Having lived in the U.S. for a couple decades, I can confirm that a fundametal aspect of American history, culture, and education is about standing up for civil and individual rights. This has been true since the founding of the country, that numerous movements and protests were necessary for social progress. Americans are taught this from an early age, that we must fight for our rights.
It's also true that authoritarianism runs deep in American culture. Its military and police force have been complicit in shameful crimes against humanity around the world and within the country.
The challenge is that this situation (and the corruption that enables it) has been systematicaly organized and developed over (at least) the past century, and is part of the reason for its wealth and privilege. Clearly, the overclass is not willing to give up its power, and will resort to the same old strategy of oppression and manipulation.
As sad as it is that protests against police brutality are met with even more brutality, it is a patriotic duty of Americans to right the wrongs, to express anger with the systemic issue of racism and violence against peaceful citizens, and to demand change.
As an American who grew up with the ideal of "America the beautiful", my hope is that the protests don't stop there. The illness runs all the way to the top, and the whole world is waiting for the U.S. to grow up and actually behave according to the principles that it claims.
It's also true that authoritarianism runs deep in American culture. Its military and police force have been complicit in shameful crimes against humanity around the world and within the country.
The challenge is that this situation (and the corruption that enables it) has been systematicaly organized and developed over (at least) the past century, and is part of the reason for its wealth and privilege. Clearly, the overclass is not willing to give up its power, and will resort to the same old strategy of oppression and manipulation.
As sad as it is that protests against police brutality are met with even more brutality, it is a patriotic duty of Americans to right the wrongs, to express anger with the systemic issue of racism and violence against peaceful citizens, and to demand change.
As an American who grew up with the ideal of "America the beautiful", my hope is that the protests don't stop there. The illness runs all the way to the top, and the whole world is waiting for the U.S. to grow up and actually behave according to the principles that it claims.