I just recently began reading “Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong” by James W Loewen. It has been on our shelf for quite sometime, however it was pulled off when Laughing Liberally comedian Lee Camp was visiting SLCDL and recommended it. I am not too far into the book, but I just read something that gives me hope.

The author is discussing President Woodrow Wilson. Most textbooks portray Wilson as a hero to women’s suffrage, reluctant to go to war, and for having established the League of Nations. What the textbooks do not portray is his incredibly racist beliefs, his unnecessary invasion of foreign countries, and his complete disregard for human rights. The parallels to today’s president are creepy. Helen Keller even called Wilson “the greatest individual disappointment the world has ever known!” yet it is Bush who has the lowest approval rating.

Wilson wanted to strengthen the Espionage Act, for example, and give the president broader censorship powers. Wilson also allowed the postmaster general to use his powers to suppress mail delivery if it was “socialist, anti-British, pro-Irish, or in any other way might, in his view, have threatened the war effort”. On top of all this, once the war was long over, Wilson vetoed a bill that would have abolished the Espionage and Sedition Acts.

As I read this portion of the Chapter, I can’t help but think of times today. The President as the “decider”, the Patriot Act, FISA, Homeland Security, etc. At what point does the fear tactics stop and human rights become of value again?

After Wilson’s term, during the election of 1920, Warren G Harding “crushed” James Cox, who should have been Wilson’s successor. Harding had never campaigned before yet the people were tired and wanted to “return to normalcy”. Possibly wanting Change? Hope?

So here we are, almost 90 years later. We have a president who many would consider the greatest individual disappointment the world has ever known. We have his potential successor, McCain. We have a fresh voice some consider inexperienced running on hope, change, and giving the government back to the people.

Harding did it. So will Obama.