One of my old college professors, Ruth Wisse, just gave the Jefferson Lecture (the highest honor given by the National Endowment for the Humanities) at the tender age of 89. One brief quotation, about addressing the cultural drift to grievance over gratitude during Harvard faculty meetings:
The best I ever did, more than once, was to say, “Please remember that democracy is not transmitted biologically.”
That is from an argument referencing the essential daily Jewish prayer, the Shema, and the criticality of reinforcing important ideas more than just prioritizing novelty of content. Things can both be imperfect—even deeply flawed—and still worth celebrating.
If there is to be enduring government of, by, and for the people, the people would have to be instructed and reminded to respect and confidently to perpetuate their precious inheritance.
Nihilism, learned helplessness, and conspiracy don’t have to be a dominant cultural operating system.