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RainDog

(28,784 posts)
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:10 AM Jan 2012

Tennessee Tea Party wants to whitewash slave-holding reality of the Founders

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/01/22/tennessee-tea-party-wants-slavery-removed-from-school-textbooks-to-make-founding-fathers-look-good/

As if the Tea Party hasn’t butchered American history enough since their creation, the Tea Party in Tennessee is demanding the immediate removal of any mention of slavery as it applies to the Founding Fathers because they want schools clean up their image and teach students “the truth about America.” Tennessee now wants to join Texas in changing American history as it is presented in textbooks and how it is taught by teachers in school.

Multiple Tea Party members, including lead spokesman Hal Rounds, say they want the state legislature to force teachers to teach history in the way they see it. In other words, they want to re-write history to exclude the fact that the Founding Fathers owned slaves, because according to The Memphis Commercial Appeal, the group wants to address “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another.”

The group wants to change textbook selection criteria to say that “No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership.” It’s a fancy way of saying let’s take the role of minorities out of our American history textbooks so our past leaders will look good.


Racism is the most repulsive form of "patriotism."

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Tennessee Tea Party wants to whitewash slave-holding reality of the Founders (Original Post) RainDog Jan 2012 OP
THE "TRUTH" about America??!! Um, Slavery isn't part of the truth of the Founding Fathers? Ecumenist Jan 2012 #1
If you look at the sparsely populated meeting in the photo at the link RainDog Jan 2012 #2
I am the result of that slavery with my "exotic" appearance, curly hair Ecumenist Jan 2012 #6
Maybe they want to remove the reality that Sally Hemings was the common-law wife of Jefferson RainDog Jan 2012 #8
If you want to call that "relationship" a common-law one. Justice wanted Jan 2012 #11
obviously she could not offer consent RainDog Jan 2012 #14
No, I haven't I need to. Funnily enough, most black people I know KNEW long before it was Ecumenist Jan 2012 #12
Yeah, I know RainDog Jan 2012 #13
Yep, the photographer got close trying to make it look like there was a crowd. Lasher Jan 2012 #9
There is nothing more nightmarish or '1884' than the act of re-writing history. Guy Montag Jan 2012 #3
Since Fox News was the publicity arm of the astro-turf Tea Baggers RainDog Jan 2012 #7
I live in Tennessee and I don't think this way. Fawke Em Jan 2012 #18
my relative has become more reactionary as she's gotten older RainDog Jan 2012 #19
Rogero spoke at UTK's college democrats meeting. white_wolf Jan 2012 #24
Is there a reason you can't move to the city? Fawke Em Jan 2012 #26
Republicanism is not a reality-based ideology... JCMach1 Jan 2012 #4
Its hard to value principles. napoleon_in_rags Jan 2012 #5
When I saw this all I could do is sing sing sing!!! Loudmxr Jan 2012 #10
Looks like there's about eight old farts there. CanonRay Jan 2012 #15
Kim Jong Il faction in charge Generic Other Jan 2012 #16
This tripe has been rumored around the state for a couple Fawke Em Jan 2012 #17
Thank goodness Aerows Jan 2012 #22
I prefer John Adams to Washington and Jefferson Nye Bevan Jan 2012 #20
The "Truth"? Aerows Jan 2012 #21
K&R BlueDemOhio Jan 2012 #23
So the comrades of the Tenn. TP want to have political commisars... JHB Jan 2012 #25

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
1. THE "TRUTH" about America??!! Um, Slavery isn't part of the truth of the Founding Fathers?
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:14 AM
Jan 2012

Really? What the fuck is wrong with these people? Any black person who's a member of this inbred group of folks has tobe completely mentally damaged beyond repair... They get crazier and crazier.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
2. If you look at the sparsely populated meeting in the photo at the link
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:17 AM
Jan 2012

It appears those who support such a move are the extras from the original Dukes of Hazzard.

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
6. I am the result of that slavery with my "exotic" appearance, curly hair
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:31 AM
Jan 2012

instead of kinky hair and caramel skin. Gonna write me out too fellas, along with about 12% of the population? What do they think this will accomplish? We're here because of that inconvenient truth, African descent people, that is.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
8. Maybe they want to remove the reality that Sally Hemings was the common-law wife of Jefferson
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 05:27 AM
Jan 2012

And that DNA analysis has revealed that her son, Eston, was definitely descended from Jefferson.

Or the reality that Jefferson and Hemings' children lived in society as white Americans - or that Hemings was the half-sister of Jefferson's first wife.

Sometimes I think the U.S. needs a truth commission, like the ones in South American nations after the overthrow of the fascists that the U.S. helped to install, or like the ones in South Africa after apartheid...because, honestly, something needs to be done to establish a national record to counter the lies of the extremists here.

Did you read that excellent book, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family?

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2008/09/jeffersons_other_family.html?from=rss

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
14. obviously she could not offer consent
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 06:32 AM
Jan 2012

but, as with other women who were in coerced marriages, Hemings should be recognized as the common-law wife of Jefferson, for all intents and purposes, whether she wanted to be or not, because that's the role she fulfilled.

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
12. No, I haven't I need to. Funnily enough, most black people I know KNEW long before it was
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 05:42 AM
Jan 2012

confirmed by science that the Hemmings were descended from Jefferson. I just don't get it. What will rewriting history serve? How would they explain people like me? Most black peole have white members and we usually acknoledge them but not too often do they acknowledge us. Before my Grandfather died, He was si shocked and touched when at the family reunion in Texas, two young white women walked up and said" We understand you're our cousin, Mr Ewey". He never thought he would see that as he had grown up in west Texas and remembered the "Sundown Signs" and having to get off of the sidewalks if a white person approached. I tell you, RainDog, it brought tears to my eyes to hear my grandfather recount that experience.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
13. Yeah, I know
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 06:25 AM
Jan 2012

I learned about Hemings long ago from some women friends of mine.

there is so much that has happened in American history that has been censored and all of it has to do with maintaining myths about the honorable acts of elite members of society, whether it was during the time of slavery or during the time of FDR or during the last few decades.

Lasher

(27,501 posts)
9. Yep, the photographer got close trying to make it look like there was a crowd.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 05:28 AM
Jan 2012

But it's easy to see it's mostly a roomful of empty chairs.

Guy Montag

(126 posts)
3. There is nothing more nightmarish or '1884' than the act of re-writing history.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:19 AM
Jan 2012

We have Faux 'news' evolving into that book's fifteen minutes of rage sessions, the NeoCon concept of perpetual war bedeviling us, and now this.

George Orwell was a wise man. He predicted the future we are now starting to see all too well.

Now, it is our duty to recognize the problem and fight to undo the damage to our country and culture. History should be learned from, least we be doomed to relive it's valuable lessons.

I can't think of a worse way to lie to kids in school than to fails to show the all too human flaws and failings of the framers of the Constitution and the founders of this republic which was such a daring experiment in it's day.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
7. Since Fox News was the publicity arm of the astro-turf Tea Baggers
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 05:04 AM
Jan 2012

is there any doubt that Fox News is the equivalent of Pravda for the most extreme and idiotic right wingers in this nation?

I had a sadly "interesting" snippet of conversation with one of my Tennessee relatives the other day... an elderly white woman, a "good Christian" who asked me if I wanted to shoot a gun. I said no, I hadn't shot a gun since I'd fired a rifle when I was 12 or so. She said, "people are arming themselves here."

Then went on to explain that it was because her McMansion ex-urb's house alarm had gone off four nights in a row but it might have something to do with the alarm. I said, yeah, sounds like the problem is with the alarm.

But she also knows that the economy is in really bad shape now.

And, apparently, doesn't seem to be able to make the connection b/t lack of govt spending for things like infrastructure jobs with her fear of crime - or maybe it's a fear of the black guy in office.

It makes me want to puke to think that I have relatives who may think this way, but I do. She and her husband are both educated professionals, btw. And southern baptists. And white. And Fox News viewers.

...and this is why I rarely visit with some relatives.

Fawke Em

(11,366 posts)
18. I live in Tennessee and I don't think this way.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 10:19 AM
Jan 2012

In fact, my fellow Knoxvillians - a town once considered very Republican - just voted in a female Latina who had once been a protestor and a union organizer as our new mayor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline_Rogero

Hope that gives you hope.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
19. my relative has become more reactionary as she's gotten older
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 12:20 PM
Jan 2012

yeah, I know there are good people all over. where I live, I've heard old guys say the word, "Canada" like it's a social disease because of its elements of social democracy. I'd never heard anyone do that before him. The guy is also probably on Soc. Sec.

white_wolf

(6,238 posts)
24. Rogero spoke at UTK's college democrats meeting.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 01:32 PM
Jan 2012

She was really good, I was impressed with her. I couldn't vote since I'm in the county, though. That is something that does annoy me though, because what happens in the city limits does affect me a lot since I go to school there and live like 5 miles outside it.

napoleon_in_rags

(3,991 posts)
5. Its hard to value principles.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:26 AM
Jan 2012

It takes so much thought, its so challenging. So much easier to value men - their inevitable flaws can be used to justify our own.

CanonRay

(14,038 posts)
15. Looks like there's about eight old farts there.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 09:23 AM
Jan 2012

I cannot believe anyone pays any attention to these wackos.

Fawke Em

(11,366 posts)
17. This tripe has been rumored around the state for a couple
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 10:15 AM
Jan 2012

of years now.

I've spoken with my school board representative (who is liberal in a conservative county - with a liberal city) and she says this "movement" is so small that it's not even a blip on the radar.

A quick search of some of the keywords here also reveals that no legitimate Tennessee newspaper has covered it or anything like it in more than a year. If it popped up in January 2011 as reported - then it lost its legs by February.

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
22. Thank goodness
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 01:29 PM
Jan 2012

I'm relieved that it is only a handful of people that have chosen to be stupid and are dumb enough to think the rest of us will choose to be stupid along with them.

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
21. The "Truth"?
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 01:27 PM
Jan 2012

The "Truth" is that there was slavery in this nation. The "Truth" is that we murdered Indians by the millions and stole their lands.

Are they saying that they can't handle "the Truth", because it sounds like that is what they are saying to me. There isn't a nation, a religion, a cultural group or an ethnic group that hasn't at some point in history done something abhorrent. The way we keep from repeating those mistakes is to acknowledge them.

Those who forget history, or even worse, willfully deny it, are definitely doomed to repeat it. The only thing worse than blind zealotry is willful, chosen stupidity.

JHB

(37,132 posts)
25. So the comrades of the Tenn. TP want to have political commisars...
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 01:37 PM
Jan 2012

...review all textbooks to ensure that any "patriotically incorrect" ideas are purged?

It was just a matter of time before they took "Red state" too literally.

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