Struggles in U.S. History
Robert Dawidoff’s, “Seeing the Messiness of America’s True History” (Opinion, Sept. 24), is a much needed corrective to the sentimental, nationalistic and yes, dishonest, view of American history served up by Sen. Bob Dole. A hard look at the evidence reveals that there are glaring discrepancies between the American creed of “freedom and justice for all” and our nation’s record of Indian genocide, slavery, sexism, racism and imperialism. This record the Kansas senator rightly sees as containing “some of our worst moments.” He is silent, however, about how to treat these matters in history texts. Unless we acknowledge this darker side, we’ll not fully appreciate America’s more noble side: a legacy of rule of law, the Bill of Rights, abolitionism, the anti-imperialist outcry at the turn of the century, the women’s suffrage movement and the civil rights and environmental crusades of more recent times.
The history of America has been one largely of struggle, not one of harmony and unity as portrayed by Dole. Perhaps our country’s most defining moment was the Revolution of 1776; even then no more than a minority of the colonists joined the cause, while at least as many colonists fought on the side of the British. Sectionalism and the Civil War, ethnic strife, gender controversies, class cleavages, generational clashes (remember the ‘60s?), labor management disputes--all of these conflicts raise one question: When (with the possible exception of World War II) have all of the diverse groups and interests in this country not struggled against each other?
Real unity in this country will transcend short-term political agendas; it cannot be forced, nor brought about by the celebration of a past that scarcely recognizes those who did not hold the reins of political and economic power. Real unity will require honesty, valuing diversity, forgiving and advancing the cause of social justice. If the price seems high, think of the cost of further disunity.
THOMAS J. OSBORNE
Professor of History
Rancho Santiago College
Santa Ana