Do two wrongs make a right?

That's the question that I have after seeing the following AP article by Christine Armario on several mainstream media sites offering the Frankfurt School version of US History a non-contested wide-run.

Except by those with a far-left political leaning, the historical point-of-view held by Frankfurt School devotees is seen as more than slightly skewed. In the place of the jingoistic patriotism forwarded by more Conservative scholars is a overly-negative view of American History distorted through the lens of Neo-Marxism. Instead of 'discovering the real world' (a falsehood) Columbus is held responsible for the slaughter of the indigenous population. (also a falsehood)

The truth, as it often does in these situations, lies somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. Columbus certainly "discovered" the New World from the perspective of the Western World, opening the door to European population, conquest and the establishment of the United States of America. Unfortunately, during the course of this conquest, diseases such as smallpox laid waste to entire civilizations. In other words, Nature (and not Columbus) was the real culprit. It's also OK to acknowledge that Columbus was hopelessly lost when he stumbled upon the West Indies, and that the name he gave them was evidence of his failure. Whether or not he was a "nice" man is totally beside the question. (most naval captains were, at that time, cruel men by the very definition and circumstance of their job)

Taken as one this story doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things. However, when viewed alongside similar negative stories running throughout MSM sites of a similar vein, a deep gash in the National dialogue is revealed. It's a dialogue that's taken truth-bending to Orwellian levels.

Far better would be to foster a National dialogue within the pages of a free, and impartial press. A press that does not provide an unofficial blessing of thought to a single school of thought. It's very likely that the history of America is far more nuanced than any single school of thought can truthfully convey. By including all of these perspectives, by truthfully acknowledging their biases and ideologies, and by allowing them to present their perspective free of qualifying opinion (this does not mean that absolute falsehoods cannot, or should not, go unchallenged) the National dialogue could be elevated to a point that demagogues and splinter groups are not able to prey on young minds that have been heretofore insulated from the hard glare of history, nor lied to about the good, and the bad of America.


Happy Columbus Day. Whether he meant to or not he spurred the creation of the United States of America. For that we owe him at least a passing mention.