He Holds No Truths To Be Self-evident
The SCSU Scholars have been admirably detailing the controversy over the proposed Minnesota social studies educational standards. Last week King had a post on an exchange that took place last May between state senators Michelle Bachmann (R-Stillwater) and Steve Kelley (D-Hopkins) over the role that the Declaration of Independence should play in the standards.
It was of particular interest to me since I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Bachmann in August on The Patriot boat cruise and have the displeasure of having Steve Kelley represent me in the Minnesota Senate (I've worked on the last two unsuccessful campaigns to unseat him). He has ambitions of higher political glory, which thankfully have not been realized.
Kelley is the chair of the education committee that will consider the new standards next month, so his opinions on the relevance of the Declaration of Independence carry weight. Here are a few quotes by Kelley from King's piece:
"There's an over emphasis on the Declaration of Independence, and some just factually wrong kind of things contained in there that seems to reflect a viewpoint on the country's founding that I don't know reflects the scholarly consensus or a mainstream viewpoint," Kelley said.
"I'm not sure it's accurate historically or legally to call the Declaration of Independence a founding document.
Hmmm...I wonder what Senator Kelley would think about people waiting in line just to see a broadsheet copy of the DOI? Or a road trip around the country to showcase the "People's Document"? Or a good liberal like Norman Lear paying 8.1 mil for the copy on tour? How about some of the causes (women's rights, civil rights, etc.) that were profoundly influenced by it?
Obviously out of the mainstream. At least Senator Kelley's mainstream.
Senator Bachmann probably put it best with this response to Kelley during their May exchange:
"Sen. Kelley, what do we celebrate every 4th of July? The Declaration defines our rights and our freedom."
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