Let there be no mistake. Here in Talbot County, moving the Confederate monument from a place of honor on our Courthouse lawn to some other location takes precedence, as a civic issue, over every other matter facing this County Council. It takes precedence over every other matter facing us as citizens of Talbot County.
Because the Confederate monument is an artifact of Jim Crow injustice and white supremacy, demanding that it remain right where it’s been for the last 105 years is to say Talbot County remains locked in that world view. Even the most inattentive of us knows that is not true, yet three on our County Council so far just don’t see how it matters. But moving the thing from that singular place of honor is long overdue, and doing so does not somehow destroy Talbot’s history. That dichotomy is false and disingenuous.
In recent weeks this column has focused on the duplicity underlying the Council’s green-lighting the Trappe East project prematurely (Resolution 281), apparently not caring that the developer got the go-ahead by misrepresenting the sewage system he actually proposes to build. The integrity of our land use review process is a very important issue—but not as important as moving the Confederate monument. And last week I reported on the Council’s refusal to follow its own Rules of Procedure to hear a petition calling for rescission of Resolution 281; that too is a real problem—but nothing like the moral failure in refusing to move the Jim Crow monument.
And last month you’ll recall the report on the Council’s surprise proposal to run a $200,000 sewer line along the St. Michaels road, allegedly because the new materials yard needs a single toilet connection. You bet that is a big problem—but it’s not on the same scale as the Council’s failure to do the right thing with the bronze and stone relic of an unjust era in the County’s past.
This Council has shortcomings and continues to make bad decisions in certain areas, but none compare to its inaction caused by the moral blindness of the three members who could chose to do the right thing, but won’t.
Ironically, I write this opinion piece one year to the day from that sunny Saturday when so many Talbot Countians found themselves moved to action by another stark injustice, one more acutely horrible and brutal and unwatchable. We stood along Marlboro Road in peace– a simple act indeed, standing witness.
This year, on June 19th, beginning on Marlboro Road at 11 a.m. is another peaceable opportunity to act, to call for social justice right here in Talbot County. Join the march to the Courthouse to implore this County Council to move Talbot’s Confederate monument. My wife and I will be there and hope to see you there too.
Moving the monument won’t destroy Talbot’s history. It will add another, better, chapter to the ongoing story.
Dan Watson is the former chair of Bipartisan Coalition For New Council Leadership and has lived in Talbot County for the last twenty-five years.
Keith Alan Watts, Esq. says
For Naught
* * * *
Choosing,
A way forward.
Looking
Level-headed.
Allowing,
Hearing,
And
No longer fearing “The Right Thing To Do.”
Prepare to
Re-examine
It.
Caring
Enough, to realize the folly of Its remaining.
Deciding to
In
Vest
In the
Living,
Ignoring
Old excuses.
Praying
Associates
Consciously
Know.
Letting
Each
Soul
Here,
Evolve towards
Reason.
To
All
Leaders:
Be
One.
Today.
Be
Open.
Y?
So it will not — be all — for naught . . . .
* * * *
Paul Callahan says
The Talbot Boys is a memorial to our ancestors that rose against the greatest crushing of civil liberties ever endured by a free State by the Federal government.
It is not a monument to the confederacy. Just read it’s inscription “To the Talbot Boys”. It is only to honor our citizens who reacted when the foundation of our Democracy was shaken to its core.
Our Founding Fathers did not give us the 2nd amendment to hunt deer. It was so our citizens can protect themselves against a tyrannical government. Maryland and her citizens were abused immensely. Lincoln had his reasons but they still were unconstitutional.
We as Americans do not convict other Americans present or past based upon an action was taken during the “100 years of Jim Crowe” or what movie was playing in the theatres.
Anne Stalfort says
That is such a twisting of historical facts it leaves me almost speechless. Having lived here for over 50 years; having ancestors who were Confederate soldiers; but most importantly, having parents who lived their lives speaking up against racism; let me say very clearly: keeping the Confederate statue on the Courthouse grounds is a racist act. It was erected during the Jim Crow era. It’s message was the same message, white supremacists all over the country wanted to convey to Black citizens: you are not equal.
Talbot County, my home, is better than this.
Jane Murphy says
I couldn’t agree more with you, Anne Stalfort!
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Paul, Put on your helmet and “flak jacket”
Michael Davis says
Members of the Preserve Talbot History are masters of sophism. All their fallacious arguments and irrelevant history do not change the fact the statue is a symbolic monument to racism. It has to go. It will go as Talbot County is dragged kicking and screaming into an era of social justice.
Paul Callahan says
They did the same thing in communist Russia – changed and eliminated history that did not support the agenda. Look where that got them.
I spent several months over there in the summer of 92 coordinating humanitarian relief.
You think we live in an “oppressed” society? You have no concept of such.
Darrell Parsons says
Deflect, deflect, deflect. I suppose it helps to bring up communist Russia if one has no reasonable argument for removing the statue.
Paul Callahan says
“Irrelevant history” and the Talbot Boys have become “symbolic” of…
So does this mean if someone complains that the Douglass statue “symbolizes” something offensive to them you will state Douglass’s actual history is “irrelevant” and the only thing important is what it “symbolizes” to that person today or in the future?
Will you stand by this position of evaluating monuments??
Or would you like the Truth to prevail?
Michaell Davis says
Truth? I think the Preserve Talbot’s Jim Crow History group traffics in Truthiness – a wonderful term defined by Steven Colbert.
And thank you Darrell for pointing out the strategy of deflection as a way of dealing with criticism. As well as Anne and Jane for not letting absurd statements stand without refutation.
Barbara Denton says
I always know the argument is lost when the name calling starts. The group is called Preserve Talbot History. There is not a Jim Crow Supporter in it. We are not exactly impressed with any statements made by Steven Colbert since we do not watch the cable channel he appears on nor any other of the fake news channels. Name calling supports the lack of knowledge any of you have. This issue needs to go on the ballot in 2022 and let the people of Talbot County decide. Not outside agitators who do not live here and have no business inserting their opinions.
jane phelan says
The Preserve Talbot History signs should read Preserve Talbot’s Jim Crow History.
Paul Callahan says
I think we are seeing a good example on the psychology of a “lynch mob”.
We don’t need evidence – everyone knows he’s guilty!
No facts, no evidence – doesn’t matter it was the 100 year period of Jim Crow!!
How can anyone deny that anything that happened during the 100 years of Jim Crow is not completely about racism!!!!
Really? How about actual evidence against these men instead of a mob execution. Got anything other than “100 years of Jim Crow”?
Been waiting for years to hear it….
Keith Alan Watts, Esq. says
Misinformation
* * * *
In response to several pieces of misinformation, please see the following, one of many excellent fact sources . . . .
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newyorker.com/news/us-journal/my-local-confederate-monument/amp
My Local Confederate Monument, Casey Cep, The New Yorker, September 12, 2020.
* * * *
As to “ballot measures . . . .”
“Maryland has strict rules about what kinds of questions can appear on ballots, and a straw poll of this sort is generally prohibited.”
* * * *
As to “outside agitators . . . .”
“So far this summer, there have been a half-dozen demonstrations outside the courthouse by those who support removal, including one organized immediately after the council voted 3–2 against the resolution; within thirty minutes, almost a hundred people had assembled, putting an end to the fiction that only outside agitators wanted the monument gone.”
* * * *
There is a way forward, if one pauses, takes a deep breath — and starts a conversation “with,” rather than “at” one another. Talking “to,” rather than “past,” each other.
Neither “side” if you will, is going anywhere. So, let’s figure this out — outside the echo chambers that tell us what we think we want to hear, rather than critically thinking — for ourselves. And listening, before judging . . . .
* * * *
See also: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/05/29/confederate-cemeteries-statues-virginia/
Perhaps, not unlike Derek Boone and Volpe Boykin, this will happen . . . .
“As the conversations continued, week after week, both men were surprised by what happened. The more they talked, the less angry they grew.
“I took off my blinders, my defense mechanism, and looked at this guy who’s part of the majority,” Boone said. “Volpe deep down inside has a good heart. His passion grew less and his openness grew more.”
Boykin said both men moved: “I sort of went from my concrete ‘Leave it as is,’ and he moved out of the view that it should be out of sight, gone forever.”
* * * *
Paul Callahan says
Keith, As I said, any actual evidence that the Talbot Boys is anything other then a memorial to Talbot’s veterans? Cep’s article is poorly researched, meant for persuasion and presents very little historical facts and then only the ones that suits her narrative. The other you present is based on a memorial not even in Maryland.
Maybe your readers should go to http://www.preservetalbothistory.org if they want to review actual historical research on the subject. It’s all there….
Thomas Malone says
Right on!