I have been a bit quiet
lately. But developments in recent
weeks compel this writer and sometime historian to speak out about something.
Us Americans can disagree
on a lot and still be American. But some advocacy lately crosses the line into
what is both un-American and intolerable.
There is a group of
people that have been calling for virtually erasing parts of our culture and
history. Take the controversy over the Confederate flag. I actually agree that
removing the flag from being flown at state capitols is a reasonable move.
(Maybe you disagree with me on that, which I understand.) But removing it from
being sold at Civil War battlegrounds? Vandalizing historic statues, including
in the Denton Courthouse Square? Heck, removing it from the top of that beloved
car, The General Lee?
Going beyond the battle
flag, there has been a call to ban Gone
With the Wind. I am not kidding. In a different vein, there have been
protests against showing The Producers,
one of the most brilliant comedies of the 20th Century. And this from the same sort of people
who have no problem taking your taxes to subsidize obscene performance “art”
that I will not even dignify to mention.
(I would oppose banning even that “art”, too. But subsidizing it?)
I could continue. Believe
me, I could! But a gentleman named George Orwell warned us of those who would
erase history and culture. Not to mention the warnings of history from the
destruction of the Library of Alexandria to the totalitarian regimes of the
20th Century to the destruction today of antiquities by ISIS.
Don't get me wrong. I
believe in freedom and free speech. I also believe in using our freedom and
free speech to say NO to these New Totalitarians who would destroy culture and
history. We best do that and soon.
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