Here's a question: what are we doing about all of this?
It is vitally important for us, the reader, to come to terms with the fact that these issues studied over the course of the semester remain relevant because the US continues to practice both overt and covert forms of imperialism that create the numerous conditions for people to flee their country. What those people do after fleeing is, regardless of how noble or desperate, the direct reaction to the actions of the US; as citizens/residents of this country we should (especially with this knowledge) be dong what we can to fight US imperialism and educate others on the reality of our history with a region that is right now being criminalized by most media outlets to one degree or another. What I am saying is that, if after educating yourself on all this material you still do not take any action or steps to counter these injustices and inhumane acts in the name of profit and hegemony then you are allowing your privilege to shield you from the reality that this history has produced and in doing so you yourself aid in its perpetuation. And while you may not share my sentiment that as educated people it is our societal duty to spread this knowledge and act as examples in directly combating US imperialism; you may instead think that such inaction simply makes you neutral, but... "Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." -Paulo Freire ✊
Are you suggesting that we make more conscientious decisions to act from beliefs founded in antiracism, rather than merely condemning racism and its accoutrements, including imperialism, attacks on the poor and otherwised marginalized, and the continued concentration of wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of most? Because I can get behind that. I work to educate my students (and colleagues--everyone now knows that there were 26 million people in Mexico when the Spaniards arrived and within a few years, there were only 1 million) (I have lobbied to have more Latin American history incorporated into our world and US history classes) and point out the underlying assumptions behind ways immigrants and especially Spanish-speakers are treated in our culture and, sadly, in our community. I give them facts and anecdotes to help build empathy. Teaching is always an act of hope: if you don't believe change or growth is possible, why bother? That's what I'm doing with the stuff I learned in this class. :)
I am going to take a different approach on the concept of imperialism. While I will state bluntly that I am not a fan of imperialist undertakings by any country, it must be asked if imperialism was the first attempt to globalize the world? We see parallels in both political concepts , but one is seen as a positive development and the other is condemned by most people in today's society. Will historians fifty or a century from now will condemn globalization in the same matter as imperialism is today?
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ReplyDeleteHere's a question: what are we doing about all of this?
ReplyDeleteIt is vitally important for us, the reader, to come to terms with the fact that these issues studied over the course of the semester remain relevant because the US continues to practice both overt and covert forms of imperialism that create the numerous conditions for people to flee their country. What those people do after fleeing is, regardless of how noble or desperate, the direct reaction to the actions of the US; as citizens/residents of this country we should (especially with this knowledge) be dong what we can to fight US imperialism and educate others on the reality of our history with a region that is right now being criminalized by most media outlets to one degree or another. What I am saying is that, if after educating yourself on all this material you still do not take any action or steps to counter these injustices and inhumane acts in the name of profit and hegemony then you are allowing your privilege to shield you from the reality that this history has produced and in doing so you yourself aid in its perpetuation. And while you may not share my sentiment that as educated people it is our societal duty to spread this knowledge and act as examples in directly combating US imperialism; you may instead think that such inaction simply makes you neutral, but... "Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." -Paulo Freire ✊
Are you suggesting that we make more conscientious decisions to act from beliefs founded in antiracism, rather than merely condemning racism and its accoutrements, including imperialism, attacks on the poor and otherwised marginalized, and the continued concentration of wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of most? Because I can get behind that. I work to educate my students (and colleagues--everyone now knows that there were 26 million people in Mexico when the Spaniards arrived and within a few years, there were only 1 million) (I have lobbied to have more Latin American history incorporated into our world and US history classes) and point out the underlying assumptions behind ways immigrants and especially Spanish-speakers are treated in our culture and, sadly, in our community. I give them facts and anecdotes to help build empathy. Teaching is always an act of hope: if you don't believe change or growth is possible, why bother? That's what I'm doing with the stuff I learned in this class. :)
DeleteI am going to take a different approach on the concept of imperialism. While I will state bluntly that I am not a fan of imperialist undertakings by any country, it must be asked if imperialism was the first attempt to globalize the world? We see parallels in both political concepts , but one is seen as a positive development and the other is condemned by most people in today's society. Will historians fifty or a century from now will condemn globalization in the same matter as imperialism is today?
ReplyDelete