Editing History

Much was made of the story a little while ago of Attorney General John Ashcroft covering up a statue in the interests of modesty. Undoubtedly this is ridiculous and should be criticized as such. Yet, if we are to criticize the covering up of a statue, shouldn't an attempt to cover up history be criticized even more harshly? This editing of history is not very different from the editing of history in a different time and place. But if we start down that road, where do we decide that it has gone too far?