It Bothers Me

Last week I wrote a bit about the return of the Native American children who died whilst in the boarding school in Pennsylvania. There were several related items that were on my mind all week. ¶ One of the current fusses in the state concerns the teaching of civics and US history. This same issue has been brought forth in several states obviously by some group who wishes to mold the minds of state legislators. If people are really honest, really, really honest they would admit that the South Dakota state legislature is not an intellectual powerhouse. They are willing to be led in whatever direction some one who grabs their attention wants to lead them.

¶ Their promotion of several bills in the legislature having to do with transgendered athletes, sex education, the rights of women, and now with education concerning the history of our country all came from outside sources. Now the governor has weighed in on the civics issue by issuing an executive order that no state university can apply for funds that will support teaching of the so-called “Critical Race Theory.” ¶ Admittedly, I was a little young during the battles of World War II. I have studied the history of the rise of the Nazi party and the “enthronement” of Hitler. What I see going on frightens me. When the government begins to meddle with the curriculum it does not portend well. The classic case is Texas which still, to my knowledge, has state text book adoption. What one little committee decides is what is taught to the children of Texas. ¶ The assault on the Capitol of the United States in January echoed in my mind with the burning of the Reichstag in Germany. Although the Nazis were not seemingly involved they used this event to extend their power claiming that communists were seeking control of the government. It is worrisome that half of the Congress does not want to find out the truth about the 6 January event, and wants to punish those who seek it. ¶ After visiting the Indian Insane Asylum in Canton, SD, just 30 miles south of my home it was shocked to learn its history. This was not what is claimed to be. It was really a prison for disobedient Native American children who tried to run away from their boarding schools. Children were sent here from all over the nation. Although the building was furnished with modern restrooms, the children had to use chamber pots because they were chained to their beds. Children died there and some are buried in the cemetery which now lies in the middle of a golf course. We were told that Hitler actually studied places like this when contemplating the concentration camps his government would ultimately build. I have visited some of those Nazi camps and the memories are vivid. Millions of people were exterminated. Perhaps the majority of the people living in Germany claimed they had no knowledge of what went on. Are the students of American to be subjected to the same ignorance?

¶ The curriculum of a school should not be determined by a political body or a politician whose main interest is staying in power, not that the truth is taught. ¶ South Dakota weather is interesting. That’s about all one can say. Wednesday’s high was +100º. Friday’s low was 59º. If you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes. Yesterday’s all day precipitation event resulted in 3 inches in my rain gauge. ¶ My CT scan on Monday was good. Everything appears stable. There are no worrisome new “things” cropping up so the treatment continues as usual. This week’s chemo caused no problems, for which I am grateful. ¶ I’ll be at the organ console for the next three Sundays so I’ve gotten in some practice time for which the congregation will be grateful. ¶ It appears that the landscapers will arrive upon the scene next week for which I will be grateful. It will be pleasant to see the crab grass disappear forever. Another plus is that I will not have as much to mow. I never did have very much, to be honest, but even less will be just fine. In my mind mowing is the very essence of an exercise in futility. ¶ Thank you for your prayers, companionship, and all you do for others.