Okay. I powered through the first half of the banned book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States in preparation for our Speakeasy. Now I have questions for my history teachers.
 
To be fair, I’m sure they taught me what was taught to them. It just wasn’t true. The persons we called “settlers” were nothing of the kind, because there was nothing on the continent than needed settling. The land had been well cultivated by the people living here. Until “settlers” drove them out. Our “settlers,” our military, and bands of mercenaries burned villages and crops, drove people from their homes, and massacred civilians, young and old. The practice of scalping that our films associate with Indigenous peoples came to this continent from its practice in the British Isles.
 
These war crimes were prompted and supported by our founders, including Presidents Andrew Jackson and George Washington. The novelist James Fenimore Cooper was complicit, using his art to perpetuate the lie of the savage. In truth, our nation was born out of genocide. And the slave trade.
 
Well, all this makes me miserable. I believed—was taught to believe—better of our founders. Better of the pilgrims, the “settlers,” the military. And I’m miserable, because my ancestors came from the British Isles. Who knows what some of them may have done? Still, I don’t want to be complicit through willful ignorance. So now what?
 
Jesus promised, “the truth will set you free.” Another wise human added, “but first it will make you miserable.”
 
Rethinking our beliefs is a miserable business. What do we stand on when the ground is shifting beneath our feet?
 
We stand on Truth, however miserable it makes us. And we stand in the power we have to live as we ought: recognizing our worth and the equal worth of others. In this season of self-reflection, we can do just that: choosing to do our own thinking. Choosing to live by values that help us reach our human potential and to be human toward others.
 
Acknowledging our ignorance, our biases, our mistakes, our faults takes courage. It’s miserable. And worth it. So, let’s keep seeking Truth. Let’s keep strengthening our souls by doing our own thinking. Let’s set ourselves free!
 
How do you stay open to truth? How do you deal with misery? What practices help you be who you want to be in the world? Share your thoughts at contact@aspaciousplace.com.