The True Threat to American Democracy is Historical Illiteracy

Image Credit: Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post via Getty Images, Getty Images

ROY JACEY: We are a politically active people, but we're also historically illiterate. 

In his opening remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011 Justice Antonin Scalia reiterated that Americans by and large lack an understanding of what truly sets the United States apart from the rest of the world, so much so that we don’t know what makes our country as free as it is. “Every banana republic in the world has a bill of rights,” said Scalia, explaining why the true key to the distinctiveness of America is the structure of our government, which, while followed by a great deal of trouble to pass legislation, is necessary. Scalia concluded: “Americans should appreciate (the separation of powers), and they should learn to love the gridlock.” 

It seems that this lack of appreciation for our most fundamental values and institutions might be the great threat to American democracy in our time. Proverbs like: “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” are so common they’ve almost become a cliche. We see them on people's social media pages, sometimes even used incorrectly, and roll our eyes and cringe when others use them in real life conversations, so I apologize in advance. That doesn't make it any less true though. 

One of these fundamental values is the importance of healthy debate, and though it hasn't been too long since Justice Scalia gave his remarks, it feels like the atmosphere in Washington back then belonged to an era long gone. Say what you will about the Obama administration, during six of its eight years it faced a Republican congress, a time for which Obama is repeatedly criticized by Democrats for either not doing enough, or being too much of a team player. Either way, his relationship with Republican Speaker John Boehner, though complicated, was also respectful, producing pleasant moments like the president gifting Boehner a bottle of wine on his birthday. Can you imagine Donald Trump doing the same with Nancy Pelosi? 

Nowadays we can’t even stand to listen to each other, and both sides are equally guilty of this. Wherever we stand politically, one of our favorite arguments against the other side is "they're ignorant," "(their actions) go against our core principles,” or "these libtards/right-wing loons are going to destroy our country." Our attitude towards our peers’ beliefs has become so toxic that the radical voices that have traditionally been on the margins of political debate are now not only the loudest, but also the most dominant in their respective camps. 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently made headlines when she called for a “national divorce.” Greene is perhaps the most striking example of this willingness to isolate ourselves from those who don’t share our views and paint our fellow countrymen as an irredeemable foe. Anyone who is the least bit knowledgeable about American history knows we are at our best when united and respectful to each other, and by the same token, at our worst when we allow this harmony to be violated. We were oblivious to the harm of such divisive rhetoric, which is what led to the contentious 2020 elections and to the election of a woman without any prior political experience to the United States House of Representatives, who after only two years of service is glad to consider a national split. 

We only have ourselves to blame, and if we hope to reinvigorate respectful and productive cooperation we must first of all restore trust in our system. Whether it be the Democrats’ push to abolish the Electoral College or Republicans’ belief that the system was rigged by Democratic elites, the next generation of leaders almost unanimously distrust the system which is the foundation of the world’s oldest uninterrupted democracy. This understanding of what truly makes America unique will not only help us terminate the influence of these radical factions in our politics, but also to work together to reach the solutions that are relevant to our times instead of inheriting past grievances. Learning about our past crises will also allow us to avoid future ones, and that’s an area we haven’t done well in. 

Unlike before, many people today get most, if not all of their news from alternative media platforms like independent podcasts, blogs etc. The positive side of these is that more people have a voice now than ever before, but the downside is that we don't hold them accountable for the information, or misinformation they are spreading. As a result, these wide-reaching voices give an equal consideration to conspiracy theories and unreliable commentary as to actual news and shape the popular narrative; on the rare occasion that these individuals are criticized, they immediately play the 'we don't claim to be experts, we're just talking' card. In other words, they have all the power and accept none of the responsibility. 

Once again, it’s this cycle of illiteracy and division is our own fault. We have a responsibility to educate ourselves not just on the issues we care about, but on those we don’t feel are applicable to us as well as views that are different from our own, and the best way to do that is by learning about past disputes. This may seem like a simple task, but I bet you’ll find it more challenging than you expect. Start by asking yourself simple questions like what were the most controversial issues at a given time in American history, and how were they settled? Who were the key figures in these disputes, and what were their motivations (the answers to this are sometimes disappointing, but necessary to understand)? Or one of my favorite curveballs to throw someone just to see how well they know their history: name five pre-WWII presidents, not including George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. 

We need to know our history better, and while political enthusiasm is growing, I believe it’s a result of sensationalism rather than care for the country. Our mission should be to maintain our generation’s passion, while also casting out the hostile rhetoric and finding worthwhile goals for the future.

Roy Jacey is a graduate student in the MPS in Journalism program, hoping to focus on political and investigative reporting.