White House Reviews the Smithsonian

I’ve re-read 1984 recently and this press release from the White House seems like a modern version of something published by the Ministry of Truth.

In this spirit, and in accordance with Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, we will be leading a comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions. This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.

And yet, unlike the Ministry of Truth, this is not a fictional organization. This is the Smithsonian Institution, which is supposed to be a place of learning and culture, not a propaganda machine for the government. This arrangement allows the government to review the exhibitions and materials of a cultural institution to ensure they align with a specific political agenda.

Put another way, this gives sycophants of the president the power to decide what should and shouldn’t be shown about our history.

It’s looking more and more like 1984 is where we’re headed, but rather than through authoritarianism, it’s started in the way that Brave New World suggested – by being lulled into complacency by entertainment and distractions.

And then we wonder why books like 1984 and Brave New World are getting banned. It’s so that we don’t see the parallels to our own society and consider doing something about it.