When I was 10 years old, my mother asked me if I enjoyed living in the United States. She had grown up around the world and missed the excitement of moving every couple of years. However, she wanted to see how I felt about it. I explained to her that living in America was all that I had ever known. I was content and I was happy (or at least I thought I was). 10-year-old me had a mask of naivety that would later be broken apart as I aged. America was good for me, but it was never great.
Fast forward 8 years: now that I am able to legally vote in elections, my opinion of America has drastically changed. As my education of the world has expanded, my blindness of America’s true appearance has vanished. I believe that America has that same mask that I once had as a child. On the outside, everything seems perfect. But if you break down this country to the core, it is broken. My definition for America would simply be broken but still whole. We have strength but so much weakness. We have power but also impairments. We are united but still very separated. I do not think this country will ever be perfect, it is evident that nothing that exists in the physical can be.
Although living in America is still all I have experienced, I feel I have enough knowledge of the world to be able to confidently answer my mother’s question now. In my opinion, that’s all it takes to make America a better place. Education (especially with the younger generations) is a crucial building block to molding the ideal country in which we wish to live. America’s success stems from the education and experience our leaders withhold. If every 10-year-old child had enough awareness and familiarity with the way this country works, they would be fully prepared to fulfill their civic duties when the time arises. America puts too much emphasis on our current representatives in leaders. Instead, the focus should be on preparing the youth for future leadership. This would then give us the strength, power, unity, and wholeness this country so greatly desires. The Huffington Post released an article about educating the youth to improve politics. It stated that although civic education will not fix all issues, it will be a stepping stone to forms of restoration that America needs.
My one wish for the younger generations is that they will not be like my naïve 10-year-old self. Instead, when questions like my mothers are asked, they will be able to confidently respond and back up their answers with knowledge and a proper understanding of what this country means to them.
I agree that education is a big step in improving our “great” country. Everyone grows up differently and learns different realities of for themselves of America. If I were to answer your mother’s question it would difficult for me as well, being as though it is my home as well, but I think comfort plays a big part in it as well like we talked in class. This nations leaders seems a bit comfortable it roles and habits, and educating all would be one of the first steps, but for good education money is needed.
Having a large portion of my family from France, I never had the full experience of thinking everything was great and perfect in America. Growing up, I remember my Dad talking about different American traditions that confused and angered him. This does not mean I grew up hating America, it’s just that I think I never felt the disillusionment that the other peers around me did. Over time, I gained even more knowledge and garnered my own opinions and such. I agree with you that knowledge is what is most important. If people are not educated, they will continue to believe America is perfect and be complicit. Education sparks discussion, which in turn sparks change.
I love this idea! I’ve been telling my friends and family since middle school that I wish I would learn about things that are important to the working of the country and not just average schoolbook learning. As much as education is important, so many kids have no idea what’s happening in the world around them, and have no clue how to educate themselves about it properly when they start looking around. I think if schools put more emphasis on current events and responsibility in government then we would be a lot closer to actually making this country a better place.