Opinion: United States needs to be honest about its past

Re “Forgetting the ‘war on terror’ makes us susceptible to repeating history” (Sept. 8): Kudos to Gary Fields for saying that the U.S. should come to grips with its past in his commentary piece. Only acknowledgment of our mistakes and atrocities can keep us from repeating them.

Our school textbooks are full of misinformation and half-truths. We need to be teaching critical race theory, American imperialism, history of the treatment of Native Americans, etc.

Our children must learn to not walk in our shoes, but make this country a better place as our founding fathers envisioned. They were aware of the importance of an informed public in order for democracy to work. Let’s own up to our past. We should embrace the truth, not cover it up.

For example, I encourage all to read the history of the Vietnam War; the war was not about communism but about colonial rule. There’s no place for America right or wrong.

Rick Kohl
Oceanside

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