Gutting The Past Won't Make America Great Again
It was expensive to rewrite America's history by whitewashing the truth across our national parks, museums, and landmarks. But it happened under an executive order signed last year by President Trump.
The order, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, claimed that any unpleasantries in American history were nothing more than improper partisan ideology.
Today, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley disagreed and gave the administration 21 days to “restore and reinstall all interpretive materials at park sites managed by the NPS.”
Kelly wrote, “Under the guise of promoting American dignity, this Administration seeks to share a limited history by ordering the removal of all signs, displays, and interpretive exhibits at National Parks that do not align with its preferred narrative, thereby telling half-truths.”
Over the last 8 months, merchandise that promoted DEI in National Parks gift shops was purged along with countless educational plaques and signs throughout the parks that aimed to inform visitors of our history and the experiences of communities whose contributions, struggles, and achievements were an important part of the American story.
Do you agree or disagree with the judge's decision? Was the executive order warranted? Would it have “made America Great Again”? Was it a good way to put your tax dollars to work?
Present Valley
A long time park enthusiast, hiker and appreciator of our national parks I was glad to hear the judge's decision.
I'm a middle of the road kinda gal so any extreme ideas don't sit well me nor do I trust them. The pendulum may swing far and wide but it always comes back to the stable center. I like life that way...
As far as what will make America Great again...it's going to be a long road.
Evangel
Yes. A transfer of wealth back to the people will need to happen first. Thanks for your comment.
Homeless Valley
There's no greatness in glossing over the truth or eliminating it entirely.
There's no greatness in leaving the impression that just white men built this country and made it great. There's no greatness in destroying any community's legacy or diminishing its worth. This is our country, not this administration's country. I'm greatly relieved that the judge made the right decision. God bless her.
Evangel
I agree with everything you said. The attempt to alter the truth is shameful and unconscionable.
Wilsons Grave
America's greatness is an evolving deal. We can't be naive and think that crawling back into our past is going to fix a damn thing. How far back should we go...how bout back to the Salem witch trials? Or the McCarthy era where famous writers were put on black lists or jailed? People need to get real.
When I've asked someone what era should we go back to, they get all tongue-tied, which says a lot...mainly that they're not thinking, they're just repeating their leader.
Not saying here that things don't need fixing, but going back in time when things were supposedly great, like maybe when we were killing Native Americans by gifting them blankets laced with smallpox is not rational unless you're racist, sociopathic, insane (or all of the above)...as some of our current leaders must be.
Evangel
"How far back should we go?" is a great question. Thank you for asking it. I hope people go home and think about it.
Thanks for the great comment.
Slipstream
There's a saying, "You're as sick as your secrets." Rolling things back to keep the secrets of our country doesn't make them go away. Hiding facts and truths demonstrates how sick our country is. Getting it out, talking about it, and making changes is the only way to heal.
One day, the pendulum will swing back, and the secrets will be dragged back into the light, and truth will put us on a new path.
Evangel
Here's another saying: from your lips to God's ears.