Cultivating compassion in young people

We live in the unenviable era of rising American imperialism and the emergence of a precarious new world order.

As U.S. President Donald Trump escalates his annexation threats over Canada, Greenland and Venezuela; deteriorates decades-long relations with NATO; and offers concessions to totalitarian North Korea; we must remain steadfast and vigilantly united against these ominous — and markedly unusual — sociopolitical developments.

We have so much to learn from our past. As historical patterns suggest, these threats are not idle nor mere political rhetoric. Rather, these threats should be treated with utmost seriousness. As Winston Churchill so famously uttered, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

As a Canadian public educator, I hold the vehement conviction that we need to instruct our youth on the societal dangers of imperialism, while simultaneously exploring the “contentious” concepts of sharing and acceptance.

Britannica defines imperialism as “state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas.”

Lamentably, this definition eerily emulates our present conundrum. Let us concisely reflect upon our recent histories.

The dawn of the 20th century was marked by a plethora of socioeconomic challenges. Hardships spurred by the First World War, the 1918 influenza global pandemic and the Great Depression left our predecessors in a state of widespread disillusionment.

The reactionary movement of “making Germany great again” proliferated immense fervour as Europeans yearned for change. As a result, policies exerting anti-union sentiment, xenophobia, and hypernationalism fuelled meritocratic and self-interested mindsets. The vitality and efficacy of democracy was scrutinized, as new European governments seized authoritative control.

Visible minorities became societal scapegoats, as the political discourse of labelling neighbours as “vermin” and “poisoning the blood’ of society became incrementally normalized.

These are stark commonalities within the “Make America Great Again” movement, unfortunately.

President Trump has utilized his power and platform to problematize newcomers for being “vermin” and “eating dogs.” His administration has explicitly attacked queer and trans citizens’ civic rights, while advancing regulatory control over women’s bodily autonomy.

The Trump administration is further demonizing teachers’ and academics’ intellectual freedoms, while materializing anti-labour legislation. The systematic imposition of religion into public policy is incrementally deteriorating the distinctions between church and state.

The U.S. has seemingly become intoxicated with a lust for power, both domestically and internationally — and entirely indifferent to the needs of others.

It is important to recognize, however, that the past several centuries of colonial expansion over Indigenous and foreign lands highlight America’s innate imperialistic history. As an example, witnessing the catastrophic impacts of American corporations’ exploitation of South American nations’ natural resources prompted Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara to declare the United States “the great enemy of mankind.”

The United States has a curiously muddled history. As aforementioned, America has a historical preoccupation with imperialistic pursuits.

And yet, the American founding figures valiantly fought against the shackles of monarchic oppression and established the world’s first modern democracy: a society predicated upon the ideals of equality and justice. One could only ponder what George Washington would express if he knew what the office of the presidency has cynically become.

Despite this considerable despondency, there is hope for America, there is hope for Canada, and there is hope for planet Earth.

Imperialist governments survive through sowing hatred, division and hypernationalistic attitudes.

Therefore, the antidote to this phenomenon is generally simplistic — cultivate empathy and compassion. In this unfolding era of existential precarity, we need to be uniting, not dividing into competing factions. I sincerely believe that fostering kind-hearted sentiments among youth is the key to our brighter future. Exalting civics education and empowering our young people with empathetic and introspective capacities should be our top priority in public schools, globally.

We collectively share the mutual risks of ecological destruction, the rise of artificial intelligence and egregious economic disparity. We are all equally deserving of safety, acceptance and belonging. We should routinely interrogate our self-interests and explore new avenues for global sharing. We should be building bridges, not fences. Collaborating, not competing. Loving, not hating.

I echo the words of sustainability educator David Orr, who said: “The planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of every kind.”

The remedy for imperialism is collectivity. There is ample hope in the grassroots collective if we can learn to love, accept and share.

Jordan Laidlaw is a public school teacher and holds a Ph.D. in educational administration.