Facts and Legends

To The Editor:

It is very uncomfortable, even painful, to learn that people we trust have been telling us lies. A lot of historical information that our parents and teachers present to us is not accurate. It is not their fault, as most often they are simply passing on what was told to them by their parents and teachers, who passed on what they learned without questioning how factual it is. If the data is in our curriculum and textbooks, it has to be 100% true. Right?

Chris Columbus is only the tip of the mythological history being taught.

The real activities of Bowie and Travis in Texas, and the campaigns of Teddy and the Rough Riders in Cuba are riddled with mythical facts. After 35 years in the Texas Public School System, I have witnessed many myths that are being taught in our classrooms, or are printed in our textbooks.

For example, what are we taught about Ponce De Leon? Painful as it may be, he never went in search of the Fountain of Youth. His goal in Florida was to capture indeginous people to sell as slaves.

Remember how you felt when you learned the truth about Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Even the symbolic Juneteenth celebration is based on some myth. Reminds me of the John Wayne western that put it this way. “When the legend becomes fact; print the legend.”

David McCall

Waldeck