Staff Reports
The liberal left is at it again, targeting Confederate museums and their associated charity organizations. Now, as a Yankee myself, I have to admit, I don’t really see what the big deal is. But we’ve got to remember that this is just the beginning, my friends.
With The Left Attacking Confederate Museums, It's Worth Asking What Comes Next?https://t.co/TWm3BzxXDh
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 13, 2024
It all started with the Confederate statues and monuments. These were symbols of the South’s history, perfectly allowable by the North during Reconstruction. But as soon as Donald Trump entered the picture, the left made it their mission to tear them down, claiming they were nothing more than glorifications of racism. The Washington Post even boasts about the 140 statues that have been toppled since 2015. A “record number” to be proud of, I suppose.
Now, many of these statues were under the care of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), an organization that preserves Southern artwork and the history of the Civil War. Sure, the name may sound a bit fiery, but nowadays, the UDC mostly focuses on funding scholarships, veterans groups, and other charitable works. Even the Washington Post was forced to admit it. But that doesn’t stop Virginia Democrats from trying to strip the UDC of its tax-exempt status, effectively shutting down the organization and giving control to the leftist activists. The bill has already passed in the State Houses, with some Republicans even supporting it. Now it’s up to Gov. Glenn Youngkin to decide if he wants to go down this slippery slope.
When the Confederate statues first started coming down, conservatives weren’t too concerned. Some even believed that this was just the beginning and that the left would eventually come for the Founding Fathers too. Of course, the corporate media mocked and ridiculed those who dared to suggest such a thing. But guess what? It happened. Statues of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and even Christopher Columbus have all been removed or destroyed. Museums dedicated to these great men have been “re-imagined” to focus on their ties to slavery. And now, schools in progressive districts are considering changing their “offensive” names. Can you believe it?
So, now the left is going after museums. Will they stop at Confederate museums, or will they eventually go after New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and D.C.’s National Gallery? These fine art museums have already been under the control of the left for quite some time. Visit them, and you’ll be hard pressed to find an exhibit that isn’t accompanied by some disclaimer about the artist’s sins. It’s only a matter of time before they transform Confederate museums into lessons on the West’s supposed legacy of sin.
But let’s be honest, the line between Confederate estates and traditional museums is completely arbitrary. Fine art museums have their fair share of problematic history too. Should we celebrate the slave-owning Greeks? Should we condemn the Dutch masters for painting caricatures? Jackson Pollock was even labeled a “misogynist.” The left conveniently ignores all of this because they want to tear down the Founders and the Confederacy, not fine art. After all, to them, glorification of the Founders is nothing more than low culture for the unenlightened masses.
But don’t be fooled by their facade of cultural superiority. They secretly covet the status of high culture that fine art represents. They get a sick satisfaction from appointing themselves as the arbiters of what is culturally acceptable. They may claim to be reimagining classic museums for egalitarian purposes, but deep down, it’s just another way for them to wield power over others.
And let’s not forget that the creative left, the academics, curators, historians, and artists who run these museums, rely on elite donors to fund their operations. They won’t bite the hand that feeds them. So, while the slippery slope to the repudiation of great art may seem steep, the left’s hypocrisy and vanity will most likely save us from that nightmare. Instead, their assault on the UDC is just the beginning of their attacks on tax-exempt organizations they deem heretical. If Gov. Youngkin signs this legislation, it will open the floodgates for the left to target groups across the country. Watch out, patriots. The battle has just begun.
