protesting
Many people mistook protesting for looting. Most of the protesters are not looters, just peaceful Americans and others who would like to live in a better world where all people are equal. Looters and protesters have been confused with each other because some looters took advantage of the circumstances when activists were protesting after the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota in May 2020. To be sure, most protesters care about helping others understand their difficult situation. They are right when they ask that the police not abuse or kill innocent citizens. In addition, people who have been accused of a crime have the right to be heard and have a fair trial.
In some cases, racists got involved in protests because they expected peaceful protesters to look like arsonists and vandals, one reason many peaceful Americans were afraid to join protests. They fear being laid out and accused of breaking windows or hurting others. At the same time, many journalists are afraid to cover the protests, knowing that many have been injured in the process, either by police, violent intruders, or by accident. Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York State, was right to suggest that protesters should now write down on paper what they would like to change and make efforts to change laws through the legal process.
The author of this article, a former art student, believes that destroying sculptures and works of art to protest the ‘Old South’ (which existed before the American Civil War) could be considered a crime. If the protesters do not want such sculptures to be displayed, they can ask the authorities to remove them and place them in history museums. Otherwise, opponents of the sculptures might ask for educational signs to be displayed nearby, signs explaining why they believe the sculptures are objectionable. Another option would be to display new sculptures of African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, and other diverse people close to them with their stories. Such diverse sculptures would educate the public and tourists about the beauty of all races. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Langston Hughs and WEB Du Bois were famous Americans who could be among the new sculptures. Although the ancient Romans were not always fair and just, their ancient sculptures have not been demolished. The same could be said of the ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids, but despite the misery and anguish of the slaves who built the pyramids, people still study them because it’s crucial not to ignore history.
Private versus public education
US citizens (2020) are expected to save around 150k for each child to pay for private college education in the US. Even a public education can cost as much as 90K for four years of college. That being said, society could benefit from an affordable, if not free, education for all willing students. Some Americans think that public schools should be privatized, but that would make it more difficult for gifted and commendable students to gain access to fundamental knowledge. Without a doubt, young people who have access to education will reward the community by making this world a safer place to live, possibly solving many of the problems humanity now faces. How bleak it would be to deny a curious mind a proper and first-rate education! Perhaps giving everyone a great education and knowledge about the people who have been depicted in sculpture, however controversial, is more satisfying than destroying the art that represents history.
It’s exciting that Ed X, Future Learn, Udemy, and others offer Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for anyone who wants to learn more about a variety of topics. However, many people are acquiring knowledge without accessing proper university degrees. Being self-taught is admirable, but people need access to valid university degrees that allow them to meet their goals, with the aim of contributing to the common good.
Food and the safety net
Most Americans don’t have a safety net when they lose their jobs. Without a safety net, they cannot buy enough food or find a place to stay when they lose their job, develop health problems or other psychological difficulties. It may be easier to live in a car in the United States than it is to live in a car in Europe, where people must declare their whereabouts to the police, who then inspect their homes. Undeniably, Americans have more freedom to get in their cars to travel far away, to another state where they can find new jobs. Still, not knowing where we’ll sleep at night is still daunting, and it happens to people of all ages and backgrounds. Many Americans go to churches to ask for food for their families. People feel bad and even humiliated when they have to ask strangers for support, even worse when their relatives say ‘no’ to their pleas. Often the free food is not fresh and comes canned or frozen. Those who ask for this much-needed help feel pressured to change their religion or belief system in order to make a living. Therefore, it might be better for them to get help directly from the government. Unfortunately, enlisting government help is easier said than done in a heartless world run by lobbyists.
Health care
Barack Obama tried to reform health care. Up to a point, he was successful, but he didn’t take it far enough. Although he stopped insurance companies from denying people health care because of pre-existing conditions, he did not create universal health care for all, including care for those who have lost their jobs. If health care were universal, this would mean that all poor people out of work could receive assistance. No one should have to worry about not being treated, but many Americans were afraid to go to the hospital for help because they knew that a cure for COVID-19 could cost more than $30,000. Lives were lost for fear of having to pay overwhelming hospital bills. The COVID-19 emergency has taught us that it is a mistake not to take care of everyone when diseases spread to others if they are not cured.
Shelter
Still today, unemployed people and people with psychological disabilities are often left homeless at night through no fault of their own. Some of them don’t even have sleeping cars! In fact, a rich country like the United States could find safe havens for these people, whether or not they are alone or with their families. A homeless teen doesn’t know where she can go to school. (In one Georgia county in 2004, high school teachers had to request that a homeless teen be allowed to attend their school!)
Additionally, runaway teens and battered women need safe havens with counseling. If policing is to be improved, the police could help the homeless to find shelter, as crime would certainly decrease. Homeless people can also be provided with addresses they could use to receive their voter registration forms so they no longer have a hard time voting for the change. Surely America must raise its standards and live up to the dreams of the founders who sought a dignified life for their citizens.
Work
For many reasons, people are left without a job through no fault of their own. In many cases, robots and artificial intelligence have taken their jobs away. Technology was supposed to make life easier so people could work fewer hours per week and share jobs. One solution to this problem could be to share work or to make a twenty hour work week full time, allowing people without jobs to work. Most people feel much better about themselves when they contribute to society through meaningful and exciting work. People often have to work too hard for barely surviving wages, while others cannot find work, much as they would like to: cooperatives (community-owned enterprises may help solve this problem).
Surveillance
Countless Americans have lost faith in the police, although not all police officers are corrupt. There are good and bad people in all walks of life, and one bad apple doesn’t ruin the whole basket. Many experts believe that police records showing police offenses should be made public. Perhaps sharing such information will be useful in determining who is fit to police the streets; society will be able to weed out the dirty cops while keeping the good ones at a high level. In addition, the educational curriculum of the police can be modified to improve training, focusing on a more humanistic service for the good of society. A police officer needs continuous training throughout his career to be benevolent. Since it is clear that America has systemic problems, it is time to work together to fulfill the dreams of the founding fathers who aspired to peace and freedom for all, regardless of race or creed.