On Saturday, July 4th, the 250th anniversary of our independence, The White House released a report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of “extreme political activism” and accused the exhibits of the museum of being “prepared by people who don’t want you to love your country”.
Having visited the Smithsonian Museum of American History at a pivotal moment in my life and come out still a lover of this nation, still a lover of our history, I vehemently disagree with this report.
The second Trump administration has made it a personal mission to attack our federal interpretation of history. You may remember Trump’s crusade against the National Park Service. I invite you to recall the crusade against signage and interpretive content that referenced climate change and slavery, and read the latest update on that situation here.
I continue to be disgusted by this administration. There are obvious issues, such as the mistreatment of migrants and LGBT+ citizens, the attack on our constitution with Trump’s attempt to rid us of birth right citizenship… but I am particularly concerned with the sanitization of our shared history.
Having been a lover of history since childhood, I have heard many different stories of our nation told. From my education in Florida public schools to my visits to the Smithsonian and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, history has been presented to me in many ways. I recall from the days of my childhood lessons on the indigenous Americans of Florida, but curiously no mention of the brutal Seminole Wars and very little information on Andrew Jackson and his Trail of Tears. Something is missing from these early lessons.
When visiting the Smithsonian and Monticello, I was presented with a much fuller view of history. These institutions were frank about the injustice and horrors that have happened in our history – from slavery to indigenous genocide to assassination. The education I received here was more in depth, full of more truths and richer for it.
Friends, I do not hate America. I constantly struggle with myself thinking that I should. But I cannot bring myself to hate her. I was raised by a dedicated Navy veteran, I fed myself with Thomas Jefferson’s vision for an Empire of Liberty in my teenage years. I love this nation deeply.
In June of 2024, I marched in a local pride parade with fellow National Park Service volunteers and rangers. I recall prior to our march a ranger who had served many dedicated years in the parks service tearing up as we held the American and Pride flags together. He said “As much as I love this flag,” referencing the rainbow Pride flag, “I love this one more,” he turned his worshipful gaze to the American flag. That moment will stick with me forever and defines how I feel about our nation, defines my patriotism.
All of this to say, I love America and the Smithsonian never influenced me to feel the opposite. In fact, a proper education on this nation fostered love for it. I love that we have been through trials and tribulations and that the American spirit continues to persist in the fight for liberty and justice for all.
A well rounded education on slavery and white supremacy did not make me hate America. It gave me the honest truth to love and accept fully.
You cannot love a nation if you ignore parts of her. You do not love this nation if you are unwilling to accept past and current imperfections. White supremacy and nationalism infect this administration to the point that they are willing to call honest, well researched history baloney.
I worry. This type of abuse wears on the dedicated civil servants who educate visitors to our great public institutions everyday. The National Park service is threatened by budget cuts and removal of systems protecting them from overcrowding. I am worried that the destruction of their ability to tell the truth will turn away those who are dedicated to our nation’s history and service. Who will be left to tell our story? In all its imperfect glory?
We must move forward as a nation and stop revising the past. It will never change. Slavery happened. The Trail of Tears happened. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, these are men whom I greatly admire and respect. But I am willing to acknowledge and address their wrongdoings. If you see these men as perfect, you do not see them at all.
I beg of you to support the Smithsonian and other institutions that defend our nation’s real history in these trying times.
Donations to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
Xoxo, Lewis.
Lewis’ letters 
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