I found recent local news headlines on the Talbot Boys curious in that the Council has very recently voted to retain the monument on the Courthouse grounds; yet the local news continues to cover the story as though NO vote occurred. Granted, earlier this summer Mr. Divilio introduced a motion to have a joint monument that would represent both Confederate and Union soldiers; however, that resolution did not pass and is old news.
The county is still dealing with the COVID pandemic; the school system is struggling with how to provide quality education for our children and citizens of the county are coping with job loss, business closings, as well as managing work, costly daycare and children’s virtual learning. Particularly right now peoples’ everyday lives are demanding, complicated and uncertain. We do not need to continue to debate an issue that has already been decided just a few weeks ago. We do, however, need to find ways to help citizens cope with today’s very REAL problems.
The matter of the location of the Talbot Boys monument has been voted on twice in recent years. Since those outcomes appear not to satisfy Council President Corey Pack who keeps lobbying local councils, national press and his daughter’s race-themed media business to compel another vote, the obvious solution is one that Laura Price proposed early on: put it to the people for a vote.
A majority of the council can vote to request our representatives in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate to present a bill to permit a non-binding referendum on the monument to be placed on the ballot in the next general election in 2022. In the meantime, the council can proceed to address the very serious budget issues we know are coming up, address local infrastructure issues and all the other business of the county that is in their purview. In the meantime, it would be helpful if our local news outlets would respect the decision of the council and embrace placing the issue on the 2022 ballot. It would also be helpful if Mr. Pack would respect the votes of his colleagues and quit acting unilaterally to dismiss their votes.
Michelle Ewing
Easton
Margot McConnel says
Well said! I believe you are speaking for many of us.
Thorndyke Bear says
I think the fact that the beliefs, as articulated by Laura Price when she said racism is not a problem in Talbot County and there is no need for diversity training, is a REAL problem.Those beliefs prevent people from seeing how hurtful the Talbot Boys statue is. It’s not a political statement, it’s a statement of hatred. I don’t think that’s what the school system wants to be teaching our kids. Or at least I hope not. Nor do I think that’s the image Easton wants to project to visitors. If it’s such a non-issue, then just take it down.
Paul callahan says
I believe Laura said that in the middle of a pandemic, with the most serious health and economic crisis Talbot has faced in a century, it wasn’t the appropriate time to put limited time and effort towards a diversity statement. That there had been no complaints of racial bias by any county workers in over 30 years.
It was obvious to everyone who watched the meeting that she wasn’t against a statement, but just didn’t want to address that at this time.
It seems some are becoming “hyper-sensitive” to every act or comment.
Dick Deerin says
It is time for the so-called “Talbot Boys” statue to be removed from the courthouse grounds. This monument honors those who took up arms against the United States of America to support a continuation of slavery. It cannot stand.
Paul Callahan says
Actually four of the eleven States seceded because Lincoln decided to send Federal Troops into the States, which they believed, and was, an unconstitutional act. Additionally Lincoln had no intention of abolishing slavery during the first two years of the war.
Why don’t you read Lincoln’s inauguration speech of 1861. Just google it…takes just a couple minutes. Then go to F. Douglass Freedmens Monument speech – Frederick tells the history. You have a computer so just google these and read for yourself.
There was no attempts to abolish slavery at the beginning of the war and Mr. Lincoln stated he had no intention or legal authority to do so. Slavery was never outlawed by Mr. Lincoln in the four slave States that remained in the Union- never. If the whole mess was about abolishing slavery why didn’t Mr. Lincoln outlaw in in the Union itself? If his intention was to abolish slavery why did he allow it to remain practicing in the Union while hundreds of thousands were being slaughtered to end it in the Southern States?
Then there were the horrific constitutional abuses against Maryland by Mr. Lincoln. Terrible acts of discrimination and imprisonment of political dissenters. In 1861 Maryland Democrats truly feared being imprisoned for expressing their political views.
The overwhelming evidence supports the men from Talbot rose because of the horrendous abuse of Constitutional liberties and power enacted by Mr. Lincoln.
Unfortunately that narrative doesn’t support the agenda.
Michelle McKinney says
Thank you, Michelle Ewing, for these very realistic words. So much going on, and this is what the media chooses to focus on. Who has the agenda to divide our community? Be a leader, Mr. Pack, and unite our county and move us all forward by helping our citizens out of this global pandemic. Pretty big deal right now! The statue was addressed and some people are unhappy with the outcome. Democracy isn’t good enough for some people, and you cannot please everyone all the time. But you cannot ignore a community riddled with jobloss, small businesses hurting, and try to find an affordable rental property for a local, Mr. Pack. I know many people who are being forced to move and are unable to find affordable housing. There are plenty of places where the councel’s attention needs to be!
MD says
Well stated! I hope everyone understands how many
Citizens of Talbot County have other needs not related to Talbot Boys. Personally, I think the statue needs to remain as is.
Where are priorities?
John Evans says
So the problem is not the offensiveness of having a symbol of hate on the county courthouse grounds, it’s that the media is somehow not “respecting” the decision of the council, that Mr. Pack continues to fight for something he strongly believe in, and that “REAL” problems are not being addressed. Your letter is evidence that this issue IS a real problem. Racism in Talbot County can’t be dismissed just because Ms. Price doesn’t want to see it. If you want to move on to other issues, get rid of the statue. Because this isn’t going away.
I’ll let your comment about Mr. Pack’s dauther’s “race-themed media business” speak for itself.
Dan Richardson says
I had my 10 year old granddaughter in Easton this summer. We stopped at the courthouse while walking downtown. She goes to school in Washington DC. I took her over to show her the Frederick Douglass statue and explain to her how he was from Talbot county, not too far away. She knew who he was and we discussed his role as a leading abolitionist and how he helped end slavery after escaping his slavery.
We then went to look at the Talbot boys statue and she asked me who it was. I explained to her that it was put up to honor the dead confederate soldiers from Talbot county. Her immediate response was, “why don’t they tear it down”? I explained that our history as a nation is important. I was very clear that we know that they were fighting on the wrong side of history and for something bad, slavery. But I told her these two statues show how divided we were as a country in the Civil War, and we should remember so we never become so divided that we go to war with out fellow citizens again. I told her these two statues also show how this country took the necessary actions to stop slavery, that the Talbot Boys lost, and should have lost.
We had more discussions about the entire situation of what the country endured and survived from over slavery. It was extremely fruitful, she was reinforced in her knowledge and belief of the evil of slavery, but destruction of historical monuments isn’t the only answer.
Paul Callahan says
Dan, your response is greatly appreciated it is very insightful and well written. I would like to refer you to my response to Mr Dean above. It seems that the basic understanding of this history by many in our society is changing. Probably because so many are bombarding us daily with a totally different historical view and one that supports what they are pushing.
Sherril Tart says
No. You are not speaking for many of us. The statue should be removed.
Diana Pope says
Leave the monuments we have alone. If other cultures want to create their own monuments then they should be allowed to. We’ve had many people through history go unnoticed and they they should be acknowledged like the ladies who got John Glenn in space.