by John Ellis
Fresh on the heels of Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sharing (and praising) a video of proud Christian nationalist and low-key defender of slavery Douglas Wilson saying, among other things, that women shouldn’t be allowed to vote, the President continues to embrace his inner dictator. Yesterday, the White House sent the Smithsonian Institution a letter demanding a review of exhibitions and materials.
Addressed to Lonnie Bunch III, the first African-American and historian to serve as the Smithsonian Institute’s secretary, the White House informed the venerable institution that, “in accordance with Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, we will be leading a comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions. This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”
Keep in mind that this is the same administration that has ordered military bases to be renamed after Confederate leaders.
Read the letter (it’s linked to above). Notice code language like “alignment with American ideals.” While reading, ask yourself, “who is going to determine what America’s ideals are?” The answer, of course, is Donald Trump.
Look, I’ve been to the Smithsonian museums many, many, … many times. One thing that cannot be asserted about them is that they are bastions of anti-American ideology. Not even close, in fact. I would argue (and have argued) that for all their value, the Smithsonian Institute presents a portrayal of America that is overly jingoistic and positive. For sure, there are exhibits that attempt historical nuance, but without question the museums undergird the belief in American exceptionalism. I fear that Trump, at the leading of the Heritage Foundation and other “Christian” nationalist groups, will force the Smithsonian Institute to go even further by presenting a white-washed, “baptized” history of America to the point of it being fiction. This type of totalitarian propaganda will be used to justify other sweeping demands and changes by Trump. One such demand could be the demonization of the Democrat Party to the point where Trump unilaterally declares them traitors … oh, wait, he’s already done that … and then uses that claim to declare martial law in order to stop future elections.
I’m not saying that’s going to happen. I’m not even sure that it’s likely to happen, but it’s definitely on the table. I mean, ask the District of Columbia, a city that is (was) currently enjoying their lowest violent crime rate in decades until Trump decided to swoop in and take over. I’m pretty confident that Mayor Muriel Bowser has friends and advisors urging her that having an escape plan to Canada may not be as crazy at it sounds.
Regardless of how this plays out, it’s impossible to look at the President’s actions towards the Smithsonian Institute and not see one more step towards totalitarianism. But hey, there are only two gender options for US passports now, so that’ll be some small comfort in the gulags.
Practically Known Theology 
The maga people I know on the ground would love for DJT to criminalize the Democrat or maybe even other parties… I doubt “Independent” would be safe either. I’m continually amazed at how every fever dream of the lowest level possible, mere regular-jo maga person you can think of (that 1 crazy uncle type in your family) is on the tip of the dear leader’s tongue or fingertips… I mean I heard the dream of “camps” years ago and viola, we have concentration camps now… I’m guessing it’s the hive mind that their media bubble generates, but it still shocks me sometimes how his words and actions so closely mirror theirs… That’s why I stick to my mantra that the worst could easily happen, no matter how many people around me say “you’re being too negative! stop scaring the kids! You’re exaggerating! We’re going to be fine and live and retire just like our parents did! stop worrying!”…
Then I bite my tongue and say, “ok, sure”… but in my mind I know the dark heart of maga and what it wants and how he continually actualizes what they want…
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