A few weeks ago, this column was critical of the establishment of a new National Space Force. Just what we need when NASA is being privatized and nearly 35 million people are unemployed.
Now the White House has produced a new doozy called the “National
Garden of American Heroes.” Not a bad idea, until you learn about the motivation and the 20 heroes first suggested in a recent speech at Mt. Rushmore.
Some of the first heroes to be enshrined in this “vast outdoor park” include evangelical leader Billy Graham, Henry Clay, Davy Crockett, Dolly Madison and conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
There are five African-Americans, no Latinos – such as Cesar Cavez – and no Democratic Presidents, such as Franklin Roosevelt or John Kennedy. Native Americans are also missing, including leaders like Sitting Bull or Sacagawea. General George Patton made it to the list, but President Eisenhower was left out.
A few more names include Susan B. Anthony, Frederic Douglas, Amelia Earhart, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross, Wilbur and Orville Wright, Booker T. Washington and Harriet Tubman.
Most of the names included should be in such a memorial. Some are there for political gain. All in all, the idea is a good one, but let’s take a breath and do this right.
How about we start with the purpose of a memorial sculpture garden. It should be to recognize a broad spectrum of heroes remembering that one person’s hero is another’s villain. It should be segmented into logical subject areas including the Civil War, military campaigns, scientists, artists in music, literature, painting, sports politicians and other categories.
Most importantly, anyone included should be deceased at least 25 years. Selection should be accomplished by a broad group of historians. Once a selection is made, comments should be sought and evaluated for six months. Who knows what devilment lurked in the past of our heroes.
So once again, a novel and good concept is floated for all the wrong reasons. Let this idea cook for a while in the cauldron of criticism we call the First Amendment and see if it survives.
This columnist certainly hopes so.
Roger Carlton is a columnist for The Graham Star. He is a council member for the Town of Lake Santeetlah.