Topic: WorldNetDaily
Chuck Norris' Jan. 11 WorldNetDaily column began in a relatively normal fashion, expressing "heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the Capitol police officer and other lives lost in the U.S. Capitol last week. But by the third paragraph, he was quoting "historian David Barton" to bash last summer's protests against police brutality. He came up agani later in the column:
I'm not ignorant of how some protests turned violent in the formative years of our republic leading up to the Revolutionary War. But both sides of the aisle today must be careful not to cite historical precedent in revolts like the Boston Tea Party to justify violence. According to historian Barton again, that resistance event "was 100% peaceful with no looting, rioting, injury, or destruction of person or private property." (The same can basically be said of patriot resistance in 1765 against the Stamp Act and in 1767 against the Townshend Acts.)
Indeed, America had a violent birth, but the framers established and wanted to grow a peaceful republic while simultaneously securing freedoms of religion, speech, press and even grievance assemblies. They intentionally used the term "peaceably" because they also were familiar with angry, violent mobs. That is why Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., said of the U.S. Capitol riot this last week, "It's the Founding Fathers' worst fear." Mob rule is not the path to liberty.
Bottom line, as Barton concluded, "Peaceful protests are protected by the Bill of Rights, but violent riots which destroy, loot, and victimize are antithetical to the American idea. The comparison of the violent riots to the Boston Tea Party is wildly unfounded and demonstrates that Americans should study their history before they try to weaponize it."
But as actual historian John Fea wrote in fact-checking Barton, the Boston Tea Party was, in fact, a riot, the "partiers" were vandals, and property was destroyed: the tea.
Norris isn't going to tell you that Barton is a heavily discredited "historian" -- so much so that his book on Thomas Jefferson was recalled by its publisher for its inaccuracies. Then. of course, WND apparently bought up some of those copies for sale in its own online store, then republished it with only minor edits that didn't fix the book's problems and an added attack on the historians who exposed Barton's shoddy work.
Norris further embraced Barton in a plug at the end of his column: "For more great perspectives on patriotism and our founders, I would encourage you listen daily to Wallbuilders Live broadcasts with Rick Green and David & Tim Barton, especially last week's broadcast on 'What Happened at the Capitol.' Encourage others also to listen to their inspiring and educational 'Constitution Alive' series. Last, check out their excellent interview with Jim Garlow on 'The Theology of Protests.'" Garlow is an anti-gay pastor who has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump.
