NOTE: At 2 a.m., just three hours before this blog post was scheduled to be published, I learned that the Harriet Tubman/Underground Railroad webpage on the National Park Service website had been restored! Rather than cancel today’s blog post, I will go forward with it because the only thing that has changed is that for whatever reason that one webpage has been restored.
Nothing else has changed, though. The Trump Administration continues to recklessly… and intentionally… try to erase and destroy American history and democracy. Whether they justify it under the guise of getting rid of “waste and fraud” or eliminating “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” it is all part of this sham racist and misogynist Administration.
What has taken place regarding Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad since January 20, 2025, is a prime example of the incompetence and insidious hate held by members of the Trump Administration.
It offends me when I hear people say that all government employees are corrupt and incompetent. That is the mantra of the Trump Administration. Trump and the people in his inner circle despise federal employees. They are perfectly happy to collect government paychecks and benefits, but no one else working in the government deserves anything but ridicule. Think about that for a minute.
If you want to see corruption and incompetence, you need look no further than the Trump Administration. It is made up entirely of businessmen. Businessmen are never corrupt or incompetent, are they? But evidence to the contrary lies in the fact that almost on a daily basis since January 20 this Administration has made an announcement then had to retract it, has fired federal employees and then had to try to re-hire them, has erased information from a website and then had to restore it. Not to mention high level national security people conducting business on a less-than-secure app, first denying it, then halfway owning up to it, then proclaiming it was no big thing.
The Administration’s total disregard for truth, transparency, and the rule of law and never taking responsibility for mistakes is on display daily for all to see.
It astounds me how the businessmen who are running the federal government have a total lack of knowledge of what government’s purpose is. They only think in terms of profit and loss, but that’s not what government is about. Government is about serving the people, and that’s why Trump and the people in his Administration have it all wrong. Serving the people is a foreign term for them. They only think in terms of making money from the people, and running over anyone who gets in their way. What a pathetic way to see the world!
They delight in firing employees willy-nilly. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. They don’t consider what anyone’s job is. They don’t consider anyone’s expertise. They just conduct wholesale firings.
Hours or days later, when someone has the courage to point out to them that some of those employees helped planes land safely, or some of them were conducting research into cancer treatments or possible cures, or some of them risk their lives to fight wildfires… then a handful of them might be re-hired. That is, if they can locate them, because in the name of anti-waste, anti-fraud, anti-diversity, anti-equity, and anti-inclusion, they erased all the fired employees’ contact information.
I guess that’s the business mentality. After all, more than one person said to me before Trump ran for office the first time, “We need a businessman in the White House.” And that’s supposedly what we got.
What follows is my original blog post scheduled for April 8, 2025:
Until around 9:30 Sunday night, I planned not to blog again about politics until Thursday. That’s when I learned that sometime between January 21 and March 19, 2025, the National Park Service removed all references to Harriett Tubman from its “Underground Railroad” webpage.
Yes, THAT Harriet Tubman! The Harriet Tubman who was the most famous “conductor” on the Underground Railroad.
That’s the Harriet Tubman whose image appeared on a 13-cent first-class postage stamp in the United States in 1978. If you weren’t born until the 1990s, you probably can’t truly appreciate how difficult it was to get the United States to honor a non-white person on a postage stamp. She was the first woman of color (almost any color!) whose image was chosen for a US postage stamp. (Here’s a list of them, if you are interested in digging deeper into that aspect of American history: https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/african-american-stamp-subjects.htm.)
If you don’t know what the Underground Railroad was, please look it up somewhere while you still can. It was not an actual railroad, but it operated like one in many ways except in secret.
Apparently, the “Underground Railroad” webpage’s lead story until the Trump Administration decided to erase all history except that of white men!
Not only did they remove Harriet Tubman and her photograph, they removed references to “enslaved” people and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Harriet Tubman, enslaved people, and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 have been replaced on the webpage with… and you aren’t going to believe this… or I guess you will if you are a person of color or a female… “Black/White Cooperation.”
The webpage used to (until a matter of weeks ago) open with FACTS about slavery, how slaves struggled to gain their freedom, how the Underground Railroad came about after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Now, the page’s first two paragraphs emphasize “American ideals of liberty and freedom” and slavery isn’t mentioned.
There is a separate National Park Service webpage dedicated to Harriet Tubman. It has not been removed… yet.
The name “Harriet Tubman” is was synonymous with “Underground Railroad.” Her name will continue to be synonymous with the Underground Railroad until her name is wiped from the entire internet and all books about her or the Underground Railroad are destroyed… and after that, her name will still be whispered and kept alive through oral history.
The Trump Administration has also targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Smithsonian American Art Museum for having exhibits and using language he doesn’t like… or someone has told him he shouldn’t like. After all, we all know what a limited vocabulary he has.
The Administration continues to threaten universities, libraries, museums under the guise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), but if Trump and his minions were truthful they would just admit that they are racists, bigots, and mysogenists. We all know, though, the truth is not in them. They are small, fearful, hateful bullies.
I believe God is weeping. He gave us freewill, but it must grieve him to see what so many Americans have done with that freedom and responsibility.
In case you can’t see the forest for the trees…
Before you jump on me for making a mountain out of mole hill… for getting all bent out of shape over “just” the removal of Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and slavery from a US Government webpage, I’m worried about the big picture. Yes, I’m upset over those specific things being scrubbed from a government webpage, but I’m more concerned over what this portends.
I’m 72 years old and I NEVER thought the United States Government would erase our history. It has taken hundreds of years for indigenous peoples and Americans of African descent to get their stories – their history – in the history books. All that progress is under siege and threatened today.
Where do we go from here?
It falls on each of us to learn as much history as we can… while we still can… and commit it to memory so we can tell future generations the truth.
It falls on us to protest any way we can. It you are fortunate enough to be represented on any level of government by someone not affiliated with the Republican Party, call them, write them, encourage them, support them in their efforts to stop this madness.
If you are represented by Republican politicians, your have your work cut out for you. They have been advised not to hold town hall meetings. I know from experience that when you write them (letters or email) if you get a response it might not be on the topic you wrote them about.
The response you receive will quickly descend into a regurgitation of the usual Republican talking points singing the praises of Trump and how we all need to just be patient because great wealth is going to come to each of us and it is coming quickly.
On the other hand, we’re told it might take years for us to realize that prosperity because it took decades of our allies taking advantage of us to get us in the dire economic situation we were put in by the Democrats.
In other words, if we live long enough, this great American nightmare might end.
Make a sign and join a non-violent protest. Respond to hecklers with “Bless your heart!”
We must follow the example set by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and protest peacefully. Only the other side storms Capitol buildings and attacks police officers.
If need be, we can protest and wait patiently to vote in the mid-term election on November 3, 2026, when every one of the 435 seats in the US House of Representatives will be up for election and 33 US Senate seats will be up for election.
One thing I hope to live to hear
I hope to live long enough to hear a sane future US President speak the words that President Gerald Ford uttered to the nation after President Nixon was forced to leave the White House in shame:
“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule. But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice but mercy. As we bind up the internal wounds of Watergate, more painful and more poisonous than those of foreign wars, let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate.” ~ newly-sworn in US President Gerald R. Ford, nationally televised from the East Room of the White House on August 9, 1974.
I heard President Ford say those words, and I desperately want to hear a future US President say them, substituting “the Trump Administration” for “Watergate.”
Until my next blog post, probably tomorrow
I hope you have a book or something to give you a few minutes respite from what’s happening.
Janet
Janet's Writing Blog 
Janet, very well written full of truth. I am speechless about what is being allowed by this administration whose income has double in billions of dollars while the middle class and poor are suffering. United We Don’t Stand. Thank you for your courage to speak the truth. Have a great day.
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Thank you, Tangie. I’m more horrified by the day at what is happening and no one in authority seems willing or able to stop it or even slow it down. Thank you for your encouragement. I’m feeling a little fearful that I might be bringing the federal government down on myself for speaking out. I never imagined I would be afraid one day to criticize our government, but I must admit I’m concerned for myself and my sister. I feel called to do it, though. I’ve been up all night. I had gone to bed but was still awake at 2 a.m. when something told me to check Facebook. That’s when I found out that webpage had been restored, so I jumped out of bed and started trying to figure out what to do about this morning’s blog post. I got so worked up that I drafted another post for Friday. Fortunately, I don’t have a schedule for today, so I think now (7:45 a.m) I will go back to bed. I hope you have a good day. I hope there won’t be any terrible news today. I think we’re all exhausted from it all. Take care.
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If we have to bring back the oral tradition of epic poetry to pass down the truth of history to future generations, we’ll do it.
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Trump Admin Reverses Harriet Tubman Website Change After Furious Backlash
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I feel so sorry for America, for the history, for the world. Sometimes I just don’t know what to write anymore. Trump storms ahead at a relentless pace, leaving us exhausted — numb, Trump-weary. Maybe that’s exactly what he wants. Or at least one of his goals to drive us toward ruin.
Every day I hope someone will rise up and put an end to this nightmare.
Stay safe.
Concerned greetings from the Netherlands.
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A very good, informative post Janet, like all in this series you are engaged in. It is still shocking and incredible the things that are happening. I should say the things that they are doing…
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I need to brush up on my memorization skills.
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So, do I!
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Thank you, Tangie!
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Thank you, Matroos. We haven’t been on the receiving end of sympathy as a nation since September 11, 2001. It’s a strange position we find ourselves in . I apologize for not getting back to your this morning. After finding out the Harriet Tubman webpage had been restored at 2:00 a.m., I had to scramble to adjust my post scheduled for 5:00 a.m. I got so awake and worked up in doing that, that I didn’t get to sleep until nearly 8:00 a.m. and was awake again less than three hours later. So I’m dealing with sleep deprivation now. I just finished writing tomorrow’s long blog post and I hope it makes sense. I keep falling asleep at the computer! Like you, I don’t know what to writer anymore. I’m afraid I’m repeating myself in my blog posts. I’m close to being physically ill. It’s all just too shocking and unbelievable to comprehend. There seem to be some cracks in Leon Musk’s relationship with others in the Trump Administration over the tariffs. If we can get rid of Musk from whatever position he holds in our government (no one knows what that is!), perhaps some of the chaos will slow down. We desperately need some time to catch our breath and try to calm our minds. I do believe part of the larger “Project 2025” Plan is to hit us with so much so fast that we can’t digest it all and we’re left completely exhausted. As April 20 is approaching quickly, I’m increasingly concerned about the joint report Secretaries Hegseth and Noem have been order to make regarding our border with Mexico. One of Trump’s January 20 Executive Orders mandated that their report “in 90 days” has to include their recommendation regarding whether or not Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807. It would give him the authority to declare martial law. This is getting absolutely no attention by the news media. All the reporters are just trying to stay on top of the tariffs and floods right now. Of course, Trump doesn’t need their recommendation to invoke that 1807 Act. I don’t know what will happen if he orders the US military to turn on us. He has systematically fired top generals who would have refused to do such a thing, and now we have a Secretary of Defense who will do whatever Trump tells him to do. As bad as the trade war is, it is the possibility of martial law that frightens me the most. Most Americans don’t know what martial law means because we’ve never had to know. Stay safe in the Netherlands, and I hope Russia doesn’t rip apart all the undersea cables you depend on. Take care.
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Great post, Janet. We need a Congress and a Judiciary that remember that they are co-equal branches of the government. I also long for the day this nightmare will be over.
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I realise it’s scant consolation at the moment but whatever Trump can do in terms of erasing history inside the US, he’s utterly incapable of erasing it from the world. The history books will still exist in the libraries of democracies all around the world, and will be made freely available to the US should they need them once this nightmare ends. Americans may not be allowed to read about Harriet Tubman for the moment, but the rest of us still can and so she won’t be forgotten. And while America may not be being told the full horror of what is going on, the rest of us are. Our journalists are reporting on the injustices, the human rights abuses and, frankly, the mass idiocy that has inflicted the Republican party. Trump can twist and lie and manipulate, but he can’t silence the world. It might cheer you up to watch some British news if you can access it – you’ll find your contempt is shared around the world. Does it matter what we think? Yes, I think so, when people start boycotting American goods, protesting against Trump and Musk in the streets, as happened last weekend, and start looking elsewhere to invest or trade. Trump will last only as long as the rich believe he will make them richer, and the last week of lunacy has got them trembling.
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Thank you, Pat. I’m old enough to remember when members of Congress took pride in reminding the President that they held the purse strings and had some power over the President. Now, too many of them see their job as supporting anything and everything the President says and does.
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Thank you! I needed that! I have access to some BBC reports and I always find them honest to a fault. I also watch news broadcasts from NHK in Tokyo. I hear things on NHK that I never hears about from US news networks. More and more, the news networks in the US are narrow in their scope. They tend to get distracted by one story and they beat it to death for days on end and ignore everything else that is happening. Also, they increasingly ignore everything happening outside the US. For instance, the war in Ukraine has hardly been mentioned by the US news networks in months! The massive earthquake in Myanmar was covered for maybe 24 hours before it fell by the wayside. The American news networks spend too much time “reporting” on Hollywood and sports celebrities. I lost much of my respect for ABC News when the ABC TV network was purchased by Disney. The early morning and midday “Good Morning, America” shows spend five minutes on news and the rest of the hour or two hours on fluff and specifically Disney characters and movies. It’s pathetic! Thank you for reminding me that Trump cannot erase world history or American history from the rest of the world!
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Spot on, Janet. I can remember tales of Goldwater telling Nixon, it was time to go. Nobody has the courage to tell 47 Enough!!! When talking to him it’s “Three bags full “
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You’re right. No one can tell Trump anything, except apparently Linda Loomer can tell him who to fire and hire in national security positions. I watched a program on PBS about Hitler last night. Too many parallels! Too many fragile ego parallels. Too many fire all the generals and run the military yourself parallels. Too many I build the biggest most beautiful buildings parallels.
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I have noticed that too, starting a few years ago. The similarities are scary from book burning to dehumanizing a category of humans (like immigrants). They are chipping away at our liberties daily. And the Revenge Tour is full steam ahead. Neither our courts nor our Congress seem to remember that they are supposed to be co-equal branches of the government.
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I have had to log in 3 times before I can send a respond. I notice the comparisons a while back. Book burning to loyalty tests to dehumanizing a group of people (like immigrants) the comparisons grow. Congress and the Court system seem to for get that they are co-equal branches of government. The Revenge Tour grows in number and power daily.
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I have had to log in 4 times before I can send a respond. I notice the comparisons a while back. Book burning to loyalty tests to dehumanizing a group of people (like immigrants) the comparisons grow. Congress and the Court system seem to for get that they are co-equal branches of government. The Revenge Tour grows in number and power daily.
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Noticed the similarities awhile ago. Book banning to personal loyalty tests to dehumanizing people such as immigrants its very similar. Both the legislative and judicial branches forget they are supposed to be coequal branches to the Executive. The Revenge Tour picks up steam and power daily. Scary times! I couldn’t reply to you from my PC and have had unusual problems from my phone.
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I know, Pat. I’m so old I remember when each branch proudly reminded us that theirs was a co-equal branch. The caving in to peer pressure, fear of not getting reelected if I dare to disagree, etc. is falling by the wayside before our eyes. I know every President expects their Cabinet members to agree with him on basic principles, but I watched a few minutes of today’s Cabinet meeting and they all literally looked like bauble heads! I thought they were going to give themselves vertigo, they were so vigorously nodding their heads with every word he said. If it hadn’t been so frightening, it would have been funny. SNL could easily do a whole skit based on today’s Cabinet meeting. And instead of a single one of them asking a question or voicing a difference of opinion on even a minor detail, each one closed their reports by praising Trump and thanking him profusely for all the wonderful things he is doing.
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Sorry you’re having trouble leaving comments. I’d hate to even think someone is blocking comments on my blog, but I don’t trust the people controlling things anymore. I don’t know what’s going on, Pat.
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I think I’ve received all your comments this evening, but I’m sorry you are running into problems. Yes… all the things you mentioned point in the same direction. They’re all part of the Nazi/2025 Playbook.
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Your comment went to spam. Who knows why? Anyway, I’m just now seeing this from April 10. The dehumanization is classic fascism, as you know, of course. The name calling…. You wrote this on April 10 and her early on April 25… will still ask where is Congress? Where are the courts? The silence from both is deafening.
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Silence loudly echos in both halls
thudding around like tennis balls
rebounding off the solid walls
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I wish I could write poetry like you do, Pat. I’m too verbose on paper. Very quiet when it comes to speaking, but very wordy with a pen in hand of a keyboard under my fingertips.
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