1/ So...yesterday on “History Matters” I discussed why impeachments are important—besides conviction

Going to cling to that now

They create a record of events.
They construct a narrative.
They (in this case) reveal that record & narrative to the public

NCHEteach.org/conversations
2/ As hard as it feels to get past this verdict, it’s important to remember that the facts & implications of the 1/6 attack matter.

It’s important to remember that a president SHOULD NOT be above the law.

It’s important to recognize the threats to democracy that are before us.
3/ It’s important to dedicate ourselves to being aware of anti-democratic threats & to defend democracy.

It’s important to defend our right to vote which is already under attack.

It’s important for “us” to be a big inclusive “us”—unlike the vision of the last administration.
4/ I’m feeling temporarily defeated right now.

Temporarily.

Today.

Tomorrow we bolster ourselves for what’s to come — and head out strong.

I apologize if this sounds hokey.
It’s what I need to say & hear.
Maybe some of you do too.

• • •

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More from @jbf1755

5 Feb
OK.

TL cleanse.

APPRECIATION: A LIST

1. Sending appreciation to all parents dealing w/working from home & kids and schooling & everything else.

2. Sending appreciation to all teachers dealing w/the same.

3. Thank you musical theater on TV, for lowering my blood pressure.
4. Thank you Newbie--& all pets--for unconditional love.

5. Appreciation to folks who see how understanding the past can help us thru the present.

6. Thanks to the mutual support of #twitterstorians.

7. Thanks to cocktails.

8. Thanks to @historyed for sponsoring history ed..
9. Thanks to ice cream

10. Thanks to students who remind teachers of why they teach & why their work has meaning

11. Thx to my weighted blanket; no cure but it helps.

12. Thanks to folks of all kinds working in hospitals & health care & food prep & commerce; they deserve more.
Read 6 tweets
7 Jan
Some suggested readings for learning and teaching about our current crisis of violence and democracy.

Politico did a piece on rhetoric and violence recently.

politico.com/magazine/story…
The New Yorker did a lengthy piece on democracy and force.

newyorker.com/magazine/2020/…
I wrote an op-ed on violence in American politics.

nytimes.com/2018/09/07/opi…
Read 5 tweets
29 Dec 20
1/ What would the Founders say about millions of people under curfew?

First & most important:

There was no single block of "Founders." There were different people w/different opinions, so they would say a range of things.

There's no simple answer to that question

That said...
2/ Second:

"The Founders" WOULD agree on the existence of something called the "common good."

This, too, had no simple meaning.
The "common good" of who?

Even so, they recognized that--one way or another--gov't should protect it in some way

In a way, government is a big "we"
3/ Third:

And while we're talking about government & its role...

"The Founders" weren't anti-government.
They created governments.
A lot.

The Revolution was a revolt vs. one specific gov't.

Even as it was underway, people were creating new governments to replace the old one.
Read 6 tweets
17 Dec 20
1/ My research for #TheFieldOfBlood showed me something interesting about institutional dynamics.

In the antebellum Congress, one "team" blatantly broke rules, reveling in it & gaining power.

The other team upheld rules, scolding violators & insisting that rules be followed.
2/ For the institutionally responsible, well-behaved team, following the rules was expected of them. It was part of their identity.

And when someone broke that rule of civility, they were roundly criticized for it -- by the routinely uncivil opposite "team."
3/ This imbalance of institutional responsibility contributed to an imbalance of power

Bullies -- one team -- had more power.

Rule-followers -- the other team -- protested w/o punch.
Read 4 tweets
14 Dec 20
1/ An elector story.

Once upon a time, there was a very very very fraught presidential election.

An election where each side thought that the other would likely destroy the United States.
2/ The presidential campaign was long and fierce. Insults. Accusations. Widespread fear that government as we knew it would collapse.
3/ At one point, one side threatened armed resistance if they didn't get their way in the presidential contest.

They explicitly threatened people in power who could ultimately push the electoral contest one way or another.
Read 14 tweets
23 Sep 20
1/ In 2020, we learned that some people don't understand what democracy is; don't know that it takes work; don't know that it's fallible; don't accept that the USA can fall; don't know what they lose when democracy falls; & don't know how hard it will be to get it back.
2/ And preventing people from teaching & learning how we've had to fight for democracy; the people & events that attacked it; the people who fought for it vs immense opposition; & the failures in our democratic system from the outset is NOT the way to protect & sustain democracy.
3/ But....people in power know that.
Read 5 tweets

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