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Commentary: After Charlie Hebdo Killings, Stick To Democratic Ideals

Fresno State

The world’s faith in democratic ideals has been shaken by recent events in Paris and other locations throughout the world.  A commitment to democratic ideals and precautionary measures were simultaneously debated.  In this edition of the commentary series The Moral Is, Jacques Benninga, professor of Education at Fresno State, argues that short-term constrictive reactions, though perhaps necessary, will not be as effective in curbing reactionary behaviors as will be well planned long-term solutions that reinforce democratic values.

“Horrifying events”.  That’s how a CNN correspondent characterized the recent murders in Paris where Charlie Hebdo cartoonists, Jews shopping at a kosher grocery store, and several police were murdered by sleeper cells supported by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Simultaneously, but receiving considerably less coverage, Boko Harem, a Nigerian Islamist insurgent group, massacred as many as 2,000 people, mostly women, children and the elderly.  The bad news continued with that same group sending out little children as suicide bombers —girls as young as 10 years old.  S

These shocking events have stunned us, as have the Taliban murder in Pakistan of 132 school children and the beheadings of Western journalists by the Islamic State.  In the wake of such events, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert warning about “the continued threat of terrorist attacks, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas”.

How different is the reaction in the United States to violations of public sensitivities.  I remember the exhibit in 1987 by photographer Andres Serrano of a crucifix submerged in a bottle of the artist’s own urine and aptly titled Piss Christ.  This piece of controversial art was prominently displayed in galleries, and the artist received funding from our own National Endowment for the Arts.  Although his work was widely criticized, it continues to be shown, but the controversy has subsided.  Free speech, even though distasteful, is tolerated in democracies.

Clearly, our country and those affected in Europe, are stepping up security precautions in the wake of overseas events.  We need to do this.  But this is short-term solution.  We can’t militarize ourselves out of this problem.  A long-term solution is also warranted, and that solution must involve the education of our children. 

John Dewey wrote almost 100 years ago, that the purpose of education in all places that offer it is to lead youth to develop in an orderly, sequential way to societal membership.  In a democracy that’s an aspiration to live morally, creatively, and productively.  Accordingly, our public school system has historically assumed the responsibility to teach children about the rights of a free people, including the rights of free speech, free expression, and dissent.

But in an age of accountability and testing, are we losing sight of this fundamental obligation to our children and the future of our democracy?  Today’s American schools overwhelmingly are focused on college and career readiness skills to the diminution of our foundational values.  Neglecting civic values in our schools communicates the message that civic values are less important.  The recent crises in Europe would argue that we must do more.

An influential, report, The Civic Mission of Schools, identifies six instructional approaches that assist students to be engaged in their communities and committed to the public good.  These practices include formal instruction in government, history, law, and democracy as well as opportunities to apply those concepts, and connecting that content with real-world action projects.  Such efforts deserve more support.

It is feared the recent events in France, and actions in other countries that ignore fundamental basic rights, will ripple to our shores.  We must be vigilant in the short term and the long term, always with an eye to the perpetuation of the basic ideals that made our country great.

The views expressed on The Moral Is are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Valley Public Radio.

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