TO THE EDITOR:

In response to Barry VanBuren's letter from February 19th against the proposed revision of the social studies standards in  Minnesota. Ironically, perhaps these changes would help to mitigate certain misunderstandings my fellow citizens have about American history. If we make students recite the pledge of allegiance in schools then we should also teach that it was written by Francis Bellamy, an American Socialist. The idea that our current education system teaches "historical inquiry through examination of historical events" is a mischaracterization. History can only be shared through the perspectives of those who lived through it and a complete story cannot be told without the experiences of the entire cast. The Civil War was drastically different for soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment than it was for soldiers of the 1st Minnesota Infantry. World War 2 was entirely different for a Tuskegee Airman than it was for a white pilot. Yet, they are all heroes. The only reason one would care to prevent the stories of non-white Americans throughout our history from being taught is neither for the student's benefit nor for the betterment of education but rather for pandering to the sensitive feelings of some whites in this country.

Bello Diavolo

Becker, MN