https://sputnikglobe.com/20210705/netizens-outraged-as-publicly-funded-npr-said-declaration-of-independence-includes-racist-slur-1083313902.html
Netizens Slam NPR After Claims That Declaration of Independence Flawed, Contains 'Racial Slur'
Netizens Slam NPR After Claims That Declaration of Independence Flawed, Contains 'Racial Slur'
Sputnik International
Every year on Independence Day, the US news broadcaster publishes and reads the Declaration on the air, but this year's edition was quite different from... 05.07.2021, Sputnik International
2021-07-05T21:17+0000
2021-07-05T21:17+0000
2022-08-06T13:19+0000
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Publicly-funded non-profit news outlet National Public Radio (NPR) triggered social media uproar by describing the Declaration of Independence as "a document with flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies."The broadcaster also warned its readers that the 245-years-old document contains a "racist slur against Indigenous Americans."The publication then discussed how Thomas Jefferson's document was altered by Congress to eliminate condemnation of slavery in order to "win support from Southerners."The article went on to address how Native Americans are treated throughout the document, including how they are referred to as "merciless Indian savages," and to present the thoughts of an author who is a member of indigenous Ojibwe people on how the Declaration affects Native Americans in the US.He also added that had the Native Americans not aided the colonists during the Revolutionary War, the colonies would have probably lost the war with the Crown.And many users noted the need to take into account the context of the era in which this state-forming document was adopted.However, another group of users found it appropriate for the media to draw parallels between the language of the declaration and the current political environment, by saying, for instance, that the hypocrisies within the document are "factual and truthful."Moreover, on July 4, Democrat Representative Maxine Waters took to Twitter to claim that the Declaration of Independence's creeds did not grant "equal rights" to black people or women.The 82-year-old representative went on to explain that present laws continue to keep some groups from being treated equally, citing voting rules and an increase in police violence against black people as examples.Her claims were echoed by the House freshman Representative Cori Bush, also a new member of the left-wing progressive group of legislators known as "The Squad", who said on Sunday that Independence Day is just a holiday for white people.On Sunday, during his speech to a crowd of first responders, military members, and their families on the South Lawn of the White House, US President Joe Biden alluded to some of what the representatives had tweeted, saying in a reference to the quote of all men being equal, "While we have never fully lived up to the words but we never give up on them." "They continue to animate us and remind us at our best, we as Americans believe in honor and dignity. Treat everyone with dignity and respect, giving hate no safe harbor," Biden stated.
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us, newsfeed, npr, declaration, declaration of independence, anti-racism, racism, reverse racism, racism
us, newsfeed, npr, declaration, declaration of independence, anti-racism, racism, reverse racism, racism
Netizens Slam NPR After Claims That Declaration of Independence Flawed, Contains 'Racial Slur'
21:17 GMT 05.07.2021 (Updated: 13:19 GMT 06.08.2022) Kirill Kurevlev
Managing Editor
Every year on Independence Day, the US news broadcaster publishes and reads the Declaration on the air, but this year's edition was quite different from previous years, as it stated that following the 2020 anti-racism mass protests and riots in the nation, " the words in the document land differently."
Publicly-funded non-profit news outlet National Public Radio (NPR) triggered social media uproar by describing the Declaration of Independence as "a document with flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies."
The broadcaster also
warned its readers that the 245-years-old document contains a "racist slur against Indigenous Americans."
"It famously declares 'that all men are created equal' even though women, enslaved people and Indigenous Americans were not held as equal at the time," NPR continued.
The publication then discussed how Thomas Jefferson's document was altered by Congress to eliminate condemnation of slavery in order to "win support from Southerners."
"But a racist slur about Native Americans stayed in," the media stressed.
The article went on to address how Native Americans are treated throughout the document, including how they are referred to as "merciless Indian savages," and to present the thoughts of an author who is a member of indigenous Ojibwe people on how the Declaration affects Native Americans in the US.
He also added that had the Native Americans not aided the colonists during the Revolutionary War, the colonies would have probably lost the war with the Crown.
Social media users instantly took notice of NPR's progressive agenda, with the hashtag "Defund NPR" trending on Twitter as of Monday.
And many users noted the need to take into account the context of the era in which this state-forming document was adopted.
However, another group of users found it appropriate for the media to draw parallels between the language of the declaration and the current political environment, by saying, for instance, that the hypocrisies within the document
are "factual and truthful."
Moreover, on July 4, Democrat Representative Maxine Waters took to Twitter to claim that the Declaration of Independence's creeds did not grant "equal rights" to black people or women.
The 82-year-old representative went on to explain that present laws continue to keep some groups from being treated equally, citing voting rules and an increase in police violence against black people as examples.
Her claims were echoed by the House freshman Representative Cori Bush, also a new member of the left-wing progressive group of legislators known as "The Squad", who said on Sunday that Independence Day is just a holiday for white people.
"When they say that the 4th of July is about American freedom, remember this: the freedom they’re referring to is for white people," she wrote on her Twitter. "This land is stolen land and Black people still aren’t free."
On Sunday, during
his speech to a crowd of first responders, military members, and their families on the South Lawn of the White House, US President Joe Biden alluded to some of what the representatives had tweeted, saying in a reference to the quote of all men being equal, "While we have never fully lived up to the words but we never give up on them."
"They continue to animate us and remind us at our best, we as Americans believe in honor and dignity. Treat everyone with dignity and respect, giving hate no safe harbor," Biden stated.
