Is America systemically racist? It’s a question we hear more and more. In many schools and universities, students are being taught that, yes, America is systemically racist.
So, let’s start with the word racism. Racism is abhorrent. It is the worst act a society can push on to a group of people. Has there been racism in our country? Absolutely. There have been disgusting examples of it, from redlining, police brutality, slavery, internment camps, and drug crimes to many other despicable acts, which we should condemn every single time without question.
But now, let’s look at the word systemic, which means something is pervasive, or everywhere in our society. It also means it is the central tendency of the system. Is the central focus of our country racism?
The phrase “systemically racist” is being used to uproot American values and tear down the history of our nation. The foundation of this country isn’t built upon racism or slavery. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Slavery has been around for thousands of years, well before America existed. The thing that makes America, and other Western countries, so amazing isn’t that we had slavery but that we have eradicated it. The United States is one of the rare countries — unlike China, North Korea, or many other countries — that is not systemically racist, and it is inspiring.
It may seem routine to walk to the grocery store or attend a sporting event without the threat of violence, but in fact, it’s truly a miracle. America is the exception over the course of history. In most countries, these simple activities couldn’t take place. We should all should be grateful for every single idea and historic pillar that has made that a reality.
So, why are there people in America who are more concerned with tearing down than building up? It’s simple: Young people view freedom as a luxury. Many in the “woke” movement are looking for an adventure — they’re looking for meaning. So tearing down statues and breaking the windows of businesses satisfy that need for adventure. But while those same people view freedom as a luxury and flirt with the idea of socialism or communism, they don’t understand the frailty of civilization and our country.
It’s been 80 years since World War II, since the Greatest Generation fought for our freedom. It’s been 245 years since our Founding Fathers fought against British tyranny and established our country. Today’s students have no understanding of the lengths our relatives went to so we could remain a free country.
But the chance for adventure and tearing down statues is enticing, so what can conservatives offer these young and lost people who crave meaning? What about courage and an appreciation of history? Rather than tearing things down, start to look back on history and have a deep appreciation of what people of every skin color suffered and sacrificed so we could have the greatest society ever established, so first-generation immigrants could go to school and better themselves, so everyone could have freedom and achieve their dreams.
Our society has overcome segregation and discrimination. The thing that makes America so great is that we’ve shed discrimination against someone’s skin color or their religious view. Why would we want to go back? Republicans, Democrats, independents, and everyone else should be fighting against a caste system.
Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln all are incredible men who helped design the pillars of this nation. They were also flawed humans, like we all are. But that should not take away from the foundations they have given us. They paved the way for America to become the greatest country this planet has ever seen. We must continue to learn from our mistakes of racism, sexism, and bigotry, but we must also realize America is the exception. We are one of the rare countries that has overcome these dark moments, and we should be grateful every day that we get to be a part of it.
Miles Himmel is communications director for San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.
