What now?

America's government was founded on the requirement that its citizens were educated and well-informed. Hence public education was essential to this project of democracy. It's goal was to teach us how to think, not what to think. How to critically evaluate claims based on truth and evidence, not lies and conspiracy theories.

 

From its inception the forces of fascism sought to undermine democracy by sabotaging the public education system to prevent the required critical thinking skills. Without them the public was much more susceptible to manipulation by those lies and conspiracy theories that incited hate and bigotry. 

 

We can plainly see what won this time. And when they get their way to eliminate the Department of Education the book and history bans will only get worse. In education's place will just be indoctrination and more hate and bigotry.

 

This of course will only make defending education and democracy all the more difficult. But we've been here before and prevailed, if only temporarily. Our task now is to do so again against all odds. The alternative is resignation and capitulation. And they are not options. The fight goes on.