CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 24, 2019
A FRIEND OF MINE, HARRY COVERT, HAS WRITTEN ABOUT HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE LATE SINGER KATE SMITH. HE RECALLS WATCHING HER ON HIS BLACK AND WHITE TV AND LATER HEARING HER SING “GOD BLESS AMERICA.” THE SHOW WAS INTERRUPTED BY A NEWS BULLETIN. A GROUP OF PUERTO RICANS HAD SHOT UP BLAIR HOUSE IN WASHINGTON, ATTEMPTING TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN.
HIS POINT? NO ONE HOLDS PUERTO RICANS ACCOUNTABLE TODAY FOR WHAT HAPPENED THEN, SO WHY IS KATE SMITH BEING PERSECUTED FOR SINGING WHAT BY TODAY’S STANDARDS ARE A SMALL NUMBER OF SONGS THAT STEREOTYPED BLACK PEOPLE IN THE 1930S?
HARRY NOTES THAT SMITH ENTERTAINED MILLIONS OF SOLDIERS DURING WORLD WAR II. IRVING BERLIN, WHO WROTE “GOD BLESS AMERICA” WHICH SHE SANG FOR YEARS, DONATED THE RIGHTS AND MONEY TO A FOUNDATION CREATED FOR SMITH AND YANKEES BASEBALL GREAT JOE DIMAGGIO. RECIPIENTS OF THE FUNDS WERE THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
ALL OF THOSE GOOD WORKS ARE TO BE IGNORED BECAUSE A SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WANT TO IMPOSE THE PRESENT ON THE PAST. WHEN THEY HAVE DONE AS MUCH FOR AMERICA AS KATE SMITH AND IRVING BERLIN, WE CAN TALK. I’M CAL THOMAS.
