Trump is rewriting American history

By now we’ve all read about Trump’s remaking of American history by shutting down exhibits at the Smithsonian Museum that have the temerity to show parts of our history we’re not proud of, but can’t afford to forget. So Harriet Tubman is no longer an American Hero; she’s just another DEI casualty.

I’ve been rereading “1984.” George Orwell, Remember? You probably read it in high school like I did. Maybe it’s a little hazy now. Refresher: Winston Smith has a government job. He rewrites historical records to say whatever those in the Party tell him to. Sound familiar? In the book, he works for the Ministry of Truth. Now he works for the Smithsonian.

Museums, universities, libraries, teachers — any institution that transmits cultural knowledge and values is under attack. Still coming is a deterioration of our news sources. Well, NPR will always be there, right? Don’t count on it. The government (FCC) has the ability to revoke broadcast licenses of those that don’t toe the line. Think they won’t? Think again.

Last week I went to one of the Hands Off rallies. Reminded me of the sixties. Those are a start. But remember Trump’s reactions to the George Floyd protests? As things get worse, and protests get larger and louder, don’t be surprised if Trump declares martial law under one of those obscure national emergency statutes the Supreme Court keeps endorsing. Farfetched? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

— Mark Flower, Longmont