An American Garden of Heroes?

A not-quite-realistic rendering of the Garden.

The Garden of American Heroes is planned to have 264 statues of men and women who contributed to our history. It is a wide ranging group of people, including many whom I consider to be heroes. However, if we look at the “reasoning” behind the Garden, from Executive Order 13978, a few quotes:

“America has come under attack in recent months and years by a dangerous anti-American extremism that seeks to dismantle our country's history, institutions, and very identity.”

“The National Garden is America's answer to this reckless attempt to erase our heroes, values, and entire way of life.”

“America is responding to the tragic toppling of monuments to our founding generation [i.e., Confederate generals] and the giants of our past by commencing a new national project for their restoration, veneration, and celebration.”

“The National Garden will draw together and fix in the soil of a single place…” blah blah blah!

(If you’ve got 20 minutes to waste, read the entire text of the Executive Order here.)

But I have noticed a certain ideology behind the project…

William F. Buckley, but no Gore Vidal

Nazi supporter and racist Henry Ford

Charlton Heston, but no Paul Newman

Alex Trebek, but no Orson Wells

…and, of course, no Thomas Paine.

You can love or hate Thomas Paine, but there is no question that his Common Sense sparked the American Revolution and that his “These are the times that try men’s souls” (American Crisis One) inspired Washington’s troops to cross the Delaware and rout the Hessians. Yet with 264 people to choose from, he somehow was omitted. Alex Trebek in, Thomas Paine out.

I have a number of people that I would like added, and a number of people I would like deleted. I would love to hear your lists!