When I was in school, which was not that long ago, I was taught about how the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in America. I learned about the Jim Crow laws and how they were eventually abandoned. I learned about how those of minority races in America have fought for their equal rights. But, perhaps more importantly than learning about these essential events in US history, I was taught to celebrate this progress, and to celebrate all the races and cultures that combine into this big melting pot of a country. I was taught to cherish the individuality of every American citizen and their unobstructed right to voice that individuality.

But not once was I taught to feel guilty about being a slave owner. Because I’ve never been a slave owner. I’ve never been told that I should be ashamed for believing in Jim Crow laws. That’s because I don’t believe in them. And I don’t believe I should feel guilty about the things done many years ago by people I’ve never met. I don’t claim them as family, even if we might be related. 

I reviewed the school board meetings of Becker and Big Lake this week for articles that can be found elsewhere in the paper. At both meetings, concerned parents and individuals in the community stepped forward to ask that the schools be wary of Critical Race Theory (or CRT) becoming part of our students’ education. They were concerned about students being told they are victims or oppressors, with no middle ground, based on the color of their skin. 

I’m definitely against labelling any child as either of these things. Labelling an innocent person as an oppressor teaches them to feel constantly guilty, inadequate, and bad about themselves, even if they’re the kindest students you could want. Telling someone they are a victim is possibly much worse. It teaches them that they don’t have the autonomy to be anything but a victim: everything happens TO them. 

It’s absolutely important to teach students about some of the darker aspects of American history. It happened, and it shaped the world we live in. It’s also important not to teach kids to think of themselves either as bad people or as people who have no autonomy. Neither is true. No matter what the race of the student.

Possibly the most important lesson from the Bible is to “Love thy neighbor.” But sometimes we forget the second part of that statement: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” That means we should not only love and cherish all people of all races, cultures, sexualities, and political parties (though we don’t necessarily LIKE each other all the time!), but also to love and cherish ourselves to the same extent. 

I love my community and its members, and I hope to have the honor of continuing to hear people stand up for their beliefs, as is our right as Americans.