Colonel Jeffrey Roth, author of the best-selling book Fires, Floods, and Taxicabs, has spent much of his life serving in the military and engaging in humanitarian efforts, but now he sees a new battleground emerging-one that requires a different kind of leadership. In his recent op-ed Building Bridges in a Fractured Nation, Roth advocates for a renewed focus on civic responsibility and education to rebuild trust in the United States’ democratic institutions.
Fostering Engagement
In a recent interview, Roth underscored the urgency of fostering political engagement, particularly among younger generations, to combat the growing sense of disillusionment in today’s political landscape. “We often take civic education for granted in democratic societies,” Roth said. “But there has to be a framework for teaching youth how to engage and why safeguarding our political processes is so important.”
Drawing on his own early experiences in inner-city Detroit and post-Communist Romania, Roth reflected on how exposure to different realities helped shape his understanding of public policy’s impact on everyday lives. “Public policy can profoundly affect people in real ways,” he explained. “Whether it’s feeding the hungry or housing the poor, engagement in the political process is essential for improving lives.”
Lack of Proper Civic Education
Roth believes that a lack of proper civic education is contributing to today’s political divides, with younger generations increasingly disconnected from the mechanisms of government. In many school systems, civic education has been neglected or stripped from the curriculum altogether, leaving a gap in students’ understanding of how political systems operate and why participation is necessary. “Part of civic education should be academic,” Roth argued, “but part of it should also involve practicing the work of living in a democratic society.”
In his op-ed, Roth connects this issue of disengagement with broader technological shifts, noting that rapid advancements in communication and the rise of social media have created new challenges for democracy. Social media platforms, Roth believes, have played a role in isolating people within ideological echo chambers, where differing views are rarely heard. Algorithms, designed to prioritize engagement, often feed users content that reinforces their existing beliefs, further entrenching political polarization.
Education
Roth stressed the importance of teaching young people how to navigate these digital spaces responsibly and use them to foster meaningful dialogue rather than divisiveness. “The echo chambers we’ve created through social media only deepen the divides,” Roth warned. “We need to teach young people not only how to engage, but how to engage constructively.”
The Political Process
Beyond education, Roth advocates for a broader grassroots movement that encourages Americans of all ages to get involved in the political process. He pointed out that engaging in local initiatives and community projects can help bridge divides by bringing people together around shared goals. “If we want to rebuild trust and confidence in our institutions, it has to start at the local level,” he said. “People need to get involved in issues they care about and work with their neighbors to find solutions.”
Power of Community
Roth’s military service has reinforced his belief in the power of community and shared hardship to build bonds of trust. He explained that in both the military and civilian life, people who work through challenges together often emerge stronger. “In the military, we learn to trust each other through hardship. That same principle applies to our communities,” Roth said. “When we come together to solve problems, we build trust, and trust is the foundation of a healthy democracy.”
Leadership and Civic Responsibility
While Roth acknowledges that today’s political environment is particularly volatile, he remains optimistic. “I do believe there’s a way through this,” he said, emphasizing that civic engagement and leadership are the keys to healing political divides. But this healing won’t happen without effort. Roth concluded by calling on leaders at all levels – government officials, educators, and community organizers-to step up and lead by example, fostering a culture of engagement, transparency, and accountability.
For more on Colonel Roth’s insights into the future of political engagement and civid responsibility, read his full interview at Navigating Political Divides: A Conversation with Colonel Jeffrey Roth.