your perspective matters. Sharing our stories will help society more fully understand our country’s history and present. Connect with your local and online communities—like the American Humanist Association’s public Discord community (AHA members have full access to server with their special invitation link). Talk and write to your representatives so they know about the experiences and concerns of their constituents. Contact other legislators to remind them that policy impacts aren’t limited by state or country borders. Create letters to the editor, op-eds, articles, videos, and/or social media content to further your reach.

We also must learn from other people’s perspectives to broaden our awareness and grow our empathy. A former alt-righter wrote about how reading and contemplating diverse historic accounts in college empowered him to end his dangerous Jordan Peterson obsession and find positive ways to get involved in his community:

It was Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave that helped me to embrace the discomfort necessary for change… showed me that my inclinations toward antagonizing those who looked, acted, or believed differently than myself was the selfsame attitude, albeit less severe and a century later, that led to Douglass’ dehumanization… From my experience, once you get a taste of learning — genuine, complicated wrestling with philosophies and histories different from your own — it’s hard to leave it and its lessons behind.

Investing in education, research, and diversity efforts would significantly improve and “restore” truth in our shared history. As for sanity…that’s going to take a lot more work.