IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray
# 310
January 18, 2025
Oh, what price history?
There is a price to not studying history – world or American. My generation was guided by excellent teachers who knew the value of history and its importance to forming informed opinions and not being led astray by the “buzz words or attitudes of the day.”
So, we this now. The battle over Tic Tok is an excellent illustration. And the generation “Z” is not shy about expounding opinions and criticizing national leadership over it. Yes, with over 170 American millions users, it wields a lot of clout.
When I heard a teenager complaining about losing the site, I was astounded to hear that she would just go to “Red Note.” And what is that? It is another CCP (Chinese) site. The color is – to be repetitive – the first red flag. Red? Yes!
When Mao Tse Tung took over China, he was responsible for killing tens of millions of his people. Why? They were not the least bit interested in his Communist philosophy. The genius of the Chinese people aside, he is remembered for a little red book.
“Quotations from Chairman Mao” is replete with his expounding on his view for the world. And a scary view it was — and is. To say that Generation Z will go to Red Note is to realize how ill-informed they are. To flock to a site run by a government that is a continuation of Mao’s push for ultimate control over his people is downright scary.
To follow Hitler and Lenin who are responsible for millions of deaths, Mao must take the prize for killing the most people. The shame of this is if the Chinese people were free to pursue their personal ambitions, it is hard to imagine what they could achieve. When men and women are killed and never allowed to blossom into contributing members of their society, the loss is inconceivable.
And so we have the current controversy. Unless and until we make sure that our teachers at every level teach accurate world and American history, the students will lack the guidance to see emerging situations for what they are: benign or perilous.
Right now, it is up in the air as to what the Chinese seek here. Given the fact that, if pressured to release all data held on its users, it is compelled to turn all the information over to the Chinese Communist Party, then user identities and data is truly at risk. Yes, many young people use Tik Tok as a way to make money (and in some cases, a lot of money), the lure of profit holds sway. I doubt if the CCP has any interest in videos of dancing, music, or sport. But what if their seeking a way to get to the younger generation through, what at first, looks harmless and entertaining, is really a Trojan Horse?
Will Tik Tok sell to an American owner? If so, will that owner, or owners, honor the privacy of his, her, or their users? We may know in 90 days if the delay that President Trump wants is a reality. Just how much do we want the onerous power of a really dangerous adversary invading our homes via our children and grandchildren?
Is there a price to not knowing history?
Think about it.