Doug Burgum, the US Secretary of the Interior, faced backlash after asking National Parks visitors to report negativity towards historical narratives. Instead of compliance, many voiced criticism of government efforts to portray a sanitized version of history. A leaked document revealed sentiments against erasing uncomfortable historical truths, highlighting that history should evoke conflicting feelings. The National Park Service oversees sites reflecting difficult US historical events, and attempts to censor visitor interactions sparked mobilization by conservation groups. Park rangers emphasized their duty to provide factual historical interpretations, rejecting political censorship.
"History is supposed to be uncomfortable. It is supposed to be difficult and raise conflicting feelings," one visitor wrote, according to a 65-page document leaked to land conservation groups and viewed by The Art Newspaper.
"The mere fact that the Secretary of the Interior would seek to erase history because it doesn't conform to his and the current administration's desires is disgusting and reprehensible. Everyone involved in the enactment of this executive order should be ashamed and disgusted in themselves."
"It's a park ranger's job to interpret history in a factual and historically accurate way. Censoring our interactions with visitors to align with a political narrative is unacceptable and undermines the trust placed in us by the public."
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