Petition to Change Names of Stuart and Lee HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the phrase "check your privilege" sounds glib, but it's surely applicable to the knee-jerk response of many whites to any suggestion that naming schools after men who fought to defend the institution of slavery might make minority students feel less than fully welcome.

No, they don't. Colin Powell graduated from GWU with no apparent lasting damage done to his psyche. But progressives need an isssue to feel good about and to fight for, since by definition they're never satisfied with the status quo (whatever it is) and with gay marriage on the books they have to find something else to rally around. Just part of their psychological make-up.

[Anonymous]

OP you and those who sign this ridiculous petitions are idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the phrase "check your privilege" sounds glib, but it's surely applicable to the knee-jerk response of many whites to any suggestion that naming schools after men who fought to defend the institution of slavery might make minority students feel less than fully welcome.

No, they don't. Colin Powell graduated from GWU with no apparent lasting damage done to his psyche. But progressives need an isssue to feel good about and to fight for, since by definition they're never satisfied with the status quo (whatever it is) and with gay marriage on the books they have to find something else to rally around. Just part of their psychological make-up.

Hmmm, let's pick that argument apart.

1) George Washington fought in the Revolutionary War, a was that was not about the right to own slaves. Yes, he was a slave owner, but celebrating someone who owned slaves for a different accomplishment, is not the same thing as celebrating someone specifically for trying to maintain slavery through treason and violence.

2) Making someone feel less than welcome is not the same thing as doing lasting damage to their psyche. Yes, many African American young people have resilience, and come from strong supportive families. They can overcome a lot. That doesn't make it OK to mistreat them. White parents on this website, and everywhere else, advocate for all sorts of changes for their kids where "lasting damage to their psyche" isn't at stake. Why is that "nothing but the best" is so often the standard for white children, while "no lasting damage" is the standard for black children.

3) Colin Powell is one person. I could give you single examples of people who have survived all sorts of horrible things and gone on to success, it doesn't mean we continue to subject children to those horrible things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we talk about teh scary triangle of blacksburg, lynchburg and christiansburg? Just sayin we should change those first

Let's rename the whole freaking state of Virginia while we're at it. Ridiculous. So many more important things to worry about.

[Anonymous]

King George County?

Prince William County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I saw one article about a high school changing its name, the cost was $400,000. Is that too much for you, or not enough to fight it?

There are two schools under discussion. I am pretty sure it will cost more than 400K each. No, it is not worth it.

Based on what?

Anyway, where would you draw the line? At $250k each, $100k each? At what point does cost become a side issue? (To me, under $1m each makes cost a side issue. But you disagree with that.)

[Anonymous]

Both were guilty of treason. No public institutions should be named after such people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I saw one article about a high school changing its name, the cost was $400,000. Is that too much for you, or not enough to fight it?

There are two schools under discussion. I am pretty sure it will cost more than 400K each. No, it is not worth it.

Based on what?

Anyway, where would you draw the line? At $250k each, $100k each? At what point does cost become a side issue? (To me, under $1m each makes cost a side issue. But you disagree with that.)

I think PP was alluding to an article about changing Nathan Bedford Forrest HS in Florida, which reportedly cost around that amount.

Even if it costs more in Fairfax, it needs to be done. It sends exactly the wrong message to black and other minority students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the phrase "check your privilege" sounds glib, but it's surely applicable to the knee-jerk response of many whites to any suggestion that naming schools after men who fought to defend the institution of slavery might make minority students feel less than fully welcome.

No, they don't. Colin Powell graduated from GWU with no apparent lasting damage done to his psyche. But progressives need an isssue to feel good about and to fight for, since by definition they're never satisfied with the status quo (whatever it is) and with gay marriage on the books they have to find something else to rally around. Just part of their psychological make-up.

Stay on topic for a change. The biggest morons in this debate are old codgers in their 50s and 60s who can't even afford to live in Fairfax County any more and blast away at the students and community members who want the name changed from homes in some BFE town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I saw one article about a high school changing its name, the cost was $400,000. Is that too much for you, or not enough to fight it?

There are two schools under discussion. I am pretty sure it will cost more than 400K each. No, it is not worth it.

Based on what?

Anyway, where would you draw the line? At $250k each, $100k each? At what point does cost become a side issue? (To me, under $1m each makes cost a side issue. But you disagree with that.)

I think PP was alluding to an article about changing Nathan Bedford Forrest HS in Florida, which reportedly cost around that amount.

Even if it costs more in Fairfax, it needs to be done. It sends exactly the wrong message to black and other minority students.

I don't think anyone but some of the crazies on here are getting that message. To most people it's just what the school is called. Let's keep the focus on education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both were guilty of treason. No public institutions should be named after such people.

George Washington, every person who signed the Declaration of Independence, ... were all guilty of treason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both were guilty of treason. No public institutions should be named after such people.

George Washington, every person who signed the Declaration of Independence, ... were all guilty of treason.

Are you British?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I saw one article about a high school changing its name, the cost was $400,000. Is that too much for you, or not enough to fight it?

There are two schools under discussion. I am pretty sure it will cost more than 400K each. No, it is not worth it.

Based on what?

Anyway, where would you draw the line? At $250k each, $100k each? At what point does cost become a side issue? (To me, under $1m each makes cost a side issue. But you disagree with that.)

I think PP was alluding to an article about changing Nathan Bedford Forrest HS in Florida, which reportedly cost around that amount.

Even if it costs more in Fairfax, it needs to be done. It sends exactly the wrong message to black and other minority students.

I don't think anyone but some of the crazies on here are getting that message. To most people it's just what the school is called. Let's keep the focus on education.

There are numerous minority students who have noted their discomfort at attending schools named after men because they fought to keep their ancestors enslaved. You may be attached to those names for your own reasons, or indifferent to the suffering of others, but name changes are overdue. Start with Stuart since his ties to this area were minimal.

[Anonymous]

There are numerous minority students who have noted their discomfort at attending schools named after men because they fought to keep their ancestors enslaved. You may be attached to those names for your own reasons, or indifferent to the suffering of others, but name changes are overdue. Start with Stuart since his ties to this area were minimal.

Waste of money that could be much better spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:cra-zy.

The graduates are the ones who make a difference and a legacy, not the name of their high school. Focus on the bigger picture.

+1000 total waste of resources over something so trivial.