In his recent letter to the Star Democrat Ron Frampton glosses over one of the major reasons why the Talbot Boys Statue must be moved from the Courthouse Lawn.
He is not apparently moved by the argument that the everyday lives of fellow citizens (“Complainants”) are negatively impacted. In fact, seeing the names of people who may have enslaved your great-great-great grandparent celebrated with a statue could painfully diminish your sense of standing as you walk into the courthouse. He suggests that “those arguments have no bearing for relief.” How about some empathy here.
Just move the statue elsewhere. That would be fitting “relief” for the nearly five thousand current Talbot Countians whose ancestors were enslaved here.
Sarah Sayre
Claiborne
Gerry Early says
Mrs. Sayre’s article is right on point. It seems that all of the defenses of the Confederate statue are based on a distorted argument of its historical legitimacy rather than what is necessary and appropriate in the 21st Century. (Some have referred to our greatest president Abraham Lincoln as a tyrant and others have said the Civil War was caused by taxation. Who knew?)
The fact is that the basis of the statue problem is here and now. Talbot County may at this moment be one of the few places in the USA where there is any apparent support for the institution of slavery and its one-time practitioners and defenders. Even Mississippi and South Carolina have stopped displaying the Confederate flag at the state capitals.
And as to the notion that the Talbot Boys issue should be put on the ballot, I suspect that keeping the statue on the courthouse lawn might well win in a local vote. And I also think many of those who would vote for its retention would probably also support the re-integration of the public schools if that were also on the ballot.
But just as was the case with school integration, in a democracy the answers to such questions should not be what the majority wants, but rather what is the right thing to do.
The right thing is unquestionably to get that statue off the courthouse lawn.
Suzanne Todd says
Thank you, Sarah. Well said.
Keith Alan Watts, Esq. says
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Talbot County Tourism Promo
[30 seconds]
[cue “Sue-ahn-ee River”][“Sue” as in “Court”]
[Scene. “Ken Burns”/“Civil War” feel. Camera pans slowly, then crawls across grainy, water-stained “Matthew Brady” like daguerreotypes]
[Narrator: sonorous voice of import. Think Ashley Wilkes, Rhett Butler or the lesser of The Tarletan Twins]
“Yes, dear sweet friends. Now’s your chance. For a limited time only, relive the warm, charming, glorious “Oldy Time” days here on the Eastern Shore — where you can experience “sunsets-the-color-of-the-burning-of-Atlanta.”
“Your (Penny)”Ante-bellum Holiday” get-a-way in our mostly Fair County (not to be confused with our County Fair) is sure to send tingles up — and down — your spine.” Assuming you have one of those.
“Breathe long — and deep. You can almost smell sweet nostalgia hanging heavy in our dank, sultry, humid air. Feel that tiny pang? It’s the inconsolable, inexplicable longing for “Good ‘Ole Days’” that never existed. Except here!”
“Now, set yourself down, make yourself at home and pack your carpetbag for adventure. And don’t forget to set your hourglass back one hundred and sixty years . . . .”
“Pay no mind to those guilty twinges about wanting to preserve “history.” No matter what happens on your adventure, we’ll make sure you never forget. You’ll positively tingle with that Ole’ Feelin’ of “The Lost Cause” — guaranteed — with all its trappings and window dressings (we even have a few of “Miss Ellen’s portieres”). Our limited time offer tours are “all inclusive” — save for any “diversity” — of course.”
“Just imagine spending “toss ‘n turn” fitful nights in un-air conditioned splendor (a gentle breeze from a fan of ostrich feather — the finest 18th century technology — also included).”
“Spend your time reliving misremembered, cringeworthy history (you remember history? The thing you don’t want to forget — but don’t personally want to re-live — at least not if you’re on the wrong side of it).”
“And the cuisine. Working class. You’ll sample hardtack for lunch — and maybe a horsemeat steak sandwich with a dash of saltpeter. And afterwards, the experience of a lifetime — our horse drawn carriage tour of calcified monuments of cold granite and pot metal — and a “Special Green One” with more rights and sway than given the living.”
“Hush now! No questions about our little “Green Peculiarity.” Get back on the tour.”
“Yes, our little County tourist attraction was originally forged with the idea of freedom for the few and work for the many. You can even have the opportunity to plow forty acres with a mule (oh boy, are they stubborn — remind you of anything?); maybe churn butter at the “Big House;” maybe even get out into nature — into the field — and experience being a “hand.”
“Yessir. Don’t fret about all the free labor you’re giving us. After all, we have to make up for all those lost tourist dollars somehow. There will be plenty of opportunities later to sing happy songs and beam smiles wide as the Miles River.”
“Celebrate! My how simply delighted you are, “Bless your heart,” that you, you have finally had the chance to experience what it was — ahem, excuse me is — like for others in bondage and subjugation. A visit here is like traveling to some far away, “Shangri-La,” long-lost-in-the-mists-of-history place.”
“And finally, after your long, exhausting days of “historical” re-enactments, relax — and quench that thirst for more “history” with a refreshing julep (complete with homegrown non-GMO mint sprig). Snap your fingers. Go ahead. Our “Re-en-actors” make the finest.”
“Better hurry. This offer is strictly limited. We’d say operators are standing by, but in this time period (“ESTT” or “Eastern Shore Talbot Time”), best send a scented, perfumed missive — with a wax seal. We prefer all comments and/or requests “in writing.” Always “in writing.” We actually prefer to avoid — at all costs — what someone might utter to us — in person. Even though the citizens of Talbot County subsidize this “amusement” every day — in more ways than one.”
“So come. Rock back and forth on our magnolia scented portico, honeysuckle hangin’ in the air. Join us in genteel fun — and play a little “kick the kan” or “hide and go hide” behind some virus — or one of our many other excuses — er, we meant “diversions.” Time really does stand still here, don’t you know . . . .
“Hope no one notices that other scent. Smell it? While not unlike the scent of horse-apples, it’s similar, yet different.”
“Ahhhh. Now you guessed. You’re smelling the dustbin of “history.’”
“See why our adventure is a limited time offer?”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, as P.T. Barnum would say: ‘This way to the ‘egress.’”
Time for a few things to make their way permanently to the exit: 1) racism; 2) white supremacy; — and 3) our own little “Green Eccentricity . . . .”
[Fade to black]
* * * *
Anne Stalfort says
Thank you for a much needed perspective.