Tear down Confederate War Memorials

[Straight Shooter]

There aren't any public monuments to Hitler and I think he still remains a pretty relevant part of history, don't you? Auschwitz is preserved as a memorial to the people who were murdered there, not as a tribute to the monsters who did the murdering. A statue of Robert E. Lee astride his horse serves to honor him. I respect and admire Lee as unquestionably one of the greatest generals who ever lived. However, it needs to be noted that he was also a traitor to the USA and did all he could to protect and perpetuate a culture that enslaved millions of black people. I cannot support maintaining these statues on public grounds or in public places when I realize the message that it sends to present-day African-Americans. Ironically, since these Nazis have chosen to make these monuments a symbol of their hatred and bigotry in the guise of preserving "southern heritage", the statues are therefore henceforth and forever tainted as being associated with their racist beliefs. They literally shit on their own swastikas. No, we cannot let them stand. Put them in a museum to preserve them as reminders of the historical significance that they represent but we absolutely cannot glorify them. They have to go and I believe that they will.

What really irks me is when people say that we're whitewashing history by removing these statues. Bullshit. We're not whitewashing history, we're just choosing not to celebrate it. If you want to learn more about these confederate generals and whatnot you're free to visit a library or bookstore, read a history textbook, watch a film or documentary or just read about them online.

 

[xfire]

A friend of mine on facebook put it well-

To the folk who are defending not removing the American traitors statues, fighting for a state's right to own, sell and breed people as if they were livestock is immoral. Think, it's not illegal yet...

 

[Jack Davenport]

A friend of mine on facebook put it well-

As a kid, raised in the south, we had quite a few historical places to visit that were Civil War related.

It was always understood that the south was on the wrong side of history when it came to slavery and that the Union defeated the south.


It was also understood that while we mourned those wearing the gray that fought in that war that the just outcome was for the North to prevail.

It is history and we embraced it, warts and all.

It was never an issue for me or anyone I know.

So I assume Ft. Fisher and Ft. Sumter should be bulldozed and boarded up.

All MLK boulevards should be renamed.

 

[sean miguel]

do it. tear down those statues. ban the nazi and confederate flags. but while we're at it, can we ban mullets? it's 2017. that shit is offensive.

 

[Jack Davenport]

Mullet aka Achy Breaky Big Mistakey.

 

[Elwood70]

Oh, fuck off, the Charger wasn't even the best looking Dodge of it's era, that distinction belongs to the Challenger.

No, that Charger wasn't the best looking. The Challenger was the best!?

A uh, challenger appears:

 

[sean miguel]

No, that Charger wasn't the best looking. The Challenger was the best!?

A uh, challenger appears:

I belive I can fly.

 

[Jagger69]

....So I assume Ft. Fisher and Ft. Sumter should be bulldozed and boarded up.

All MLK boulevards should be renamed.

No. Not at all, BC. In fact, civil war historical sites are the EXACT place these monuments belong. Please understand, this is not about eradicating these things and places from the face of the planet, it's about eradicating the public glorification of them by erecting statues, naming parks and streets and buildings and whatever after them. I bet I've got more southern heritage than 95% of the people on this board so if there is anyone here who would have any perceived cause to be upset about this, it's me. I'm not. These things need to come down, especially after what happened in Charlottelsville, and I believe that they will.

The MLK reference is apples and oranges as he did not represent hate and division and racial supremacy. He represented equality. Pretty stark contrast.

do it. tear down those statues. ban the nazi and confederate flags. but while we're at it, can we ban mullets? it's 2017. that shit is offensive.

See above re: statues. Anyone is free to fly a swastika or the stars & bars but they need to realize that people will perceive them as being racist. If they're OK with it, I'm OK with it.

 

[zeeblofowl_1969]

A friend of mine on facebook put it well-

Although that is a very true statement the civil war had almost nothing to do with slavery that was Abe Lincoln using the event to get slavery out of the country to the common soldier it was the war to was a war to stop northern aggression. Very very few southerners acually owned slaves.
Showed how smart Lincoln was to get this atrocity eliminated while he could.

 

[xfire]

"The new Constitution has put at rest forever all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institutions—African slavery as it exists among us—the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution, the great truth [is] that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth."

-Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens

Not Lincoln.

 

[Johan]

And still those guys waving confederate flags and protesting the removal or confederate monuments claim the Confederation was not about slavery but states right...
Seems like they have a disagreement with the Confederation's VP on the very issue about what the Confederation stands for.

 

[Rattrap]

Although that is a very true statement the civil war had almost nothing to do with slavery that was Abe Lincoln using the event to get slavery out of the country to the common soldier it was the war to was a war to stop northern aggression. Very very few southerners acually owned slaves.
Showed how smart Lincoln was to get this atrocity eliminated while he could.

And still those guys waving confederate flags and protesting the removal or confederate monuments claim the Confederation was not about slavery but states right...
Seems like they have a disagreement with the Confederation's VP on the very issue about what the Confederation stands for.

Forgive me if the distinction has already been made, but I think it's an important one: Very few southerners may have had slaves, southern soldiers fewer still, but the powerful few sending them to war did. It isn't any different now - the wars in the Middle East may be fought by soldiers who are fighting to keep America safe, but those in power sending them there are fighting to make themselves and their military industrial friends rich.

Which is to say: Even if most southern soldiers weren't fighting over slavery, that doesn't mean those sending them out to fight weren't.

 

[Jagger69]

Forgive me if the distinction has already been made, but I think it's an important one: Very few southerners may have had slaves, southern soldiers fewer still, but the powerful few sending them to war did. It isn't any different now - the wars in the Middle East may be fought by soldiers who are fighting to keep America safe, but those in power sending them there are fighting to make themselves and their military industrial friends rich.

Which is to say: Even if most southern soldiers weren't fighting over slavery, that doesn't mean those sending them out to fight weren't.

Very astute observation, Ratster! :thumbsup:

 

[Jack Davenport]

Forgive me if the distinction has already been made, but I think it's an important one: Very few southerners may have had slaves, southern soldiers fewer still, but the powerful few sending them to war did. It isn't any different now - the wars in the Middle East may be fought by soldiers who are fighting to keep America safe, but those in power sending them there are fighting to make themselves and their military industrial friends rich.

Which is to say: Even if most southern soldiers weren't fighting over slavery, that doesn't mean those sending them out to fight weren't.

As a proud southerner I can say unequivocally that you are grossly misinformed or at best full of shit.

Young men rushed to join in the fight from both sides but Confederate soldiers volunteered in huge numbers.

There was no slavery industrial complex in the south.

Just shut the fuck up, you god damn idiot.

 

[Jagger69]

As a proud southerner I can say unequivocally that you are grossly misinformed or at best full of shit.

Young men rushed to join in the fight from both sides but Confederate soldiers volunteered in huge numbers.

There was no slavery industrial complex in the south.

So says a certified racist. Sorry but your credibility here is zero, BC.

 

[Jack Davenport]

So says a certified racist. Sorry but your credibility here is zero, BC.

Oh that really hurts asshole.

I can guarantee that I have contributed to more minorities with both time and money than you ever have or will.

The only thing that is certifiable around here is you.

 

[Jagger69]

The only thing that you can guarantee is that you are a racist and bigot, sir. Does it make you feel big and bad to personally insult me?

 

[Rattrap]

As a proud southerner I can say unequivocally that you are grossly misinformed or at best full of shit.

As a proud somebody with at least half a brain, I can recognize that coming from you this means nothing. But hey, whatever helps you keep your worldview intact.

Young men rushed to join in the fight from both sides but Confederate soldiers volunteered in huge numbers.

And?

Just shut the fuck up, you god damn idiot.

Nah.

 

[Jack Davenport]

The only thing that you can guarantee is that you are a racist and bigot, sir. Does it make you feel big and bad to personally insult me?

Cite one racist post that I have ever made here.

Come on, you can do it.

 

[Jack Davenport]

As a proud somebody with at least half a brain, I can recognize that coming from you this means nothing. But hey, whatever helps you keep your worldview intact.


And?


Nah.

A lot of things mean nothing to you. Critical thinking, common sense, an original thought.

Exactly as I thought.. An "and?"

Because there wasn't the masterminded plot by rich southerners to send their sons into war.

Just conjecture on your part as usual.

Seriously doubt you have even half a brain. If you did, you'd be out in the street playing with it.

Perhaps one day you'll demonstrate it for us.