Pander Bears Everywhere
"The American Museum of Natural History will remove the statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination," writes Scott Jennings in a guest opinion piece at CNN:
In life, he was a Bull Moose. Over one hundred years since his death, however, President Teddy Roosevelt is being bullied himself by woke activists who seek the erasure of some of America's greatest icons and political leaders.Monday's decision by officials in New York City to remove the iconic equestrian statue of Teddy Roosevelt from the front of the American Museum of Natural History (the board of which called for its removal last year) is the worst kind of pandering. Getting rid of the Rough Rider does nothing to advance the cause of racial harmony, but it does serve the goals of those who believe America is an irredeemable, racist nation that must be torn down.
When this national statue removal madness started, we were assured advocates were just after the Confederates. Why are we honoring traitors, they asked?
Since last summer, though, we see the plan to erase American history goes much deeper. Washington. Jefferson. Lincoln. Grant. And now Teddy Roosevelt -- previously a progressive icon! -- have fallen. None were Confederates, but they do represent powerful links to America's founding and its momentum toward becoming the greatest country the world has ever known.
That's the rub for the protesters -- you can't tear down a country without tearing out the roots of its founding and momentum.
I agree that Confederate statues shouldn't hold places of honor in America's government buildings, and was among the first Kentucky Republicans to call for the removal of Confederate President Jefferson Davis (a native to the Bluegrass State) from our state capitol -- something that finally happened in 2020. Davis should live in a museum, where we can learn about his treachery and traitorous behavior.
But why should Teddy Roosevelt or the other non-Confederate American leaders befall the same fate? Roosevelt was no Confederate. He was an American hero, a bold symbol of our nation's exceptionalism. He lived life to the fullest. He represents the best of us, not the worst.
The statue's detractors say it is a racially insensitive depiction, with Roosevelt sitting on horseback above a Native American and an African. The NYC Parks chief of staff says its composition "visually supports the thematic framework of colonization and racism; a statement from the New York City mayor's office says that "it explicitly depicts Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior."
These sorts of statements must thrill the anti-statue protesters, as they roam the countryside looking for racism in every nook and cranny of American life. To a box of hammers, the entire world is a nail.
But to the rest of us, it just sounds out-of-touch, a blatant attempt to denigrate someone who deserves to be remembered fondly instead of as some irredeemable monster. He's not here to defend himself, so the weak-kneed politicians are more than happy to sacrifice him on the altar of wokeness.
A close look at the statue, though, shows three bold men (the guides are carrying guns, for goodness sakes!) working together. Where the politicians see two men being subjugated, I see three proud people working in tandem to unite a world regardless of our distinct differences.
...Let's be honest -- this has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with a woke movement probing the boundaries of what they can get away with. The broader agenda appears to be to radically and fundamentally change America from a nation built on the shoulders of giants like Roosevelt, Lincoln, and our Founders, into something much less free -- and far darker when it comes to free speech.
But that's hard to do to a country with a strong sense of itself, its history, and the icons who created it, built it, fostered its momentum, and ultimately made it the greatest power in the world.
Naturally, the easiest way to convince people that America is racist and rotten at its core -- and therefore deserves to be torn down and rebuilt some other way -- is to denigrate and tear down the heroes who came before us. Teach the children visiting the museum that people like Roosevelt are villains instead of heroes and you can teach them to stop believing in the bedrock ideals that make our country great.
Related -- a piece written long ago (as you can tell from the language) -- posted by the White House Historical Association:
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTThe Lie Nailed that he is Opposed to the Negro.
The many false reports that have been circulated that President Roosevelt was opposed to the negro has been eliminated by the many kind acts that he has done prior to his election, and while he was Vice President and since he has been President. While governor of New York a distinguished colored singer was denied in Albany, New York in one of the hotels. The circumstance having reached Mr. Roosevelt he went in person and invited the citizen to his residence where he gave him lodging. When he assumed the office of vice President his first act was to appoint a colored man an executive messenger against the protest of certain officials. Since he assumed the office of President he entertained Prof. Booker T. Washington in the Executive Mansion on last Wednesday evening.
The first President of the United States to entertain a colored man. These many acts of recognition of the negros how [sic] that President Roosevelt is a man.
It's too late for the destroyers. The United States will live in history and all those who dream of liberty will have it as an example. The madness and corruption of the destroyers will also live in history. Along with Caligula and plague.
Praise to the American spirit and the exemplars listed above. Gratitude for Mount Rushmore - long may it stand.
And, as Teddy would say with great gusto, Merry Christmas!
Baker at December 25, 2021 8:39 AM
Trump: You take down statues of Confederate generals, who's next? Washington, Adams and Jefferson?
Media: liar, no one is calling for that!
*four years later*
Bye, TR. I shan't shed too many tears for thee, as you were a progressive AND opened the door to Woodrow Wilson and the misery he inflicted.
I R A Darth Aggie at December 25, 2021 9:06 AM
This is obviously just anti-White hatred. Us Whites where the only ones dumb enough to let people who hate us move to our countries and hold powerful positions in our society. My patience and sympathy, have their limits.
Crid at December 25, 2021 10:51 AM
Someone needs to say it: Colonialism was good for the world, and would be good again if conservatives were in a position to do it again. Americans should thank Britain for doing it to us.
jdgalt1 at December 25, 2021 11:18 AM
jdgalt, who says it isn't happening? Looking at the massive legal and illegal immigration problem in the US and Europe. From the Middle East and Central and South America.
Colonialism of North America too hundreds years, most were peaceful and just looking for a new opportunity.
How many Christian churches are destroyed every week in Europe and how many Mosques are built?
Joe J at December 25, 2021 12:24 PM
What I find troubling is that the statues people want to raise are statues of victims.
There was this one statue of Columbus taken down, and the social media was buzzing about replacing it and people seemed to feel it should be replaced by Italian Americans, and the consensus was Sacco and Vanzetti who were probably falsely accused of murder.
How is that comparable to discovering a continent? And yes yes people lived there, "discover" doesn't mean people don't live there, if I say I was walking down the street and discovered a charming little coffee shop it doesn't mean I'm the first person to ever have seen it.
But basically you change symbols from someone who, awful though they might have been, significantly changed world history, to two victims of the judicial system... it just isn't the same is it?
Joe, very few churches are destroyed in Europe. They tend to become monuments. Most are protected because they're old and thus classified as historical.
NicoleK at December 25, 2021 4:11 PM
Oh hey Crid welcome back.
NicoleK at December 25, 2021 4:11 PM
Oh hey Crid welcome back.
NicoleK at December 25, 2021 4:11 PM
Doesn’t seem like a comment Crid would make.
Isab at December 25, 2021 5:22 PM
Doesn’t seem like a comment Crid would make.
No, it doesn't, does it?
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at December 25, 2021 6:46 PM
Nicole https://www.newsweek.com/spate-attacks-catholic-churches-france-sees-altars-desecrated-christ-statue-1370800
It kind of became noticed when Notre Dame burned that many thought it was arson, officials quickly claimed proof of not arson, because there had been many attacks on churches in France just that year. Most downplayed in the liberal press.
Joe J at December 25, 2021 8:02 PM
That’s not Crid. Whoever you are, you are going to have work harder than that if you want to claim his mantle. Crid’s voice is very distinct and based on this post, I doubt you have the ability to mimic it.
Sheep Mom at December 26, 2021 11:26 AM
Why would someone impersonate Crid.
Joe, Notre Dame is hardly getting shut down.
NicoleK at December 26, 2021 6:42 PM
To be perfectly honest Sheep Mom Crid has always been a schmuck. You make it sound like his mantle had some value to begin with. If this is a new Crid he can’t be any worse than the one we’ve had the “pleasure” of knowing over the years. Then again how can you even tell this Crid is fake? The Crid I know writes barely literate screeds anyway. His style is the style of a dumb elephant stamping around and blowing its trunk randomly. I guess anyone who wants to convince us he is the real Crid better avoid writing coherent and complete sentences.
Ben at December 26, 2021 7:00 PM
Ben,
I meant as a gadfly. Regardless of what you think, he had a distinct voice and is most assuredly not illiterate. You haven’t been here as long as I have. I think I started reading this blog in 2005, that is a lot of time to become acquainted with his distinct style. I know you clashed a lot, and I certainly tend to agree more with you than him, but he could occasionally say something that made me think. I miss his voice around these parts, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Please don’t confuse that with some sort of worship.
As to how I know that the clown from above isn’t him, it’s bc after years of reading his posts, he didn’t speak about race in these terms. This person obviously has a racially essentialist point of view biased towards whites. You’ve clashed with Crid enough to know this is not his MO.
Sheep mom at December 26, 2021 7:33 PM
"Joe, Notre Dame is hardly getting shut down."
Worse it is being rebuilt into a temple to wokeness.
Joe J at December 26, 2021 10:13 PM
Now someone is impersonating me. I didn't write that, Sheep Mom.
From what is written it is probably the same person who is impersonating Crid.
Ben at December 27, 2021 1:33 AM
I’m so sorry, Ben. I was surprised to see that post from “you”. This is getting annoying, fast.
Sheep Mom at December 27, 2021 5:53 AM
Don’t be fooled and accept no imitations Sheep mom. Also just FYI, Ben is the impersonator. He’s done this before and he clearly impersonates himself to throw the good gents of this comment section off his scent. Ben here should go into acting, he’s our resident ham.
Crid at December 27, 2021 6:13 AM
Don’t be fooled and accept no imitations Sheep mom. Also just FYI, Ben is the impersonator. He’s done this before and he clearly impersonates himself to throw the good gents of this comment section off his scent. Ben here should go into acting, he’s our resident ham.
Crid at December 27, 2021 6:13 AM
Again. Not Crid. We can tell. My guess would be Orion, but he is probably struggling hard not to write War and Peace in each post so as to seem more like Crid. He can’t duplicate Crid’s style, or even recognize it because he isn’t a competent writer, and is just too lazy to go back and cut and paste out of Crid’s previous comments. (Not to give the faker any ideas)
Isab at December 27, 2021 11:11 AM
Your probably right Isab, but it's just too hard for me to tell the difference. This doesn't seem that far off from what Crid would write. Any specific thing that gives it away or is just the vibe off?
Sheep Mom at December 27, 2021 11:32 AM
Your probably right Isab, but it's just too hard for me to tell the difference. This doesn't seem that far off from what Crid would write. Any specific thing that gives it away or is just the vibe off?
Sheep Mom at December 27, 2021 11:32 AM
It isn’t just the vibe. After 15 years or reading Crid, and exchanging emails. Crid is fun. Flippant. This writing is flat. Without any of the interesting affectations and punctuation that a Crid post delivers.
Whoever is pulling this, and I would venture Amy knows, from the URL, just doesn’t have the chops, and it shows.
Isab at December 27, 2021 12:19 PM
That’s not me. I just put out two posts saying that idiot isn’t Crid. I guess we all get a turn at being impersonated. Isab, you will probably be next.
Sheep Mom at December 27, 2021 4:01 PM
I have to agree that "new Crid" has a style and tone that is unlike that of "old Crid."
Amy, I realize that you are up to your ears in work, but is there a way to control what appears to be impersonation? If unchecked, it will certainly have a deleterious impact on the blog commentary. It is one thing to have a single person employ different names; it is quite another to have someone use someone else's name.
Jay R at December 28, 2021 12:04 PM
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