Staff Reports
In a world where history is twisted to fit a convenient narrative, it’s no surprise that defending historical atrocities is seen as trendy—especially if it’s to serve the echo chamber of so-called progressive circles. Recently, a certain video by a self-proclaimed history teacher praising the ancient Incan civilization achieved viral fame. This viral sensation had the teacher extolling the virtues of the Inca while conveniently overlooking their darker deeds, akin to ignoring the forest for the trees. Her narrative suggested that the Spanish conquerors were merely envious and dismissive of these stone structures and agricultural feats, without a hint of acknowledgment of the barbarities practiced by the very people she romanticized.
Perhaps the most baffling part of her narrative was the attempt to spin human sacrifice as a charitable act, all while slipping in the notion that these sacrifices were “voluntary.” Now, unless there’s been a revision in the dictionary, one must be pretty delusional to suggest that an 8-year-old child “volunteering” for a slow, drugged death in a cold mountain is anything but a shocking abuse. The absence in her teaching of these crucial historical realities is precisely what makes her glowing review a dangerous distortion.
After all, skipping over the bloody rituals of ancient cultures while revering their architectural achievements is like applauding the artistry of a painting without noticing the canvas was made from suffering. The so-called AP history teacher praises the Inca for their impressive structures, yet omits the irony that they were often built upon the misery of those who were sacrificed. Such editorialization not only misrepresents history but diminishes the horrors that real people lived through, which were anything but “kind.”
Perhaps indicative of modern indoctrination, one can see the dots connected between her apologetic stance on historical human sacrifices and the controversial practices many attempt to normalize today. The eerie parallel drawn between today’s actions and those of cultures past is hard to miss—it’s as if this teacher is trying to rationalize contemporary policies by glorifying ancient horrors. When she dismisses criticism as a product of a “quite white education,” it dangerously shifts the focus from truth to an excuse for moral relativism, betraying any quest for genuine historical understanding.
To see such warped lessons preached in classrooms is a resounding wake-up call for vigilance in education. It’s all well and good for the academy to explore diverse human histories, but not at the cost of erasing or whitewashing the uncomfortable truths. Thanks to teachers like the one who has managed to inspire viral naivety with insipid TikToks, conservative parents find themselves reassessing the education system. Indeed, one can only hope that such shortsighted narratives serve as a springboard for parents to closely watch what their children are taught and embrace educational choices that honor integrity over ideological apology.
