| ||||||||||||||||
| Category: Social Science:Social Justice |
(requires Adobe Reader)
|
| About the Book | |
|
My thoughts and opinions in this pamphlet come from my lack of knowledge about a crucial moment in our country's history. In October 2018, I was shocked, disappointed, and angry when I watched the PBS special on the eugenics movement. This journey of reeducation has revealed to me that at every level of society, we have failed to recognize the mistakes and challenges faced as a free and fair nation. Human beings are naturally prone to making errors, sometimes with devastating effects. What remains confusing and an ongoing topic for philosophers and historians is our persistent tendency—mainly among white, prejudiced, religious zealots—and often successfully, to hide and disown our very real and well-documented American history. The school history books I reviewed omitted any mention of the American eugenics movement and the notable Americans involved in supporting this false science, which promoted the sterilization of people based on poorly conducted studies and surveys. Our challenging history brings us from the eugenics movement of the early 1900s to World War II and the Holocaust. Our history books fail to acknowledge the education Hitler received from the political and social events taking place in America, as well as the significant support he received from our so-called American heroes and political figures of that era. The eugenics-inspired strict immigration laws, along with the widespread antisemitism among politicians, religious leaders, and ordinary Americans, prevented thousands of Jews from escaping to safety, including Anne Frank's family. In this pamphlet, I aimed to connect the dots between various events, including the Native American genocide and the injustice and violence faced by Black Americans. Hitler observed these issues and exploited them for his own gain. This history is well documented, yet very little was shared or taught during my early education. Today, misinformation persists about critical race theory, along with the censorship and banning of books that address racism in America, LGBTQ+ issues, and many other challenging but true aspects of American history. Therefore, when politicians or a U.S. President, standing at a podium and in despair, say, “this is not America,” in reference to a racial or violent event occurring today, it is simply not true. We have a fallback, a resource, though. And what better time in our history to recognize than that of our Founding Fathers? They were intelligent, stubborn, and argumentative, but they had the crucial task of forming a government, which they accomplished over an eleven-year span of time. They did not operate within the framework of political parties; none existed. Then there was a short article, written anonymously by an unknown Englishman, a recent immigrant to this young nation. This article quickly grew into a 47-page pamphlet, Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine, urging the colonists to speak out and oppose the tariffs and laws imposed by an oppressive English government. With humility, re-education, and a simple need to protect my sanity while enduring the undemocratic, often violent, actions of the current government in the United States, I began to learn and write. I used Paine’s Common Sense as my guide and inspiration, although I claim no similarity beyond that. I hope, however, that this pamphlet will spark the start of a conversation and planning for our era's most significant peaceful solidarity movement. It is a time for honesty. It's time to identify empathetic, compassionate, experienced, and intelligent leaders to guide us into the next 250 years of our democracy.
|
|
| Reviews | |
The coupling of historical events with contemporary issues, such as threats to constitutional norms and the health of our democracy, provides a morally urgent tone that will motivate those uneasy about America's polarization. It is aimed at civic-minded readers: students, local activists, and community leaders seeking validation to encourage conversations on democracy, rights, and responsibilities as we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence. This pamphlet provides an extraordinarily concise analysis of some of the black holes in American history, which are often excluded from school teaching, which tends to offer a sugar-coated, false narrative of American history. Drawing on the Founding Fathers' glorious past, the author proposes a democratic awakening grounded in solidarity and common sense to reawaken America's good conscience. What makes this book resonate is not just its historical revelations, but its heartfelt urgency: a call for empathy, justice, and renewed national solidarity, rooted in real awareness — not myths. Concise, clear, and morally compelling, American Solidarity 2026 is a wake-up call and an invitation to create a fairer future — a must-read for anyone who cares about truth and justice. I do think it's a milestone for a global movement heading toward ethics and peace. Love it, your excerpts were superb, thought-provoking, and courageous. Dr. Masiello offers a courageous and provocative essay that exposes suppressed chapters of American history and links them to current threats to democracy. Blending personal reflection with documented evidence, he calls for moral awakening grounded in historical awareness. The work stands as an urgent contribution to debates on justice, civic responsibility, and ethical leadership as the United States nears its 250th anniversary.
|
|
| About the Author | |
 |
Matt Masiello is a physician and public health practitioner. As a pediatrician, he has worked as a pediatric critical care doctor, a hospitalist, and a primary care provider. He has responded to health crises in the U.S. and internationally and is recognized for his health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. |