“A totalitarian state is in effect a theocracy, and its ruling caste, in order to keep its position, has to be thought of as infallible. But since, in practice, no one is infallible, it is frequently necessary to rearrange past events in order to show that this or that mistake was not made, or that this or that imaginary triumph actually happened. Then, again, every major change in policy demands a corresponding change of doctrine and a revaluation of prominent historical figures.” — George Orwell, “The Prevention of Literature”, Polemic (January 1946)
Have you ever noticed the continuous tendency to remove “inconvenient” episodes from history? Consider that 1970s environmentalists believed in a new Ice Age and that Bill Clinton promoted the Defense of Marriage Act in the 1990s. Obama was opposed to gay marriage then he was in favor immediately after the Supreme Court decision. There are lots of problematic lines from prominent Democrats and leftists across history but the Democrats are always portrayed as right and on the side of all that is good. If people are perfectible, obviously their side is perfect and always was perfect. Any problems are someone else’s fault.
Conservatives do not have this problem – or at least, have it to a much lesser degree. Of course, people in the past are fallible and imperfect. George Washington was a great man and a heroic leader but he was imperfect. This should be blatantly obvious, but it needs to be pointed out. This is also why there is no conservative case for Cancel Culture or tearing down statues; we see people as fallible, so wicked behavior is expected. It’s the good, the noble, and the heroic that people do that is exceptional.
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