Who should decide when what or who has become irrelevant? Do you trust others to make that decision for you? And who are those "others"?
Is History Becoming History?
Looking back to my years of pre-college education, it seems strange that I often considered history to be one of my least favorite courses. It's strange--maybe even contradictory--since I've always loved movies, books, and stories about historic events. I still prefer non-fiction accounts of people and times in the past. In actuality history was/is one of my favorite subjects.
It would be unfair to some of the wonderful teachers I had in younger days to say that they taught the subject of history poorly. Primarily it was a matter of my perception--a perception that changed radically after I began taking history classes at the University of Tennessee and began pursuing the topic on my own. History became interesting to me as well as relevant to my understanding of the people and events that shaped history to the present day.
Those who we see currently rejecting the achievements of those who brought us to where we are now--those who want to tear down monuments and erase names from history books--they are essentially ignorant from all indications I receive from them. Or they are radical insurgents who are deliberately trying to destroy the history, culture, and legacy of the United States of America and for that alone they should be condemned and rejected.
To me there is no logical argument to tearing down or even removal of statues and monuments that currently exist unless they pose some kind of threat to their surroundings or there is a sound purpose in doing so. Just because they might "make people feel badly" is not a reasonable argument. Those monuments are inanimate without any motivation in and of themselves and therefore cannot "make" anybody feel anything--people chose to feel an emotion, control it, and take action to deal with why they feel that way. The monuments are objects of learning, reflection, understanding, and discussion. They should be cherished as part of our heritage--or at the very least respected as property that others might appreciate.
And all of this does not even address the memorials as art. They are indeed art since they were creations of human minds and handiwork. Some, such as those on Monument Avenue in Richmond VA, are (or were) quite impressive to behold. When I lived in Richmond my route to work took me past those statues and I always enjoyed seeing them.
Now, the statue of Stonewall Jackson (whom I still proudly claim in my family's ancestry) is gone. I guess the others have been removed as well. I know that the statue of Matthew Maury was removed after Stonewall, something I lamented since I had only recently learned about Maury's great contributions to science and navigation. Why oh why? Why is there so much ignorance? Why is the will of a handful of un-American Americans catered to while the rest of us are not even given an opportunity for input? The incompetent mayor of Richmond, Levar Stoney, is a pitiful joke as far as I am concerned.
But that's where we've come to in this country. Loud mobs of ignorant child-adults seem to be kowtowing local and state leaders into submitting to the will of folks who care nothing for America. None of the government leaders or mob participants will ever attain the great achievements of Christoper Columbus, Thomas Jefferson, or Andrew Jackson. I can say that with relative confidence and I'll retract my words if I ever see it happen.
We live in sorry days, but I'm hoping better things will be coming. I don't expect that to happen so I won't lay any money on that bet. As much as possible we need to reject the mob influence or the influence of insidious radical groups like Black Lives Matter. If you're offended by that then do your research--BLM is an evil organization. Many people can't seem to distinguish between the sentiment of black or any lives mattering and a leftist organization that has absconded a slogan as their name.
In true Orwellian fashion the radical left wants to rewrite our great history to reflect their ideology. The pressure to shame us about our history is leading to musical groups changing their names, movies and books under consideration to be banned or given limited access, or erasing any vestiges of our history in our surroundings. If you really want to tear down statues then build your own damn statue on your own land with your own money and rip the sucker down. Otherwise leave your filthy mitts off of what others have created and funded.
I for one love the United States of America despite its flaws and foibles. History should be a learning experience. Unfortunately the spoiled brat radicals haven't learned much from our history, but they are gladly taking cues from the evil governments of the past that did the same kind of eradication of the past.
To get angry or upset about history and what people of the past did is utterly foolish and stupid. Really? Getting emotional about things that already happened and can't be undone other than in some childish imaginary way? Let's pretend things didn't happen?
I glad I'm more intelligent than that. But that's me. And I think it's a lot of other people as well. Anyone who supports the "peaceful" protesting of graffiti, looting, violence, destruction, and chaos in general is an idiot--a dangerous idiot. Maybe you have a different point of view about this-- and then maybe you're an idiot.
Battle of the Bands Results
This most recent Battle featured the Dave Loggins hit "Please Come to Boston" as performed by Confederate Railroad and Reba McIntire. The Railroad chugged out of the station with a nice lead, but it wasn't long before spunky Reba overtook the train to take the lead all the way until the end of the match.
I liked both versions quite well, but the male voices of Confederate Railroad were more preferred to me than Reba's country twang. But, alas, my vote for the Confederate guys wasn't enough to beat Reba. And I gotta admit that her version is pretty good.
Final Vote Tally
Confederate Railroad 10
Reba McIntire 13
Next Battle on July 15th? Maybe? Probably
If I show up for a mid month Battle I hope you'll join me in a week. I still feel like I need the break, but on the other hand I have so many Battles waiting in the wings that by doing two a month I might wrap them up in a couple years if I'm still blogging that long. Then, of course, there is that fact that I keep thinking up new Battles to add. But for me it's all less of a conundrum than it is a matter of whim. Either way, I intend to be back at some point so please don't forget me. Forgetting seems to be the mode of the day and I don't relish being the next victim of being forgotten. Not in my lifetime at least.
Can you think of a logical reason to tear down monuments to the past (especially if they have been standing for many decades)? Do you think students today are being properly educated about history? Are you interested in exploring the past?
