I was reading about the judges ruling concerning the renaming of the Kennedy center. I read the law that created it and it is clear that it was to honor and remember John F Kennedy. It has been ordered that Trumps name be removed and any and all signage or representation of Trump. I’m not a lawyer but it does seem clear enough, the Kennedy center for the performing arts is to honor Kennedy. Was it illegal for the board of directors to rename it to include Trump? I’m not a lawyer but I don’t see where it was illegal, disrespectful perhaps, a slight to Kennedy, especially when his name came in second place , but illegal? I don’t think so.

The board of directors established by that law are tasked with the daily operation of that facility. Over the years it has fallen into a state of disrepair, ticket sales are way down and there are structural issues. The center receives 40 million annually from congress for repairs. The Trump administration secured 257 million for that purpose. During his time the 48th annual Kennedy center fundraiser was doubled that of when Biden was president. Opening night netted 10 million dollars. That was all accomplished with a new board of directors. That board elected Trump president of the board, he says he didn’t know anything about it and is honored. The board voted to rename the center. Was it illegal?

An appeal is being filed and I’m certain millions will be spent debating all of that before it’s all over. I have no doubt the original intent was to name that venue after John F Kennedy, to honor him and his memory. So far his legacy has remained in tact. Oh, there has been some talk, rumors and even books published telling another story other than the war hero president presiding over Camelot.

History has been kind to him, that could change at any moment. Wouldn’t be the first president to fall from grace in the public eye. Many of our founding fathers are being portrayed as simply racist slave holding white supremacists these days. And how many statues and monuments have been removed from the public eye because they are so disturbing? Of course there were no laws written to protect them I suppose, even though I’m certain of the intent.

That is what will eventually be decided upon, intent. The court will have to say, this is what was intended, that is what that statue means. It’s becoming quite the common thing these days, determining what words means. It isn’t always what was written down. Public Law 85- 874 signed into law by President Eisenhower as the National Center for the arts. Then in 1964 congress passed public law 88- 260 renaming that to the Kennedy center. The argument centers on whether only congress has the authority to rename the Kennedy center. As I said, I’m no lawyer but even I know only congress can pass law. Does the law say the Kennedy center can only use the name Kennedy center and no other? Is there any prohibition about including anyone else’s name to be honored? I didn’t see that in there but the court will decide. I do wonder if there would have been such an uproar if they had added George Floyd or Barack Obama to that name?

My bottom line. The name shouldn’t have been changed, it goes contrary to the intent of the law. Was it illegal? I didn’t see where that law said anything about that. It doesn’t say one way or the other.