Liberals & History

I can generally spot a liberal if I see them. The dyed-in-the-wool liberals are generally dressed in their threadbare “Al Gore for President” T-shirts having a decaf latte and a nonfat three-berry chocolate chip scone a Barnes & Noble coffee bar, reading Joan Didion. It’s harder for me to identify a liberal over the phone. Without the immediate talk of my recycling habits or my favorite organic food category, I can’t readily pick them out. I suppose there are some universities and museums that are known for their liberal stance, but I wasn’t up on any of that when I called various institutions looking for a venue to host the launch of the Elizabeth Custer bio. I knew that George Custer was a controversial person, but wasn’t aware Elizabeth was thought to be just as controversial. It’s that controversial impression that prompted all of the places I phoned yesterday to turn me down. One university told me that the name Custer is on par with the name Hitler. That comment may be a tad extreme. The book is Elizabeth’s life with and without George. Her experiences traveling the frontier, living in tents, and how she survived after George’s death. It’s not the first time I’ve heard professors and museum directors suggest we gloss over certain aspects of history, but I’m just as surprised as I was the first time it was mentioned. After speaking with the fifth and final Attila-like professor and being accused of being a racist for writing such a book at all, I decided to contact the one place I knew would be welcoming – Dodge City, Kansas. I wasn’t disappointed. History lover Brent Harris, also known as the face of Dodge City, seemed pleased to hear from me, eager to accommodate the book launch, and willing to display some of Elizabeth’s personal items. Unless something unusual happens, the launch will be held at Dodge City and all will be invited to attend. I’ve never made it a secret that I love Dodge City and I’m thrilled that I’ll have a chance to return for the event. Some of the most decent people in the world live there. I’m a little ashamed I didn’t contact the Front Street Museum first. The response I received from many West Coast colleges and museums about forgetting certain accounts in America’s past reminds me of a Sioux proverb. “A people without history is like wind on the buffalo grass.”