Eternity RPC Board
08-16-2017, 02:41 PM
So, where do I begin on a subject like this...
I see in my news feed this morning that Baltimore has removed it's last confederate statues overnight. I made sure to note my reactions to reading the article. Honestly? I was very much indifferent with slight leanings towards being okay with what happened. I understand they did it over night, in cover of darkness, to avoid the trouble that happened in Charlottesville over the weekend. I am very much understanding of that choice. (also, wasn't Baltimore in a union state? wtf?)
Being not from the South, I don't personally identify with the confederates or "southern pride" as they say, at all. I just don't. It all seems silly to me, honestly. So defending statues of confederate officials, generals, etc. just doesn't really vibe with me, because I wasn't really raised in a culture that cared about them or even recognized them as anything other than losers, more or less.
With regards to history and preserving it, I think there's plenty to be said there, but to summarize my views on that, I think it's not only possible but very easy to learn about history and understand history without putting it on a pedestal for everyone to see. When I think of statues in public, especially government spaces, I think it's almost a place of honor, respect, and reverence. Everyone sees this statue and you can go by the placard and read it to learn more, etc. Receiving a statue, to me, is a sign of honor and respect by quite literally putting the person (or rather their form) on a pedestal for everyone to see. With regards to confederate statues, I don't personally see much to respect or honor there. What they fought for was a states right to determine whether or not humans could be slaves, right? (although that's a whole other can of worms, surely) To me, a position like that is not worthy of honor or respect. Sure, we can have busts of Lee or Jackson or even Davis in museums, and civil war cemeteries where confederates were laid to rest can be treated with respect, etc., but putting Jackson or Lee on a statue in front of a courthouse, or naming a school after him, etc. is putting too much honor and respect for someone who ultimately was fighting for a cause we, as a society, have deemed unjust. Sure, stick them in a museum for historical reference. Have their pictures, speeches, actions, etc. in history books. I totally understand that. Statues to me are more than just historical reference points, they're places of honor and respect, which I don't believe those who fought for the confederacy deserve.
I get the history thing, but move that to the museum and the history books. We don't need statutes to remember history, at least I don't.
~~~
As an aside, I don't really have a horse in this race, specifically, and don't have any personal feelings regarding confederate symbols, other than a bit of bias in that I just assume anyone waving a confederate flag is either ignorant or trying to get attention, especially up here in the north. I know I have that bias and it is something I have been working on, but self awareness and improvement is hard, yo
I see in my news feed this morning that Baltimore has removed it's last confederate statues overnight. I made sure to note my reactions to reading the article. Honestly? I was very much indifferent with slight leanings towards being okay with what happened. I understand they did it over night, in cover of darkness, to avoid the trouble that happened in Charlottesville over the weekend. I am very much understanding of that choice. (also, wasn't Baltimore in a union state? wtf?)
Being not from the South, I don't personally identify with the confederates or "southern pride" as they say, at all. I just don't. It all seems silly to me, honestly. So defending statues of confederate officials, generals, etc. just doesn't really vibe with me, because I wasn't really raised in a culture that cared about them or even recognized them as anything other than losers, more or less.
With regards to history and preserving it, I think there's plenty to be said there, but to summarize my views on that, I think it's not only possible but very easy to learn about history and understand history without putting it on a pedestal for everyone to see. When I think of statues in public, especially government spaces, I think it's almost a place of honor, respect, and reverence. Everyone sees this statue and you can go by the placard and read it to learn more, etc. Receiving a statue, to me, is a sign of honor and respect by quite literally putting the person (or rather their form) on a pedestal for everyone to see. With regards to confederate statues, I don't personally see much to respect or honor there. What they fought for was a states right to determine whether or not humans could be slaves, right? (although that's a whole other can of worms, surely) To me, a position like that is not worthy of honor or respect. Sure, we can have busts of Lee or Jackson or even Davis in museums, and civil war cemeteries where confederates were laid to rest can be treated with respect, etc., but putting Jackson or Lee on a statue in front of a courthouse, or naming a school after him, etc. is putting too much honor and respect for someone who ultimately was fighting for a cause we, as a society, have deemed unjust. Sure, stick them in a museum for historical reference. Have their pictures, speeches, actions, etc. in history books. I totally understand that. Statues to me are more than just historical reference points, they're places of honor and respect, which I don't believe those who fought for the confederacy deserve.
I get the history thing, but move that to the museum and the history books. We don't need statutes to remember history, at least I don't.
~~~
As an aside, I don't really have a horse in this race, specifically, and don't have any personal feelings regarding confederate symbols, other than a bit of bias in that I just assume anyone waving a confederate flag is either ignorant or trying to get attention, especially up here in the north. I know I have that bias and it is something I have been working on, but self awareness and improvement is hard, yo