America's Story Should Be Told, and Told Accurately [OPINION]

President Donald J. Trump last month issued an executive order establishing a national commission to promote patriotic education. Trump says the 1776 Commission "will encourage our educators to teach our children about the miracle of American history and make plans to honor the 250th anniversary of our founding" six years from now.

In signing the order, Trump said the left is attempting to "radically transform America" and has "warped, distorted, and defiled the American story with deceptions, falsehoods, and lies." Trump said, "The left-wing rioting and mayhem are the direct result of decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools," what he calls "propaganda."

Not surprisingly, the media's reaction to Trump's order was over the top. The Washington Post's Ishaan Tharoor wrote, "Trump joins dictators and demagogues in touting patriotic education." The Guardian accused Trump of "whitewashing" U.S history with patriotic education. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial asks, "Will the Kremlin assist?"

These are a sampling of bizarre reactions to an effort to refocus attention on what is good about America. And there are plenty of good reasons to be proud. As Trump said in his statement, "America’s founding set in motion the unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism, and built the most fair, equal, and prosperous nation in human history."

Yet we are constantly told by politicians on the left, including Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden, that America is in need of fundamental change.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans responding to a Rasmussen Reports survey support Trump's call for a renewed focus on patriotic education. Thirty percent disagree while 14 percent are undecided.

America has a great story to tell and we should be telling it to our children. It is not a perfect story but who among us is perfect? We are a nation of people and people are fallible. But I challenge you to find a better system of government or a greater, more generous people anywhere else on Earth.

There is nothing wrong with national pride in who we are and where we come from. Our children deserve to know the truth of this great nation and the people who sacrificed to make it great.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.