This was quite the perfect blow on President’s Day. An exhibit *must* be returned to Philadelphia’s Independence National Park. There is no back talk, no way around, and no way to escape. It *must* be put back. Trump’s lackey has to be hating it, and there’s not a damn thing that he can do. With gratitude to Raw Story:
A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to return an exhibit on slavery to Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. In a 40-page ruling on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia Rufe compared the Interior Department and Secretary Doug Burgum to George Orwell’s “Ministry of Truth.”
“As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984 now existed, with its motto ‘Ignorance is Strength,’ this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims — to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not,” Rufe wrote.
Kaboom! There isn’t any way to misinterpret that. There’s no wiggle room. Burgum *has* to do what the judge said. Now, of course, they’re going to try and appeal, but there’s no telling if that will go their way, either. Law and order are good, but sometimes, not being able to appeal would be nice. So many things drag on for years and years, wasting time and money, when the verdict should have stayed put the first time. But that’s just me.
“The President’s House is a component of Independence National Historical Park that commemorates the site of the first official presidential residence and the people who lived there, including people enslaved by President George Washington.” “On January 22, 2026, the National Park Service (‘NPS’) removed panels, displays, and video exhibits that referenced slavery and information about the individuals enslaved at the President’s House,” she noted before granting a preliminary injunction.
Yes, this country was partly built on slavery. It doesn’t have to be liked. It just has to be accepted. Remember the whole thing about slavery being too ‘woke’? The poor and the middle-becoming-poor classes don’t have to be liked, and the people who are being driven down certainly don’t like it. But it’s part of America. They *try* to improve themselves. When they can, when the gazillionaires don’t crush them in the name of the almighty dollar. Freed slaves were poor for a while, too. Going off on a tangent and getting preachy here. Moving on.
“There can be no prejudice to Defendants’ restoration of the status quo as of January 21, 2026, which requires that Defendants reinstall all panels, displays, and video exhibits that were previously in place.” Rufe also forbade the government from “any additions, removals, destruction, or further changes of any kind to the President’s House site” without the permission of the City of Philadelphia.
The good news, again, is that they have to put the exhibits back. It’s history. People with the theatrically hurt fee-fees need to get over it. We all have to get over ourselves at some point. It’s embarrassing, yes, but in the scheme of things, we need to get over it and move on. Everyone has their own point of view. You can’t please all of the people all of the time. Not happening.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise that among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
