Letters to the Editor published in the May 19, 2021 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.
We must learn from our past, but not condemn those who came before us
Before we get into a full-fledged brouhaha, let’s acknowledge the Critical Race Theory is just that, a theory. Webster suggests several definitions for theory but the one I suspect most of us would use is: “a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation.” With greater study, a theory might reach the stage of probably true (where we are presently with the Big Bang theory) but we are far short of probable truth at this point. Whether it will ever reach the level of fact is unknown.
Acknowledging Critical Race Theory as a simple theory is hard for many since some of the anecdotal evidence available seems to support it. There are certainly strong voices and pressures that seek to roll over any objections. Nevertheless, power never converts a theory into a fact.
One of the premises used to establish Critical Race Theory as fact is that the “real” reason the Pilgrims came to Plymouth Rock was because slavery was crumbling in England and the perpetrators were seeking a new nest. One looks in vain for any discussion of race in the Mayflower Compact. Google it. It’s very brief. We can’t offer evidence one way or the other about the Jamestown settlement.
We do know that the issue of how to count slaves for establishing representation in the House of Representatives was a red-hot issue when the Constitution was being written. A temporary solution was adopted simply to get the whole of the Constitution adopted. It can be argued until we are blue in the face that those opposed to slavery should have stood their ground and maintained a slavery-free nation from the beginning. The fact is that many strong-willed and righteous people put our Constitution together and it is ill-advised that any of them be condemned for not doing what today seems so obvious but which to them was not.
I think the Critical Race Theory can be useful as we continue to develop and enact moral and ethical behavior in the United States. We have to learn from our past, and errors are usually better teachers than being right. But we must not condemn those who came before us but for not doing as we might have done if we were involved in the original drafting of the Constitution.
Bernie Lyngdal
Tomahawk
Satire 101
Dear Editor:
On a recent insomnia induced late night trip on the internet—this message suddenly popped up on my screen:
“Here’s how we can stop any more election recounts, like in Arizona. Issue a statement that we’ll concede the election to Trump if the Q-recount in Maricopa County finds out we stole the election. Say we’re so sure it was an ‘honest’ election that Trump can be President-For-Life, and his kids can succeed him, without any more elections–ever. Who’d think we did anything crooked with a big statement like that? Right? They’ll never figure out how we rigged it! We really covered our tracks, right? Right?”
And here’s the kicker to prove this erroneous e-mail is true, it was signed, “Joe B!”
What more can I say, except this is Satire 101. It’s a lot saner than a lot I’ve heard or read lately.
Lloyd Bishop
Tomahawk