One of the single most important words in the Declaration of Independence is “pursuit.” The Founders believed that government exists to preserve certain rights, such as life and liberty. But they never declared a natural right to happiness – they only bound our government to protect its pursuit.
Sadly, it seems too many Americans misunderstand this “self-evident truth.” Socialism and other big government ideologies seek to guarantee happiness itself, not its pursuit. Today, the cutting edge of those ideologies is the “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) movement. Although the activists promoting it use pleasant-sounding terms to describe their goals, they want nothing less than a dangerous redefinition of what it means to be American. But if you added the word “meritocracy” to DEI, it becomes a very American ideal.
Meritocracy is at the heart of the American Dream. Meritocracy is based on the idea of each individual using their own talents and hard work to achieve their dreams. Capitalism and free government allow diversity, equity, and inclusion to flourish through meritocracy. Socialism only crushes them.
The real way to protect diversity and meritocracy in America is to teach students what the Founders meant by “pursuit of happiness.” We must make young people understand that happiness is not something they are given, but rather something they must fight for and win themselves. One way we can do that is by teaching students – many of whom will not go to college – the real skills they will need in a modern economy, through enhanced trade programs and innovative apprenticeships. Another vital step is introducing them to the great conversation that is the American political tradition.
Millions of people have come to America – and millions more want to come – because they know that here, they can earn happiness. Many flee from socialist regimes and other forms of despotism. Those who have suffered under tyranny yearn for and appreciate the freedom an individual has within the American system. We owe it to them, to ourselves, and to the rising generation to protect and promote that individual freedom at the heart of our national tradition.
Thankfully, it seems that DEI movement’s influence on the American mind has crested. Everyday Americans are beginning to understand what it truly is: socialism dressed up in platitudes. DEI’s advocates merely want everyone to receive equal outcomes regardless of their abilities and efforts. That is not a message that will resonate with most hardworking Americans.
But now that everyday Americans are waking up, we must mobilize against DEI ideology untethered from meritocracy. Its advocates are firmly ensconced in our school system, from K-12 through the universities. They are preventing many of our young people from learning about America. As we say at the Jack Miller Center, “The battle for the soul of our nation will be won or lost in our classrooms.”
We must push for stronger civics education in America. The teaching of our founding principles and American history, warts and all, has been downgraded or eradicated from most curricula. Civics classrooms are under-resourced and under-supported. Parents, grandparents, and other concerned citizens have a duty to advocate for a better approach.
Since the Jack Miller Center was founded, we have made some incredible headway – but the battle is not won. As we saw at JMC’s last National Civic Summit, there is a growing “army” of organizations like ours, who have been individually working to make things right. But now is the time for collaboration to have a much bigger impact. These organizations are doing good work and properly funded could become a major force for totally winning the battle and getting the teaching of our founding principles, American history, and Western civilization values back into our classrooms in order to help turn out well informed, hopefully patriotic, citizens.
These groups desperately need more support from donors. Some of America’s wealthiest citizens give billions and billions of dollars to universities, many to their alma maters, without realizing that most of these schools they give to are preaching DEI values they do not support. These philanthropic efforts would do much more good for the country if they were redirected to projects and initiatives that uphold American principles.
It is time for everyone to stop complaining and to get off the sidelines and help win this battle. Every American, from the parent with kids in school to the philanthropist looking for new ways to give charitably, has a role to play in reviving civic education. We have been the benefactors of a great heritage, and it is up to us to pass it along to a new generation.
