It feels like every day I say the phrase, “I can’t believe this is the country we are living in.”
On Friday, our country slid further down the road of totalitarianism.
Here in Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1, which will severely restrict what can be taught in colleges and universities. Not only does the bill prohibit teachers from striking, but prohibits education on the controversial topics of climate change, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion. I have a master’s degree in international relations, which I imagine would no longer be legal with the state of Ohio’s prohibition on teaching college kids about foreign policy.
Also on Friday, President Trump signed an executive order directing content changes at the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. In particular, the order criticized the African American Heritage Museum and Women’s museum for content that speaks the truth about America’s history of racism, patriarchy, and white supremacy. With these topics forbidden, the content allowed at the Smithsonian can be best summarized at nationalism.
What can you do? Make your voice heard. Call your elected representatives. On Saturday, protests will take place in Washington DC and around the country. Show up. Speak up. Don’t let our history be erased. Don’t let us be erased.
