The Irreplaceable Legacy of America’s Founders: Why Substituting Native American Leaders for American Icons is a Threat to Our National Identity
By Bobby Darvish
Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS
As an Iranian-American ex-Muslim who has experienced firsthand the power of cultural assimilation in the United States, I find myself deeply concerned about recent efforts to substitute Native American leaders for American icons such as the ones on Mount Rushmore. This movement, which seeks to replace historical figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt with Native American leaders, strikes at the heart of what makes America great. While I understand and respect the history and contributions of Native American cultures, I firmly believe that these efforts are an attack on the identity of our nation and, more importantly, an attempt to undermine the foundational principles upon which America was built.
The Legacy of the Founding Fathers
The United States of America is an exceptional nation—one that was conceived and founded by a group of men whose vision of freedom, liberty, and self-governance shaped not only our nation’s future but the future of the world. The White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) founders of this nation created a framework based on Judeo-Christian values and Enlightenment principles. They risked everything—personal safety, wealth, and family—to build a nation grounded in the idea that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.
Replacing the faces of these founders with Native American leaders or any figures from outside the context of the founding era is an attempt to rewrite history. It undermines the sacrifices and visionary leadership of those who laid the foundation for the greatest experiment in freedom the world has ever known. Mount Rushmore, as it stands today, represents an irreplaceable historical narrative: the struggle for independence, the creation of a government of laws and not men, and the steadfast belief in individual liberty.
Native American Leaders and Their Important Role
It is important to recognize that Native American leaders played a significant role in the history of the United States. Many of these leaders, such as Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo, resisted European encroachment and fought to preserve their people’s way of life. Their courage and leadership are worth honoring in their own right. However, to elevate Native leaders to the same level as the architects of our republic—especially in a way that seeks to displace the icons of American history—is both historically inaccurate and politically divisive.
Native American tribes and nations existed long before the arrival of Europeans on the continent, and their cultures and societies should be respected and preserved. However, the history of America as we know it cannot be separated from the foundational work done by the WASP founders. It was their vision, their sacrifice, and their leadership that shaped the country we live in today. Without them, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy or the system of government that has allowed people from all walks of life—including Native Americans—to thrive.
The Threat of Substituting Icons
The push to substitute Native American leaders for the faces on Mount Rushmore or other symbols of American history is part of a broader trend to denigrate the history and legacy of the United States. It is a trend rooted in identity politics and a refusal to acknowledge the complexities of our nation’s past. By focusing on the flaws of America’s founding while ignoring the incredible achievements it has made, we risk undermining the unity that has kept us strong for over two centuries.
This movement is not simply about honoring Native American leaders—it is about erasing the contributions of the very people who built this nation. To replace Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt with leaders who had no role in the founding of this nation is to disrespect the very ideals that have made America the beacon of hope for the world. It suggests that America’s history is one of oppression, rather than the triumph of human freedom over tyranny, and it presents an inaccurate portrayal of the nation's origins.
A Call to Preserve American Identity
As a Christian Conservative LDS and a proud American, I stand firm in my belief that the identity of this nation should not be altered to suit the whims of modern political agendas. While I support the idea of honoring the contributions of Native Americans, I believe we must also acknowledge the essential role that the founders of this nation played in shaping the America we know today. Their legacy cannot and should not be erased.
Instead of attempting to rewrite history, we should focus on teaching the full, complex story of America—one that includes the experiences of Native Americans, but also recognizes the contributions of the WASP founders who built this nation. We should celebrate the values of freedom, equality, and self-government that make America exceptional, and we should ensure that future generations understand the sacrifices made by those who came before us.
The attempt to substitute Native American leaders for American icons is not a path to healing or progress—it is a path to division and confusion. If we are to move forward as a united nation, we must honor our shared history, respect our differences, and embrace the ideals that have made America a beacon of hope for people of all races and backgrounds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I firmly believe that replacing the faces of America’s founding fathers with Native American leaders on monuments such as Mount Rushmore is not just an attack on American history—it is an attempt to dismantle the very foundation upon which this country was built. While Native American leaders have their rightful place in history, their inclusion as replacements for American icons diminishes the significance of the sacrifices made by the WASP founders who laid the groundwork for the freedoms we now enjoy.
We must not allow these efforts to rewrite history to succeed. As an Iranian-American who has seen firsthand the importance of preserving cultural identity, I urge all Americans to remember that our nation exists because of the vision and courage of our founding fathers. We owe them our gratitude and respect, not the erasure of their legacy.
Citations:
- Washington, George. The Writings of George Washington. Edited by John C. Fitzpatrick, vol. 1, Government Printing Office, 1931.
- Ellis, Joseph J. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Vintage Books, 2000.
- Ketchum, Richard M. The Winter Soldiers: An Oral History of the Revolutionary War. Berkley Books, 2000.
- Wills, Garry. Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America. Simon & Schuster, 1992.
- Bury, Michael. "Mount Rushmore and the Legacy of American Nationalism." National Review, 17 May 2018, www.nationalreview.com.
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