The editorial “War on History” (Herald, July 16) calls out an alarming trend: efforts to erase or rewrite difficult truths about our nation’s past. President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” reflects an attempt to replace fact with partisan ideology and does exactly what the EO was written to counter.
Predictably, some readers will label the editorial as biased or politically motivated. But acknowledging historical truths is not partisan. The oppression of Indigenous peoples, the horrors of slavery, systemic violence against women, and the rise of white supremacist movements are documented, factual components of American history.
The Herald’s editorial board does not shy away from uncomfortable truths. Some critics accuse the paper of political favoritism, yet its recent endorsement of Republican candidates – including Jeff Hurd, Cleave Simpson, and Clark Craig in 2024 – undermines those claims. The board even suggested a Republican replace former Democratic County Commissioner Clyde Church, until reminded state law prohibits it.
The Herald regularly publishes conservative, libertarian, and progressive viewpoints. Readers from across the political spectrum appear on the opinion page, reinforcing that the Herald remains committed to open civic dialogue.
La Plata County has shifted left in recent years. That evolution is reflected in local discourse – but truth itself has no political party. When a newspaper holds power accountable, that’s journalism doing its job.
We should be proud to have a local paper willing to speak truth to power – even when it's inconvenient.
Gene Orr
Kline
