History without Thorns: the Cost of Selectively Scrubbing Suffering from Heritage
By Kevin Reed
By now most of us have seen this quote from Donald Trump: “The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE.’ The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, … Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.”
In light of the President of the United States’ recent comments around “woke” in the context of history, it seemed appropriate to apply this to all aspects of “wokeness” and history.
Why stop with US history? There’s so much more “woke” to be scrubbed from all of history.
For example, the story of Jesus Christ. Do we really want to hear all those negative aspects of his life? “He died for our sins.” Uh – okay – what about the Success? What about Brightness? What about the Future?
In this light, nobody wants to hear about Jesus’ rejection from his own community, his temptation in the wilderness, the constant opposition he faced, the betrayal by a friend, the abandonment by his followers, his unjust trial, the mockery and humiliation he suffered, the physical torture he endured, the pain and suffering of his crucifixion, or ultimately, his death. This is just talking about how horrible people were, and how a bunch of bad things happened to Jesus! Woke, woke, and more woke!
Under our new Presidential guidance, historical suffering is depressing and sad. We need a more positive approach!
When we scrub the “woke” (AKA DEPRESSING) aspects of the story, we can see the Success, Brightness, and Future much more clearly:
“Jesus of Nazareth lived one of the most remarkable lives in human history. From his earliest days, his presence inspired joy, hope, and reverence in all who encountered him. His life was a steady unfolding of goodness, wisdom, and love, leaving a legacy that continues to brighten the world to this day.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem under the sign of divine favor. Angels sang of peace and good will, and wise men brought him gifts fit for a king. Shepherds hurried from the fields to marvel at the child, and all who heard the news rejoiced. His birth was a moment of harmony and celebration, uniting people across cultures and lands in wonder.
As a boy, Jesus revealed wisdom far beyond his years. When he visited the temple in Jerusalem, teachers and elders marveled at his understanding. He carried himself with quiet dignity, embodying both humility and brilliance. Those who knew him in his youth recognized that his life would shape history.
When he began his public ministry, people flocked to hear him speak. Villages and towns overflowed with listeners who eagerly absorbed his words of hope and encouragement. His teaching was simple yet profound, offering a clear path to love, kindness, and a better world. Everyone who encountered him felt uplifted and inspired to live more generously.
Jesus preaching to eager masses.
Everywhere Jesus went, good things followed. He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and gave strength to the weak. He fed hungry crowds, stilled raging storms, and even brought loved ones back to life. Each act of compassion deepened the gratitude of those around him. The people’s faith grew, as they witnessed wonders that confirmed his extraordinary mission.
Jesus gathered around him loyal disciples who shared in his vision. Together they spread his teachings, ensuring that the message of love would never be forgotten. His followers found in him not only a teacher, but also a friend and guide who showed them how to live with joy and peace.
Jesus’ life gave birth to a movement that continues to this day. His words and actions have touched millions across centuries, across nations, across cultures. He is remembered as a bringer of peace, a source of wisdom, and a beacon of love that shines without shadow. The story of his life is the story of hope itself — the triumph of goodness and the assurance that love will endure forever!”
See? So much better without all that “woke” stuff. This is the kind of history we should be sharing with our families and friends in church, at home, at work. A history free negative guilt and the burden of all that wokeness.
And there has to be a better symbol than the cross, which represents sacrifice, redemption, and the cost of love under suffering and execution. Where’s the Success? The Brightness? The Future? A fish or a dove would be so much more positive. Or maybe praying hands or a burning candle. Or if you believe in the more militant second-coming Jesus, a sword would do.
Now we can all sleep like kittens tonight, free from the yoke of woke.
Rejoice!
EPILOGUE:
This piece is in no way disrespecting Christianity. It’s a simple thought experiment displaying the exact opposite of disrespect. To scrub the suffering of Jesus from his story is to disrespect the story, which in turn disrespects Jesus and Christianity – which is the point of writing about it, to say “Don’t do that for ANY topic.” Most Christian traditions (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, etc.) emphasize that Jesus’ suffering is essential. The cross is the central symbol because it represents sacrifice, redemption, and the cost of love. Without suffering, the story collapses into something sentimental.
When you strip suffering and the negative aspects of slavery from US history, you’re committing the same act of disrespect, while losing all context to do better as we move into making future decisions. It disrespects the people who lived through it, those who remember the events, people who live today with the remnants of it, the USA as a nation, and the human species.
We can do better.
