Last week the History Department hosted an online forum to examine the historical context and significance of the events on January 6 in our nation's capital. It also provided an opportunity for members of our community to seek understanding and possibly find common ground.
Mr. Eckman, the department chair, moderated the event, while Ms. Barnhardt, one of the AP US History teachers, provided a compelling introduction that defined and contextualized relevant topics, including patriotism, the rule of law, and the First Amendment. Many faculty members and students attended the forum and posed questions live or in the private chat window. Some of the inquiries related to the motivations behind the rally and invasion of the Capitol building, the concerns about censorship and “free speech,” the implications of how race influences the policing of protests, and the responsibilities of the U.S. education system when it comes to “shaping perception of events like these.” Dr. Engl, another teacher of AP US History, submitted and explained many historical connections going as far back as the American Revolution and the Founding Era to provide contextualization for many of these issues.
Overall, the forum appeared to meet many goals, especially when it came to providing a safe space to engage controversial and complicated issues in good faith and with open minds. The hope is to provide future forums to continue the conversations that seek to better understand and navigate complicated events. In the recent book American Dialogue, American historian Joseph J. Ellis writes, “...the more history you learn, the larger the memory bank you can draw on when life takes a turn for which you are otherwise unprepared.” Clearly, few if any were prepared for the events of January 6; however, with more honest and open conversations, this community can draw upon a potential well of historical knowledge and skills to meet the inevitable, unexpected challenges that are sure to rise in the future.