Revisionist history

Pam Mazanec addressed the Colorado state board of education with an argument for “improving” the teaching of history.

As an example, I note our slavery history. Yes, we practiced slavery. But we also ended it voluntarily, at great sacrifice, while the practice continues in many countries still today! Shouldn’t our students be provided that viewpoint? This is part of the argument that America is exceptional.

Isn’t it nice to know that America simply decided not to enslave people anymore? There weren’t any Americans who resisted that idea, because we are exceptional. Unlike countries like the UK, which fought tooth and nail to keep the slave trade going. I guess.

If you find Mazanec’s reasoning a little dubious, don’t you worry. Hordes of people took to twitter yesterday to provide other examples of American exceptionalism and our progressive and entirely voluntary policies.

Neighborhood residents greet first Black students of Little Rock Central High School with open arms #voluntaryhistory

— Monica Roberts (@TransGriot) October 6, 2014

@tanehisicoates Harriet Tubman takes several trips to Canada by foot to promote black fitness. #voluntaryhistory

— voicetrous (@voicetrous) October 6, 2014

Blacks join the ranks of mass incarceration to help their country cope with deindustrialization. "We gotta do our part." #voluntaryhistory

— Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) October 6, 2014

Loath to burden the sluggish US economy, women decide to accept just 78 cents for each dollar their male colleagues earn. #voluntaryhistory

— Ess (@ScottyLiterati) October 6, 2014

Japanese Americans move to desert-themed summer camps to free up Bay area real estate #voluntaryhistory

— Will Reid (@WReid56) October 6, 2014

The hashtag “#voluntaryhistory” is full of these wonderful insights, providing plenty of material for conservatives to use in designing the public school history curriculum.