I just finished teaching a World War II unit in my World History classroom this week. ( If you want to know more about my work as a teacher, read my diary entitled "A Day in the Life of an Inner City School Teacher.)
In that lesson, I focused primarily on Martin Niemoller, and what his extraordinary words mean in current political situations.
When we think about the ramifications of passing specific laws, we only have to look at how discrimination was treated in the past...In our own nation, we have the bleak history of internment camps, Jim Crow, and specific laws that still make it near impossible for anyone to prosper while living on the Native American reservations.
We looked at why laws are passed in the first place. Laws are never passed when "things are good;" they are always passed because of some social and political tension. In the case of laws that uphold discrimination, we are walking a very slippery slope. My students were quick to point it out, and it compelled me to do some reflection.
I said it in a comment as well, but the best way to turn a struggle into a positive outcome is to be willing to stand up in opposition to the voices crying out in hatred and in fear.
(Edited for more clarity, and also to acknowledge those who worked feverishly to prevent a repeal; also I have to say to all teachers everywhere, you are not alone and your fight and struggle is worth fighting. Thank you for all that you do and all who you are):
If I were living in Springfield, Missouri, I would be conversing with business owners who oppose the repeal, and ask if it would be possible to post proudly the signs and images that are similar to those that hang in my classroom. Whereas in my classroom, my posters say, "This school welcomes students" I would change the wording to, "This business welcomes people"
This business welcomes:
people of all religions
people of all races, ethnicities, and nationalities
people who are LGBTQI
people with diverse abilities
people of all body types
people of all socio-economic backgrounds
people of all family structures
people who are English Language Learners
This business welcomes...YOU!
I would also post proudly by businesses that upheld discrimination based on newly repealed laws the poem that Martin Niemoller wrote:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I wasn't a socialist. Then they cam for trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then the came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."
(Even though I know that such an act would get me into a lot of trouble, I would still do it, and be happy if I were reprimanded.)
With a bit of snark, I would say the following:
In this day, in this nation, his poem would read potentially a little differently...Perhaps not...But I would argue the following:
First they came for the Muslims and I did not speak out because I wasn't a Muslim.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the homosexuals and I did not speak out because I wasn't a homosexual.
Then they came for the women and I did not speak out because I wasn't a woman.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."
As long as I have a voice, I will say that we need to speak. The joy is that I know I'm not alone. There is no need to say that it doesn't matter if I live in Missouri or not. Because I don't live in Missouri, or Arkansas, or Indiana, I feel that it is even more crucial for me to speak now. It is true that I am a woman; I can't change that. But I don't speak out for women's rights as citizens or to full access to comprehensive health care because of my gender; I know that the moment we start nit-picking who has more access to justice, health care, citizenship rights, etc., the more prone we are to destroying our strength and greatness as a nation.
We need to remember that anti-discrimination laws were designed to protect the minority--those whose voices and human rights are consistently diminished by a majority opposition to their very existence in the first place.
It is also necessary to mention that this kind of mentality is not just happening in Springfield, Missouri; although it does seem to have caught some kind of infectious "crazy" from areas like Indiana and Arkansas.
I only know that the only antidote to this kind of poison is fervent opposition to actions incited because of hatred and fear.
Many people talk about how it would be so much better to go back to the "good old days" of the 1950s. I do not think that it is ever appropriate to wax nostalgic over eras of absolute discrimination, separate but equal laws, different drinking fountains, and less opportunities to move upward in a job or even in society because of one's gender, sexual orientation, creed, color, or socioeconomic status. If we do not gather enough bravery to stand up and say that those with whom we share our communities, those who make up our families, those who are our friends cannot be seen as an enemy, then this mindset of absolute fear and hatred will spread...And I don't think I have it in me to move to another country.
For a brief example of what I don't want to see happen in our nation (again--there was a time during WWII when you would see signs in the US that said "No Jews or Dogs Allowed" on beach entrances, where individuals would not be hired if they were Jewish, or any other "non-WASP" citizen). I couldn't get the link to work, but just to put it in perspective, here is a brief scene from the dubbed version of Life is Beautiful: Visigoths and Spiders--
https://www.youtube.com/...