Controversy over the Declaration of Independence
Tom Wolber
Controversy over the Declaration of Independence
On July 4, National Public Radio (NPR) could be heard severely attacking an evil tyrant’s long train of destructive abuses: he cut off free trade, hindered immigration, delayed political appointments, demanded loyalty from judges, and incited domestic insurrection and convulsions. The many instances of cruel behavior are unworthy of the head of a civilized nation, the text said. The statement concluded that an undemocratic despot whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is “unfit to be the ruler of a free people” and had to go. A regime that is deaf to the voice of justice must be abolished and replaced with a government of, by, and for the people.
Supporters of Donald Trump were not amused. Scores angrily accused NPR of a left-wing agenda and conspiracy that condoned violence and treason. That’s why NPR (and PBS) needed to be defunded, they said (a long-standing demand of conservatives). As it turned out, however, the despot and tyrant criticized on NPR was not Donald Trump at all. Instead, it was the British King George III, and what listeners heard was the American Declaration of Independence from 1776. The story is noteworthy on many levels. For one thing, it illustrates the poor level of education in the U.S. in general and among Trump supporters specifically. How about making it mandatory for every American to read the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution on an annual basis? Or perhaps no one should be eligible to vote unless they pass a civics test first? That’s the real “voter fraud” in this country – millions of manipulated voters who don’t understand the real issues, the separation of powers, and the proper role of the American presidency. [draft 7/7/17]