It is sad that there is even a conflict about the removal of the Confederate Monument from the front of the courthouse. We must face our history and the need for support at last for ethical responses.
Have we forgotten that the Civil War was a function of the desire of slaveholders to continue their totally irresponsible and unethical behavior. They were willing to kill millions of their fellow citizens. Such shameful behavior should not be rewarded.
My father’s family lived in Mississippi but were not slaveholders. Two of my great grandfathers were forced into the military against their will. Fortunately both survived.
This was one of the saddest moments in our history. I do not need to go into the abuses and the horrors of that era. Our ethics should demand that we stop elevating these people as if they were heroes. The statue in front of our courthouse should be removed to a museum.
Roger B. Burt, Ph.D
Easton
Keith Alan Watts, Esq. says
The Visitors
* * * *
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“What’s That?”
“What’s What”?
The girl of seven and a half summers gazes up, popping out an EarPod and pointing.
“I don’t know, Honey.”
“Oh. You mean ‘The Green Boy’?”
“Yeah.”
“Is he in a parade?”
“I’m not sure. This is our first time here.”
“Oh, ‘cuz he has a flag.”
“And it says ‘see-saw’ right there.”
“See saw? You’re funny.”
“It says — ‘C.-S.-A.’”
“What’s that mean?”
“Wait. Don’t tell me.”
“Siri? What’s ‘C.S.A.’ mean?”
Siri: “Confederate States of America. Do you want to hear the next one?”
“Siri, what’s a ‘Confederate’?”
Siri: “Here’s some information.”
“Wow, Mom.”
“I know, Honey. Weird that it’s here, right? A little creepy.”
“Oh. Hey. Uh, here comes your Dad.”
“Hi. Was looking all over for you. I thought you were picking out some sundresses and figuring out where we’re going to have lunch.”
“Who’s this?”
[Pause]
“A Confederate.”
“Are you kidding me . . . .? You’re not serious, right?”
“You are serious . . . .”
[Pause]
“Is that The Courthouse?”
“Yeah . . . .”
“Ah, well ok. So let’s head for the car.”
“But Dad, I’m hungry. It’s lunchtime.”
“I know, Honey. We’ll get lunch down in, what is it —Cambridge? And we can see the mural your friend was talking about; maybe have a nice dinner later instead — and spend the whole day tomorrow shopping down there.”
[Packing up the car back at the hotel]
“Are you going to tell her? Have the conversation? Or am I?”
“We’re both going to tell her. But she doesn’t have to learn about it here. Not right now. Grab the roll-away, will you? I think that’s everything.”
“Did you see the look that one person gave us when we were by ‘The Boy?’”
“Yeah. Let’s just get out of this place . . . .”
* * * *
Anne Stalfort says
What do we tell children? What does our county stand for if we allow a statue honoring people who fought to enslave others to remain on the courthouse grounds? And why should tourists spend time and money in a town that is centered around such a monument? I read the dialogue to my husband. He asked if the family was Black. I said it doesn’t matter. We should all be appalled and try to protect our children from racism in all its forms.
Mary Hunt-Miller says
Well said, Dr. Burt.