"If we are a truly great nation, the truth cannot destroy us..[F]acing the truth liberates us to build the society we wish to be." Do you agree? What would that society look like, and what changes would need to be made?

In her Preface, Nikole Hannah-Jones states, "If we are a truly great nation, the truth cannot destroy us. On the contrary, facing the truth liberates us to build the society we wish to be" (p. xxxii). Do you agree with her? What would that society look like, and what changes do you think would need to be made to achieve it?

Definitely agree. First, 12 and 13 year olds would not be in the streets at 10:30 at night with "fake" guns and, therefore, unlikely to be killed by police. Second, women would not need to leave their states to obtain life-saving gynecologic care. Third, black men would not be getting killed during a routine traffic stop. Lastly, the adverse discrimination against white college candidates would not exist.

I just ran across a quote from Diderot that is so telling: We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.
Perhaps the desire to be a “great nation” misdirects us too much. Maybe we just need to become a “better nation.” It is ridiculous to think we will ever attain utopia or that people will ever want to be true equals - people always want to be a little bit better than others - whether in looks, clothing, intellect, wealth or anything else they admire. So, let’s just become a little bit better and try to treat others without contempt or hatred or lack of consideration. This does mean teaching our children what is right and what is wrong in how they treat others. I was just recently talking to some teachers in California and when I suggested that they respond to a student’s misbehavior with the words “you used poor judgement there,” they said they would be sued for using these words of correction. That is purely ridiculous. I have never supported corporal punishment but I do support adult reprimands and teaching of behavior. “Anything goes” is not a responsible adult approach.

I think it is possible. It is always difficult for some people to have a shift in thinking, but I think that would be necessary. Our country would need to offer a formal apology for the oppression and abuse of people. That would be a first step. In Australia, I visited the Australian Museum in Sydney. The museum had a section about the First Nations (indigenous people). A statement from their Prime Minister Rudd from 2008 was posted that formally apologized on behalf of the Australian Federal Government to First Nations communities for the injustices of the Stolen Generations. I thought his apology was very brave and wondered why our leaders wouldn’t do the same. An apology would be difficult, but then the harder part of helping heal our country would need to happen.