Culturally Competent Curricula by Cole Dushin

Existing Narrative

ced2206_2 — 2024-08-01 15:54:41 UTC

In response to what some have called the “greatest evil” of the twentieth century, the United States put forth what some have called its “greatest generation” to protect freedom and democracy around the world.

Existing Narrative

ced2206_2 — 2024-08-01 15:56:00 UTC

By attacking the United States, Islamic extremist “terrorists” were attacking freedom and democracy, and that they were extremists, unusual in their irrationality and inhumanity.

Deconstruction

2024-08-01 16:00:02 UTC

Terrorists are not "irrational" - they have goals and critiques of US Foreign Policy

deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:18:12 UTC

how do we define "freedom and democracy"- who is granted these freedoms? who decides what these freedoms are? who is represented in this democracy?

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:18:17 UTC

Greatest in comparison to what?

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:18:17 UTC

While World War II was fought to "protect freedom and democracy," U.S. society itself was deeply unequal.

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:18:53 UTC

This narrative puts forth democracy as the only valid form of governance or affordance of freedom

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:19:20 UTC

Assumes a homogeneity of a generation and establishes everyone as united together in a common understanding of what it means to be American

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:20:03 UTC

What makes an act of violence usual vs. unusual?

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:20:23 UTC

We surely didn't treat them like the greatest, trauma PTSD poor health care, not to mention black vets didn't receive any of the post war benefits that white vets did (home loans, schooling, respect)

Deconstruction

mv2940 — 2024-08-05 18:20:26 UTC

How can we trace the origins of America's perverse relationship with the Middle East?

So what about the soviet and the french other allies

yx2819 — 2024-08-05 18:20:28 UTC

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:20:30 UTC

Has the United States achieved freedom and democracy around the world? Within its own country?

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:20:53 UTC

This idealized view of World War 2 ignores the experiences many Black Americans who endured intense racism and segregation during this era

Deconstruction

as7083_1 — 2024-08-05 18:21:39 UTC

The United States' military actions during World War 2 were not only about "protecting freedom and democracy;" they were a way to display military superiority (atomic bombings) and plenty of freedoms and lives were violated and destroyed in the process

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:21:44 UTC

Protection at what cost? Who was alienated/ othered? Historical metanarratives of the nation

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:21:57 UTC

Framed as fighting for freedom and democracy abroad, even though he had a very flawed democracy with limited freedom at home (i.e. Jim Crow)

Deconstruction

2024-08-05 18:22:49 UTC

What does America define as freedom or democracy? Has America really achieved these things?