A graduating senior invited us to his Colorado State University commencement in December. Following the dean’s welcome, a vice president for inclusive excellence moved to the podium. She somberly informed us that CSU is a land-grant college; the university, the research it facilitates, and the education acquired result, to a degree, from lands unjustly taken. She invited the audience to reflect on this historic injustice.

Globally, most people live on land previously occupied by others. On the British Isles, the Romans displaced ancient Celts, only to be displaced by Saxons who were later displaced by Normans. In the Middle East, various Aramaic peoples were displaced by Byzantine Greeks who were displaced by Arabs who were then displaced by Turks. In East Asia, the Han Chinese are displacing Uyghurs, Mongolians, and Kazakhs.