Source of the danger

Indoctrination is a word that’s being thrown around a lot. When it entered our language in the 17th century, it meant “to teach,” from its Latin root. Although it’s often given negative connotations, indoctrination means simply to teach a person particular ideas and beliefs.

We humans don’t have the full range of instincts that other creatures are born with. We have to learn virtually all of our behaviors, and this is a lifetime endeavor. All of us are brimming over with indoctrination that we received from many sources. This is necessary to our existence.

As we grow up, we acquire critical skills. We learn that much of the indoctrination we have received serves us very well while some of it doesn’t.

Thus we begin a sorting-out process that’s essential to our well-being.

Most of us Americans grew up in a thoroughly white supremacist culture that was entwined with an impure form of Christianity that was loaded with cultural prejudices. Much of this ethos is clearly out of harmony with the life and teachings of Jesus. It requires a lot of education and critical thinking to sort all of this out.

It seems the MAGA folks who hold the seats of power in Arkansas aren’t much into critical thinking. They see themselves as pure and free of indoctrination. Indoctrination, they think, is everything that varies from their obviously correct views. They want to stampede us into fearing that malevolent teachers are seeking to corrupt our kids, so educators must be muzzled and books must be banned.

We mortals would be better served if we started identifying the demons that dwell within all of us and prevent us from being the caring, loving people that God intended us to be. The greatest dangers we face come not from outside but from within. SANDY WYLIE

Bella Vista