"You talk about Richard Stans every morning in school? What do you say about him?"

"One nation on Richard Stans."

We straightened that mystery out before the bath water cooled. I don't recall having such questions in the early school years. I also doubt I was alone growing up doing all the things we were required to do in school without knowing or really thinking much about why we were doing them.

We had assigned seats. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance out loud together every single morning, hand over heart. Along about the fifth grade, someone in Washington added a few words to it about God that took some adjustment when reciting. But we still always did it.

And, of course, there was the unfinished portrait of George Washington hanging high on the wall. (I was pleased to read the other day that researchers have determined GW's hair was really auburn, a dark reddish shade, powdered white as was the fashion of his day. Mine's all white without powder.)

It was years later before I realized that such rituals, along with standing up when the flag passed, removing your hat, and studying the broad strokes of United States history through the grades, were all part of injecting into our growing minds the unifying sense and appreciation of being American. 

That helped build and maintain the sense that America was special and we had to carry it forward.

And we felt proud because the United States, although not perfect, was an ongoing project that got better and better over time because its individuals were nurtured and encouraged to improve themselves, to reap the benefits, and, thus, to also improve the collective country.

So, it's worrisome to me, and I suspect many others, that a movement has developed in recent years that seeks to deconstruct America's uniqueness, the progress within its spotted history, and not only debate but remove from sight objects of historical importance.

The other day, New York City, that towering, singular symbol of self-importance, took a minor but meaningful step to continue the demolition of traditional beliefs. After more than a century's residence in the City Council chambers, elected officials ordered the removal of Thomas Jefferson's statue.

Never mind he wrote the Declaration of Independence and other foundational documents. In hindsight, his postdated crime was owning slaves, like pretty much everyone else of landed means in those times about 250 years ago. That was until a civil war, still the deadliest conflict in U.S. history, settled the issue on freedom's side. And Abraham Lincoln, arguably the greatest president ever, proclaimed the emancipation of everyone. For which he paid with his own life.

Some of those dainty New York City council members claimed they were emotionally injured by an inert statue. Poor things.

We can all learn from history, if we bother to study it. The Good. The Bad. The Ugly. But we can't change it by hiding its revered reminders away in dark closets. 

If we don't know about previous stupidities, we're destined to repeat them. Which is why I hope someone will write a detailed history of California's homeless crisis, flash-mob lootings, and lack of prosecutions for future generations to shake their heads at.

And remove any surviving statues of himself that Gavin Newsom ordered.

That's what we discuss in this week's audio commentary.

In the recording, I promised to post here a link to what I have found to be the most compelling American historical account. It's a trilogy by Daniel Boorstin called "The Americans."

But it's not a political history. It's a social history that examines in detail individual Americans seeking success and how their inventions, ideas, and ideals created collectively the broader nation we inhabit today. I found the second volume: "The National Experience," the most compelling.

This week, I wrote an extra piece outside the VIP paywall on Joe Biden's beyond-stupid plan to avenge the murders of three American troops in Jordan. What you need to know is he not only gave the Iran-backed terrorists ample warning to prepare and hide, he actually published a map showing the individual targets in advance.

Why would a commander in chief do that to his own pilots and/or special operators?

The most recent audio commentary pondered the media's strange, unattractive rush to short-circuit the Republican primary process and declare a winner after only two contests. They so badly want Donald Trump back to bash.

And this week's column tried to insert some lighter-hearted fun into this marathon presidential campaign by asking, "Can Michelle Obama Really Save Us From Joe Biden and the Other Guy?"