Dear Larry: I have a problem with the lack of young people's appreciation for our country. It is my opinion that the future of this country is in trouble if we don't change this growing trend.
I am a history teacher at an inner-city high school. Almost half of my students are minorities. I try to give the positive aspects of America, but most of the students, regardless of race, have disrespectful attitudes of the great things this country has accomplished.
For example, I tried to impress the students by telling them that hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the Civil War to free the slaves. I told the students all about the sacrifices that were made and how more people died in that war than in all other U.S. wars combined. The students were completely uninterested, and they laughed when one of the students shouted, "So what?"
I also, as an aside, try to give many examples of how fortunate they are to have been born in America and the unlimited opportunities that are available. I have brought in successful businesspeople of all races. They give inspirational talks on how they have achieved. Each speaker tells the students how he/she "made it" and how they, too, can achieve.
The students don't even have the common courtesy to listen or have the ability to apply the information to their lives. They seem to have the attitude that government will take care of them and that being and looking "cool" is more important.
I have noticed that certain minorities extol their mother countries more than they do America. What gets to me is the fact that some of those countries are dishonest, poverty-stricken and Marxist.
In their old countries, they have little freedom and no opportunity. Once they get here, it isn't long before they start putting America down and extolling the other countries.
America needs to wake up and somehow make patriotism politically correct. Bashing America is going to lead to the demise of the greatest country on earth.
Larry, I would appreciate any thoughts on this subject, especially how to make a person become appreciative of his/her country. — JMR
Dear JMR: In my opinion, most young people are highly influenced by people they respect. That is why they listen to and follow their peers over their parents.
I recommend that you find some speakers they think are "cool." High on their "cool" list will be prominent sports players, especially basketball and football professionals. Sports people are very eager to speak to the young and are easy to entice to your class.
Another type of person they will listen to is a musician, but musicians are more difficult to get. However, stay alert for any groups coming to your town. Extending invitations before they get to your community is more effective than waiting for them to arrive.
Any person who is considered a nonconformist is a good candidate to gain your students' attention. Believe it or not, a patriotic tattoo artist would be effective. Be creative.
When people feel they are contributing to their community, they tend to become supportive. I also have found that community service is a positive influence to instill pride in country. Any kind of neighborhood improvement and helping the less fortunate are recommended.
Please do not become discouraged. We must stand up for America. If we don't, who will?
To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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Those kids sound a ot like my students. I don't blame them for their attitude; they're mimicking the adults they know from home.
Here's the flip side:
I taught at a school in a poor white neighborhood, full of white kids from single-parent homes. Those kids were patriotic to the pint of JINGOISM. They had American fags tattooed on their legs. But they didn't really do anything patriotic, like picking up after themselves or working. Their idea of patriotism was chugging beer and yelling "AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!"
I've met people from Russia, Poland, Italy, and Vietnam who are proud of their ethnicity. But when I ask if they'd ever move back to their homelands, most of them look at me like I'm crazy.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Roger
Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:13 PM
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Re: Roger: I am guessing that you meant to say "American flags." :-)
Comment: #2
Posted by: Van Wickle
Sat Oct 16, 2010 8:50 AM
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Is this guy really complaining about a bunch of teenagers not showing patriotism? They're teenagers....Come on.
When I was a teenager, I couldn't care less. I never said the pledge, I only stood for the National Anthem because I had to, ETC. I went on after high school to enlist in the Army and do two tours in Iraq. I would have gone career but I sustained injuries that forced me out.
My point is twofold: 1) They're teenagers. Give them time. 2) You mentioned that they're inner-city teenagers. Worry about motivating them to get the hell out of Dodge. We've all heard how bad life is there...I'm sure they have things more pressing to worry about. Like...staying alive?
Comment: #3
Posted by: Candi Anne
Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:24 AM
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The writer as to teenagers not respecting America has a salient point: many, NOT most (repeat NOT most for those who refust to read carefully), minorities have no respect for this country and are certainly not patriotic. Being teenagers, they are all about ME and no one else. All they think about is getting the latest IPOD or computer or fast car or a fast girlfriend. That said, many minorities in my opinion learn major disrespect for this county from their parents who are in many cases, "victim oriented" in that this government owes them something or that "The Man" has it in for them. In many, not most cases, there is an almost total disregard in the minority communities for education, hence the phrase "acting white". Whites do not have a monopoly on education; this great country has spent many billions, if not trillions on the inner city and educators are disliked, disrespected and, let's face it, hated. I see this trend continuing until parents in the minority community, and for that fact in the white community, see education as the great equalizer in our sociey and from that point, true patriotism and respect for this country can flower. So, before the reverse racists go off half cocked on the above, kindly specify facts and statistics instead of marching like Al and Jesse?
Comment: #4
Posted by: Patrick Turner
Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:46 PM
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It's frustrating to read the comments from the LW; but I think some of the commenters here make valid points. They're inner city teenagers who know little of life beyond those confines. It is not a "black" problem by any means; the issue transcends across all racial boundaries. A lot of these kids simply need time to grow up and experience life outside of that region for themselves. Larry's advice is excellent - bring in someone that the students respect. A lot of teenagers have gotten the idea that school is stuffy and boring, and that very little said there amounts to anything of importance; nowhere is this truer than history class. A lot of them think it's a dry, boring, and dead subject with no bearing on their lives. It frustrates me to hear a student say this, because there's wisdom in the past - if only in learning what NOT to do or how NOT to govern a country. I suspect this largely accounts for the continued popularity of socialism, even the more extreme flavors like communism. It hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried, but when they grow old enough to vote, they either were never taught that in school or did not listen, ergo they're happy to put socialist candidates into political office after said candidate makes a lot of empty promises about how government redistributing all the wealth is going to work this time, no, really....because the right people weren't in charge before, don't you know. (Really, all you need to do on that point is examine the sad story of the failed Soviet Union.) But correcting this problem isn't all government's job - in fact it's probably a big responsibility of private organizations and individuals to be reaching these kids. I've recently become involved with the Appleseed Project at appleseedinfo.org, which incorporates a history lesson with marksmanship lessons, taking special care to impress upon people how the men of the Revolutionary War period suffered and died horrible deaths in order to pass on the freedoms and rights we enjoy today. They don't tell you how to vote, but they do stress that people need to sit up and take notice of events in Washington DC and state capitals, and that people working peacefully to bring about political change is absolutely essential to ensuring that no more of our freedoms are lost. The Tea Party is another example. They're two of many private organizations whose mission it is to correct the very sort of deficiency that the letter writer complains about. I can only say to JMR - don't give up. All hope is not yet lost, not even for these kids.
Comment: #5
Posted by: Matt
Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:07 PM
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