Americans don’t normally turn to Hollywood celebrities for a lesson on civics, but they could learn a surprising amount about the subject from one of them, renowned actor Richard Dreyfuss.
The actor, who is recognized for his lead roles in movies such as “Jaws,” “American Graffiti,” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” is committed to informing others about U.S. civics. Additionally, he opposes the notion that any political party is ethically superior to others.
In an interview with Dave Rubin on “The Rubin Report” this week, he stated, “They’re all equally nuts.” And he believes that the severe political partisanship the country is experiencing makes us “bitter and ignorant.”
“These days, Republicans can’t wait to bring up the word ‘liberal’ as a curse word. And vice-versa,” he said.
Dreyfuss emphasized the significance of Americans having a good understanding of civics, as it fosters mutual respect towards those with differing opinions. He argued that since the 1960s, the prevailing ignorance about the founding of the United States has led to a decline in the cherished values of the nation.
“We got so far away from that in such a short amount of time,” he told Rubin.
“By not knowing the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration [of Independence], by not knowing the birth tale of America, we cheat ourselves tremendously, and we change the values that are so important and so unique to us. Opposing views—what other country cherishes opposing views like we do?” he asked.
According to the actor, bitter conflicts over political identities are harmful to the nation and are in conflict with the principles on which it was founded.
“For us to deny that or walk away from that, or feel in some way compelled for either side, conservative or liberal, to have to put down the other side, it’s not enough to disagree with people, you are called upon to put them down personally. There are people who wouldn’t consider it a good day if they hadn’t put down some liberals as idiots.”
“That’s nonsense. It’s horse—t,” Dreyfuss condemned. “We should grow up and stop it.”
Dreyfuss described how he became disenchanted with the hypocrisy of partisan politics after being raised by activist parents.
“I found at a very early age, that most of the partisanship in American politics was nonsense, and I’ve always felt that way. . . . At the height of my partisan politics I was a Democrat or a liberal. But I wasn’t really, and would never have voted a straight party ticket,” Dreyfuss recalled.
Americans have “lost pride” in our republic, he added.
Earlier this year, Dreyfuss warned that if there were no reforms in the field of education in the area of civics, there would be severe consequences in the next twenty years.
“I firmly believe that if we don’t revive the study of civics, we will be dead before 2050. We’ll have the same name, and it will be a nightmare,” the actor told The Glenn Beck Podcast in January.
“It infuriates me that people don’t understand what this place means,” he said, referring to the U.S. “What an advance on human progress this country is all about and how quickly we can abandon it without, without a second thought.”
In 2006, Dreyfuss founded The Dreyfuss Civics Initiative (TDCI). Its purpose is “to revive the teaching of civics in American public education” and “to empower future generations with the critical-thinking skills they need to fulfill the vast potential of American citizenship.”
