Don’t know much about history, don’t know much biology, don’t know much about science books and I don’t know much about the French I took. Those were the lyrics from a popular song by Sam Cooke in 1960. The words make for a catchy song, but they are not very realistic and they contribute to the sad state of affairs that our country is in, especially as not knowing our history is concerned.
There have been many positive aspects of our history, as well as some not so positive aspects, but it is important to remember the original intent of our Founding Fathers, rather than attempting to revise or change it because it does not fit a particular narrative or paradigm.
I have been out of high school for 50 years, and even at that time there were things about our history that were not taught. Specifically, the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the First Charter of the Virginia Colony, just to name a few items. Obviously, that was just the beginning of the liberal attempts to revise America’s history.
As this discussion reaches the present time, we are seeking the removal of statues and monuments because they represent slavery, racism or some other negative aspect of our culture.
We are now confronted with books being introduced into our schools that expose our children to graphic and sexually explicit materials, and there are calls by parents to have these books removed from school libraries.
The past, most certainly is never dead, but we have learned so very little from the past, and as George Santayana reminded us: “those who don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Our history tells a remarkable story about the formation of our Republic, but instead of trying to revise and change that history, we should learn from it and follow the extraordinary wisdom and insights of our Founding Fathers.
Exposing our children to sexually explicit materials, drag shows and vile and vulgar language is not history and has no place in our society.
Our children are our future and our legacy. It is the greatest responsibility of our government agencies to protect the most vulnerable members of our society and communities from dangerous and damaging influences instead of exploiting them by exposing them to materials and influences that will have widespread and irreversible damage to our children.
David J. Bowie, Elizabethtown
