The Orange Wannabe King has issued an Executive Order directing the Smithsonian Institution to post signs in the National Museum of American History (a great museum; they really should consider visiting it sometime). The signs are to carry warnings that the museum presents information that the Administration regards as “inaccurate.”
In light of the high regard that I have for the historical expertise of the President and his minions, I wanted a peek at the criteria (that’s a word you can look up at some point, Mr. President) that the President considered prior to issuing the Executive Order.
Apparently, the order is based on a report released by the White House on July 4th (wow, they were working on July 4th!) claiming that the museum “cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly and in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.” So uninspiring, divisive, and unworthy historical information is the problem here.
I suppose there’s some universe in which “inaccurate” is a synonym for information that isn’t “inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic,” but I don’t think I live there.
Anyway, the order says what it says, and I’m sure the uninspiring, divisive, and unworthy officials at the Smithsonian can come up with appropriate warning signs. And I am sure the hordes of visitors who will be motivated to visit the museum simply to annoy Trump will be grateful for the opportunity to take selfies in front of the signs to post on Bluesky and Facebook. (I know I’ll be going as soon as I’m back in DC.)
Still, I want to do my patriotic duty, and I think I can fulfill my civic obligations by offering a suggestion for what the warning sign can say, so here goes:
WARNING: This museum presents uninspiring, divisive, and unworthy information that the President of the United States (hallowed be his name) regards as “inaccurate” and hurtful. Not hurtful in the way that our forebears hurt indigenous and enslaved peoples, or people of Asian descent, or religious minorities, or tons of other people, both here and abroad. No, the information presented here will not subject you to chains, whips, shootings, lynchings, land stealing, family separations, internment in “relocation centers,” bombings, or sexual violence. Instead, the information presented here is hurtful in the really important way that information can hurt–by prompting painful feelings, such as shame or indignation, and, worse still, by making you think. You wouldn’t want your kids to feel bad about their country’s past, would you? So, you now have been warned, and you may want to go elsewhere. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.