Perhaps Rep. Lekas is unfamiliar with the U.S. Constitution. Article I reads, “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including Indians, not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons.”
In other words, non-white people were considered to be three-fifths of a person. This is because the north was more densely populated, and if only white people were counted, then northern states would have more voice in the government. But northerners thought counting slaves as whole people, when they were treated in all other ways as property, seemed an unfair way to get more representation for the south.
Thus, racism is literally written into our constitution. The lie is saying our country was not founded on racism. Never did I think I would live to see an elected American official introduce a bill to prohibit the teaching of truth in our schools out of fear and insecurity. Teaching our children lies and punishing teachers for instructing the truth makes us more like Russia or China. Not the country I know and love. I hope the NH Legislature sees this bill for the travesty that it is and refuses to make it law.
Maureen Redmond-Scura
Concord