By JC Bowman
There are moments in history when a state or nation seems to stand at a crossroads, and the air itself feels heavy with grievance, anger, and a mounting sense of despair. Are we in such a moment now? Have we learned from history?
I have advocated for education in our state for four decades and have been appalled by the behavior of some Tennesseans and some legislators during the 114th legislative session. Their conduct sets a poor example for children and would result in termination for educators or employees at any school. We can and must do better.
As a former history teacher, I know humanity has too often failed to learn from the past. We stumble, forget, and repeat. Across centuries and civilizations, the same ancient temptations persist—division, censorship, cruelty, violence, and the dangerous illusion that force can succeed where reason has failed. Yet none of those strategies has ever solved an issue.
It is not a solution. It is not courage. It is not justice. Violence, in particular, is a corrosive cycle that produces only more hatred, bitterness, and fractured communities. An assassin’s bullet has never healed a nation. Death does not silence a cause; it often sanctifies it. Martyrs are not the end of movements but their grim fuel.
So, we must ask ourselves: What kind of people are we becoming when anger is celebrated, when cruelty is mistaken for strength, and when destruction is cheered as a political victory? This is not merely a contest between left and right. It is something deeper. It is a test of our national character.
There was once an imperfect yet real understanding that political opponents were not enemies to be destroyed but fellow Americans to be debated. Some leaders reached across partisan divides, recognizing that democracy depends not only on elections but also on restraint, civility, and a shared respect for others’ dignity. We are losing that understanding.
People of reason can disagree—strongly, passionately, even fundamentally—and still preserve decency. As the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan wisely said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” He also understood that culture, more than politics, determines a society’s health and future. That truth feels especially urgent today.
For if our culture abandons respect, honesty, and civil discourse, no political victory can save us. If we fail to teach the next generation that freedom requires both liberty and responsibility, civil liberties, individual rights, and the very institutions that sustain democracy may erode—not all at once, but gradually, until they become little more than relics.
Politics is rarely gentle. It is no chess match played in quiet rooms. Yet civility still matters because civilization depends on it. We need leaders who promote civil discourse and find common ground to strengthen our democracy. We shouldn’t hesitate to reach across party lines to serve all Americans and make our country stronger.
Civility doesn’t mean sacrificing the truth or remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing. For people of faith, love cannot be built on lies. We uphold principles without surrendering to hatred. The challenge is to show conviction without cruelty and strength without rage. This is the only path worthy of a free people.
America’s true greatness is evident in its capacity to renew itself, embrace self-governance, and show grace. Our strength comes from listening, building strong connections, and fostering the bonds that unite our diverse, free society. We can embrace our differences, unite, and still pave the way for a brighter future.
The great orator Frederick Douglass believed that freedom of speech is essential to defending liberty. For Douglass, the open exchange of ideas was essential to achieving greater political freedom. When minds are free to think, they can develop their ideas more fully through debate and reason. That’s why Douglass opposed censorship. Silencing a speaker isn’t a logical argument; it’s a form of intimidation. Shouting down someone you disagree with forces your opinion on others, the opposite of persuasion.
As the political season ramps up, candidates flood the news with promises, often trying to be “all things to all people.” They may proclaim their Christian faith, but as a Christian, I believe true salvation doesn’t come from politics. Our savior isn’t found in state capitals or Washington, D.C., and too many blur the line between biblical authority and political allegiance.
This is the work before us. To resist hatred. To reject violence. To choose dialogue over destruction. To remember that at the center of politics are not abstractions but real human beings.
History has demonstrated the consequences of societies declining from within. We must be wise and courageous enough to avoid that path. Compassion is not a weakness; civility does not equate to surrender, and truth cannot be compromised. If we can restore these virtues, America may show that it has truly learned from its history.
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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee. To schedule an interview please contact info@proedtn.org or 1-800-471-4867.
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