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Critical Impact of Honesty in History Education

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When individuals discover that the historical narratives they've been taught in school, by parents, grandparents, and through the media, are sugar coated or outright falsehoods, it can have negative impacts on their perception of identity, trust, and societal structures. This realization often leads to a range of emotional, cognitive, and social consequences. Emotional Impact Disillusionment and Betrayal: Learning that one's foundational beliefs are based on inaccuracies can evoke feelings of disillusionment and betrayal. This emotional response is particularly intense when the misinformation comes from trusted sources such as family members or educators. Anger and Frustration: The discovery of historical inaccuracies can also lead to anger and frustration. This can stem from the realization that certain truths were deliberately omitted or distorted, often to serve specific narratives or agendas.   Cognitive Impact Questioning and Skepticism: Once individuals recognize that par...

The Lies We Tell

Today, on Presidents Day, I'm unveiling my latest series of blog posts titled "The Lies We Tell." It's a deliberate choice to embark on this journey today, a day when we honor the leaders who have shaped the United States. This series will delve deep into the origins of America, starting with the tragic history of the Indigenous peoples' genocide, exploring the implications of the Doctrine of Discovery , and reflecting on the teachings of Matthew 7:24-27 from the Bible as a metaphor for building on a solid foundation versus one of sand. I will extend the conversation to the systemic oppression of people of color, women, immigration, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and many other marginalized groups, along with examining the falsehoods perpetuated by our nation's leaders. This exploration is a personal quest to grasp the extent to which deceit is woven into the fabric of our national identity and the lies I tell, as well as others. By confr...

A Blade of Grass

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Before the arrival of big trucks and yellow machines that dug deep into the earth, there lay a field. It is here that I begin the story of a solitary seed. This field, once green, was overturned, its grassy waves replaced by the harshness of concrete and the rigid lines of human intent. Yet, beneath the rubble and ruin, a single seed survived. Cast aside during the transformation, it found itself buried not in the comfort of soil, but in the challenge of survival. As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and months into years this seed, against all odds, began to stir. There, in the tiny crack in the concrete—spaces not designed for life, but for separation—she saw light, and found her will. It was not the soft embrace of earth that greeted her, but the grit and grind of gravel and sand. Yet, it was here, in this struggle, that she discovered her strength. Through the chill of winter, she endured. The frost that crystallized the world around her could not reach the warmth of h...

Be the Light

  In life, each of us carries a past, a collection of moments and decisions that shape our journey. This past, rich with both triumphs and tribulations, forms the essence of our personal narrative. However, when we share these stories, they often become fodder for reinterpretation, twisted by others to suit their own agendas. Imagine your own complex history being reduced to a mere series of events, devoid of the context and the intense thought processes that led to each decision. Picture your actions being scrutinized without an understanding of the circumstances or the mindset you were in at those critical junctures.   In this process, it's all too easy for observers to add their interpretations, projecting their own perspectives and biases onto your story as if they could navigate your life with the wisdom of their hindsight. This skewed narrative not only misrepresents the truth but also overlooks the depth of human complexity and the capacity for growth and change. Yet, t...

Threadbare

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 by Adena M’lynn In moments when the world turns its coldest shoulder, when the fabric of connection seems threadbare, I find myself adrift in a sea of disconnection, engulfed in a loneliness feeling like a heavy weight upon my chest. The light of hope, that elusive spark, seems to dim and flickering out, leaving me in shadows that stretch endlessly, swallowing every echo of warmth and companionship. I walk through these days disoriented in a dense fog, where every step feels uncertain, and the path ahead is obscured. The isolation isn't just around me; it seeps within, creating a chasm that appears too vast to bridge. In these moments, when despair whispers with a voice too convincing, the notion of a brighter tomorrow feels like a myth, a story told to comfort those who haven't seen what I've seen, felt what I've felt. The world, in its vastness, paradoxically seems to shrink to the confines of my own solitude, a universe contracting until it's just me, alone with...

A Valentine's Message of Universal Love

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by Adena M’lynn Soon the calendar will turn to  February 14th, our world will be adorned with symbols of love—red hearts, chocolates, flowers, and heartfelt messages. These tokens of affection capture the essence of Valentine's Day, a time to celebrate the love that enriches our lives. Yet, the true spirit of Valentine's Day transcends these beautiful gestures, reaching into the depths of our humanity to touch the lives of those who might feel forgotten or alone. This Valentine's Day, let us broaden the scope of our love, extending our hearts to those who walk the shadowed paths of life. Imagine being a living, breathing red heart for those who have no one—the sick, whether in body or mind, the dying, and those who dedicate their lives to caring for them. Consider the profound impact of offering your love to a child without a family, to individuals without kin, to the many who navigate this world in solitude. You don't need grand gestures to convey this love. If the wor...