A few days ago, I wrote about America’s political divide. I argued that our inability to find common ground isn't just exhausting. It is weakening our position on the global stage.
While we spiral into tribal fights, our adversaries are watching closely. Some are even cheering us on from the sidelines, confident we’ll do their work for them.
The responses to that piece came flooding in. Many were thoughtful and sincere. But some told another story.
One person wrote, “You are a f***ing libtard. You cause division.”
Another, a reader from New Zealand, said he hasn’t met anyone there who still believes America is a model of democracy. Even those who admire our music, cars, and culture have given up on our politics.
To my comment that “by 2030, the U.S. may no longer serve as the world’s example,” he replied, "It already doesn’t."
One message was angry. The other was somber, but both, in their own way, confirmed what I wrote.
America’s image is no longer built on unity, credibility, or competence. What we are showing the world now is fracture.
And while that fracture plays out in politics and institutions, another danger is unfolding in a quieter setting. It is playing out in classrooms.
What we choose to do about it, or ignore, may decide America’s future.
Our Students Are Falling Behind. The Consequences Are Already Global.