Trump is taking over the Smithsonian! HORRORS!!!

The headline from Democracy Now! calls it "Whitewashing of History."  The network formerly known as MSNBC had a headline saying President Trump is rewriting history.  CNN's headline says "Trump's 'chilling effect' is coming for museums..."  The Independent claims Trump is purging Smithsonian Exhibits, the sub-headline claims "White House said it would begin reviewing Smithsonian exhibitions to ensure they align with Trump's agenda."

The reason for the reaction from the press is that Trump issued an Executive Order, on March 27, calling for essentially a review of the Smithsonian Institution.  The Executive Order said "Museums in our Nation's capital should be places where individuals go to learn - not be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history."

Adding fuel to the fire, on August 19, President Trump posted on Truth Social a statement "The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discuss is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was..."

First, the President's Executive Order calls on the Vice President and certain White House staff to work with the Smithsonian Board to achieve these goals.  Isn't that the appropriate way of making change?  Work with the people running the Smithsonian to ensure these institutions are places for individuals to go learn?  No one at the Smithsonian has complained about the approach.  As usual, the Trump Derangement Syndrome people portray a worst case that doesn't exist.

Let's go next to President Trump's comment about the Smithsonian's focus on slavery.  It may have been presented a bit colorfully, but he's not wrong. The Smithsonian Institution website includes a page* with their Purpose, Mission and Vision statements.  These say: 

"Our Purpose  The increase and diffusion of knowledge about the history and legacy of race and racism while building pathways towards a more equitable** shared future."

Our Mission is to explore the history and legacy of race and racism in the United States and globally.  We seek to spark positive social change and build a more equitable shared future through interdisciplinary scholarship, creative partnerships, dialogue, and engagement."

"Our Vision is to create a hopeful future for all people using history and reconciliation to contextualize and transform our understandings and responses to race and racism."

At the bottom of the page is a graphic which says:

Our Shared Future | RECKONING WITH OUR RACIAL PAST

The website goes on - click the link labeled "Our Pillars" and the title at the beginning is "FRAMING SYSTEMIC RACISM."  The page goes on from there talking about various topics like Race and Wellness and Race and Wealth. 

Tell me how President Trump is wrong for calling out the Smithsonian's focus on racism.

The Smithsonian consists of "21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers." (source: Smithsonian website).  One of those museums is the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where a discussion of race and racism could be appropriate. Personally, I'd argue against such a single focus for that museum because such a single focus would overlook the incredible achievements by black Americans, but I could understand it.

But no.  It appears that everyone of these museums - including the National Postal Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the National Museum of Natural History - the 21 libraries, the research and education centers and even the National Zoo are dedicated to one thing and one thing only - presenting information about race and racism. 

President Trump's Executive Order says these institutions should "...remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity and human flourishing."  Sorry - none of that is allowed under the Smithsonian's current Purpose, Mission or Vision statements.

I've read a number of articles critical of the President's Executive Order and Truth Social Post and not a single one mentions, much less tries to justify, the very narrow focus of Smithsonian's Purpose, Mission and Vision statements.  Of course by not mentioning these statements, people objecting to the President's actions have to admit President Trump has a point when complaining about the Smithsonian's focus.

I'm curious, how does the Smithsonian explore race and racism at the Zoo?  Have white animals been treated more favorably than black animals?  Or do they build an exhibit based on the book Animal Farm where some Animals were ranked more highly than others?

Does the Museum of National History show that the hierarchy of dinosaurs was based not on survival of the fittest but the skin color of dinosaurs?

The Mission Statement does reference race and racism "globally" - as well as in the United States.  Do they talk about how the Chinese are enslaving Uyghurs?  Do they talk about Hispanic gangs trafficking humans over the border?  Will they be developing an exhibit on the recent discovery of individuals in Alabama keeping children enslaved for sexual purposes, with one of the accused being a member of a Mexican-American gang?  Does the Smithsonian have an exhibit about African nations mistreating white residents, as occurred in the 1980's when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe or as President Trump is accusing South Africa of doing now?  

Or we can look historically.  Does the Smithsonian talk about African tribes enslaving members of other tribes to use them or sell them to White slavers?  The Marine Corp hymn starts with a line - "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli."  Why were the US Navy and Marines sent to Northern Africa in the early 1800s?  Because African pirates were capturing American ships and holding their white crews captive for ransom or selling them as slaves.  A study by an Ohio State professor suggests a million or more European Christians were enslaved by Muslims in North Africa between 1530 and 1780.***

What about Native Americans enslaving other Native Americans?  The most famous example would be Sacagawea, who was a Lemhi Shoshone kidnapped by the Hidatsa tribe when she was 12, and later sold by them to a white fur trader. 

Lets go back further - to around 1550 BC - when Israelites were enslaved by Egyptians.  Or the Indian Caste system, which goes back at least 3000 years, where people were divided by category, with the lowest being "untouchables," who suffered severe discrimination. 

Contrary to the belief of some, racism and slavery did not begin with the first white person bringing a black slave back to America in the 1600s.  Racist prejudices and slave ownership were not and still are not limited to white people .  Does the Smithsonian acknowledge these facts?

Going back to the President's Executive Order, it prohibits expenditures on exhibits "...that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race..." Who opposing President Trump's order favors exhibits degrading and dividing Americans?  

It encourages expenditures on exhibits that "...celebrate the achievements of women in the American Women's History Museum..."  Who opposing President Trump's order does not want the achievements of women celebrated in the Women's History Museum?

The order calls for providing sufficient funding to improve the Independence National Historical Park?  Who opposes that?

As usual, there are people in the media and elsewhere whose hair catches fire whenever President Trump does anything.  They are not willing to give a fair analysis of anything the President does.  Of course President Trump does tend to apply the match to set their hair on fire with some of his tweets and posts.

*  Smithsonian Website - Purpose and Mission

** Notice the repeated use of the word "Equitable."  See my Blog post titled "Equity vs. Equal" for a further discussion.

*** Article from Ohio State News, May 7, 2004 by Jeff Grameier.  Ohio State Study on white slaves