Let’s see: standard references for essays on “Our America”. There’s the US Constitution (the Cornell Law School site). And there’s the Declaration of Independence (the Yale Law School site). But probably the next reference most used is the musical “Hamilton”, that has placed it’s imprimatur on every phase and side of American politics in the 21st century. Who has “eyes on us” – well, as Washington sang in the production: “History has its eyes on you”.
What is History
I was a public school teacher for twenty-eight years (high school Dean of Students for eight more after that). I taught history and government, middle school and high school, with a smattering of other social studies topics. So when I hear Chris Jackson sing “History has its eyes on you”, I know what that looks like.
When I was in elementary school, my older teachers (in their forties) were World War II veteran aged. To them, that global conflagration didn’t seem like history, it felt more like current events (my parents as well). I think every Junior High and High School had a “Sergeant Miller”. We had one in Kettering’s Van Buren Jr. High, though I didn’t have class with him. He taught World War II from his perspective, a soldier on the ground. His classes were ready to “dive for cover” in many lessons.
In high school, I watched as my sister’s friends agonized over the Vietnam War. Some were drafted, some volunteered, and some disappeared (headed for Canada). Vietnam was a war “in living color” in our living room. We were “live” every night, as NBC’s Huntley-Brinkley Report, shared a firsthand view of the struggle (NBC – even then – loyalty and habits die hard).
Vietnam
But what hit me hardest about Vietnam, was seeing one of our music teachers have an emotional breakdown when she got the news that her brother wasn’t coming back from the battle. She finally left the school for the year, overcome with grief. Vietnam was current events for us.
In my generation, lots of things were defined by what you did during Vietnam. Bob Mueller passed away last week. He was the former FBI Director and Special Counsel investigating the 2016 election. But during Vietnam, he left his cushy Princeton education and went to war as a Marine Lieutenant. On the other hand, Donald Trump, the current President of the United States, did what many others of means did. He found a way out of the draft.
When I started teaching, there was a whole cohort of teachers just a few years older, who got deferred by going into the classroom. They found their way out of “service” in the war. Vietnam wasn’t quite history in 1978, it was, what we would say in modern parlance, “too soon”.
Your Grandparent’s War
By the time I left the classroom in 2006, Vietnam was definitely history. It was the kids’ grandparents’ war. Those kids had a whole litany of wars to think about before they got back to Vietnam: The Cold War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the First Iraq War, 9-11, the War in Afghanistan, Iraq War II. Each time the question left over from Vietnam had to be answered. Does the United States belong in this war? Where do you stand?
One of the lessons we learned from Vietnam was this. No matter how opposed to a war you might be, don’t take your opposition out on the soldiers fighting the battle. Save it for the policy makers who put our troops in harm’s way.
What’s going on in classrooms today? America is in a “war” in Iran. The word “war” is quoted, because US actions have been called an “intervention”, an “excursion”, a “war of choice” and a “response to imminent threat”. It would be more than scary (another Hamilton reference) to be the teacher in that room. Politics are the “third rail” of American education. For a teacher to lead a discussion about the terms above, puts them dangerously close to being “zapped”. They might be rode out of town on a rail for “INDOCTRINATION”.
I need to point out, that if “indoctrination” actually worked, kids would turn in their homework and not stick used gum under the desks. But it’s always a “threat” to hold over the teacher’s head.
Your Stand
So how will all this be “interpreted” in the class room of 2040? We are at war, with Iran in the Middle East. We are at war, politically with each other here at home. And we will soon have to choose the path for the United States in the 21stCentury. The alternatives are on the table now. This is a special moment in America’s story. “History” does have its eyes on us. What we decide to do about our wars and conflicts, international and domestic, will impact our “story”, perhaps even more than Vietnam, or even World War II.
Our grandchildren will ask, what did you do? What was your stand? How did you protect (or fail to protect) the Nation?
And for those who wish to voice their opposition to our current path – this Saturday, March 28th 2026 is the next NO KINGS march day. There are over 3000 demonstrations available to join. Here’s the link: No Kings.
