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Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton is facing ridicule online after a highly passionate speech about the legacy of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower.
During the speech, Cotton said of the Pilgrims:
"Their faith, their bravery, their wisdom places them in the American pantheon. Alongside the patriots of 1776, the Pilgrims of 1620 deserve the honor of American founders."
He next bemoaned Americans' lack of enthusiasm about 2020 being the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage to North America.
"Sadly, however, there appear to be few commemoration, parades, or festivals to celebrate the pilgrims this year."
He then blamed "the radical left" for this lack of celebrations, rather than the much more likely cause, the pandemic.
"Perhaps, in part, because revisionist charlatans of the radical left have lately claimed the previous year as America's true founding."
"Some — too many — may have lost the civilizational self-confidence needed to celebrate the Pilgrims."
You can view a clip of Senator Cotton's speech here:
Sen. Tom Cotton: "Just today for instance The New York Times called the [Pilgrims'] story a myth and a caricature.… https://t.co/AOxRGYOcA5— The Hill (@The Hill)1605740434.0
Representative Ilhan Omar had no patience for Cotton's clinging to the easily disproven myth of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.
When your sense of history doesn’t go beyond your 3rd grade coloring books and actual history terrifies you. https://t.co/gaVeDRgaMW— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar)1605749383.0
Cotton responded to Omar's tweet, but didn't really seem to get her message.
As someone who, like the Pilgrims, sought refuge in America, I would’ve hoped you would share their gratitude for t… https://t.co/klyBvFPi77— Tom Cotton (@Tom Cotton)1605752227.0
It didn't take long for people to start mocking Senator Cotton on Twitter.
Many people pointed out that the version of pilgrim history many Americans were taught in school is a complete fabrication.
@thehill Tom Cotton is a waste of space. The Pilgrim story I was taught in elementary school was a popular myth. It… https://t.co/SIY4zxMTSi— Eileen ANTIFA REP,🌱FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING (@Eileen ANTIFA REP,🌱FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING)1605755836.0
@TheAllyStewart @thehill Narrator's voice: To the contrary, Tom was required to be wrong about every single thing.— Steel Penny (@Steel Penny)1605744376.0
Several people questioned whether Cotton also believed in other fanciful things, like Santa Claus.
@AeynaLali @thehill Wonder when he'll find out about Santa— Gregory McEgg (@Gregory McEgg)1605797079.0
@Nickm575 @thehill OMG! That’s so mean!You’ll make @SenTomCotton cry! Are you gonna tell him about Santa Claus too???— H McTernan (@H McTernan)1605791791.0
Some people asserted that Cotton knows the true history and was just putting on a show for his base.
@KSaibones He KNOWS they're ignorant of history and unable to cope with reality, you mean.— Pantheris (@Pantheris)1605752611.0
@nancychatter @sean_antrim @IlhanMN "Manifest Destiny": I come to your house for dinner and your house is mine.… https://t.co/qQYwYqvJJz— MaryW (@MaryW)1605782087.0
Many people also criticized his focus on the Pilgrims during a time when the pandemic is devastating our country, including his constituents in Arkansas.
@thehill Senator Cotton laser focused on pilgrims while COVID rages through the country, killing 250,000 Americans to date.— Bob (@Bob)1605741129.0
@thehill What does this have to do with COVID relief? Poverty? Inequality?— Len (@Len)1605740995.0
@thehill This may not be as significant, to you, as the pilgrims, but 1,554 Arkansas residents died yesterday. Too… https://t.co/7Pfjz3zB88— Earl E. Dowling (@Earl E. Dowling)1605740666.0
@thehill 1,800 people died today from COVID. Sorry we offended some folks from 500 year ago.— Jeff Mustonen, Go Dawgs! (@Jeff Mustonen, Go Dawgs!)1605747711.0
@thehill Bold move, Cotton. It's not like anything important is happening.— My Sweet Baboo Redux (@My Sweet Baboo Redux)1605745509.0
@IlhanMN They keep complaining about things like the 1619 Project when they could be passing pandemic relief! Grrrr.— Megan Dosher Hansen (@Megan Dosher Hansen)1605752111.0
While Senator Cotton seems to be fixated on the false narrative of the Pilgrims' journey to North America, and what they did when they got here, others are focused on America's future.