Removing and Renaming Confederate Statues, Schools, Streets, etc: Why?

[Anonymous]

I have no issue with renaming the Newlands fountain or Melvin Hazen Park. But somehow it seems that Eleanor Holmes Norton and her staff have become like the San Francisco school board - focused on debating school names without focusing on education of the kids. It would be nice if Norton also did something about the graffiti that has defaced much of Rick Creek Park or the unsanitary tent encampments. Must one of Washington’s most iconic parks increasingly resemble New York City in the 70s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is an example of why these monuments need to be removed, schools need names changed, and a lot of history needs to be taught.

Can you imagine that here we are, in 2022, explaining why slavery was bad? This entire thread is frightening.

Well this thread is also very biased. What percent of these posters you think are from VA as opposed to Dc or Md? Probably only half. Also take into account the political biases, it’s not representative of the state at all.

Really? What do you think would be “representative of the state” — which includes everything from southwestern Virginia to the DC suburbs? Are there views “representative of the state” that somehow include the FFVs, the Ballston Bros, the recent suburban transplants, the immigrants, the longtime rural communities AND the 20% of the population that’s made up of non-monolithic Black communities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with renaming the Newlands fountain or Melvin Hazen Park. But somehow it seems that Eleanor Holmes Norton and her staff have become like the San Francisco school board - focused on debating school names without focusing on education of the kids. It would be nice if Norton also did something about the graffiti that has defaced much of Rick Creek Park or the unsanitary tent encampments. Must one of Washington’s most iconic parks increasingly resemble New York City in the 70s?

As someone who went to a school named for a man who intensified racial segregation throughout the federal government and the “Federal City”- I regard “debating school names” as an excellent educational experience. Perhaps you should read some of the comments from the students who’ve participated in the re-naming processes.

I’m sure you know this, but it really is possible to address more than one issue— sometimes even simultaneously. If your personal concern is “Rick Creek Park” (sic) perhaps you could go through the proper channels to get help with that. I’m sure “Rick” would appreciate your efforts.

[Anonymous]

Over in Fairfax there was a lot of self-congratulation about changing the name of Robert E. Lee HS to John R. Lewis HS but it didn’t change the fact that Lewis HS is one of the worst high schools in the county, it’s stuck with an IB program that few students complete; and the School Board funded an unnecessary expansion of the nearby, wealthier high school to make sure no kids would have to be rezoned to Lee/Lewis.

So, slow clap, but y’all just obsess over the low-hanging fruit while ignoring the bigger issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is an example of why these monuments need to be removed, schools need names changed, and a lot of history needs to be taught.

Can you imagine that here we are, in 2022, explaining why slavery was bad? This entire thread is frightening.

Well this thread is also very biased. What percent of these posters you think are from VA as opposed to Dc or Md? Probably only half. Also take into account the political biases, it’s not representative of the state at all.

Really? What do you think would be “representative of the state” — which includes everything from southwestern Virginia to the DC suburbs? Are there views “representative of the state” that somehow include the FFVs, the Ballston Bros, the recent suburban transplants, the immigrants, the longtime rural communities AND the 20% of the population that’s made up of non-monolithic Black communities?

Well this forum is made of people who come from the DC area, so i would doubt those from southwest virginia or even people from as south as fredericksburg engaging in it. Obviously it would be more insightful to get the standpoints of people from all across the state, as these monuments are concentrated from anywhere from Arlington to Richmond to Southwestern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over in Fairfax there was a lot of self-congratulation about changing the name of Robert E. Lee HS to John R. Lewis HS but it didn’t change the fact that Lewis HS is one of the worst high schools in the county, it’s stuck with an IB program that few students complete; and the School Board funded an unnecessary expansion of the nearby, wealthier high school to make sure no kids would have to be rezoned to Lee/Lewis.

So, slow clap, but y’all just obsess over the low-hanging fruit while ignoring the bigger issues.

Maybe systemic racism is the larger issue. See how that works?

[Anonymous]

There really isn't much to debate here. One poster who thinks being reasonable but hasn't come to terms with the privileged lens they are looking at this as a white person raised in this society - and everyone else saying tear that sht down - confederacy was a disgrace and statues only erected to reassure white "supremacy".

If one race was truly supreme they wouldn't need statues of a bunch of losers to consolidate that status.

Pretty tragic when your only claim to excellence is something you didn't choose or work for anyway.

[Anonymous]

People who are white supremacists are always people like my idiot cousin. He's a 400 pound pill addict with a GED who spent 3 years in prison for robbing a Dunkin Donuts. But he called my other cousin, an extremely accomplished physical therapist the N word.

We all refuse to be anywhere near him anymore.

But of course when you're that pathetic race is all you cling to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia has a long history of being a southern state and has a deep history with southern culture and ties to the confederacy. Northern Virginia in particular, with the Arlington Cemetery’s connection with Robert E Lee, whom led the Army of Northern Virginia, and the wide spread usage of confederates like Stonewall Jackson High School in PWCS and Robert E Lee High School in FCPS seems to have continually played a part in modern Virginia history throughout the state. Not to mention highways and streets dedicated to Confederates and segregationists like Robert E Lee and Harry Byrd still remain.

This unique attatchment to our history seems to be most or entirely prevalent in Virginia as opposed to DC or Maryland, and has never been a problem for the past century to half a century, through progressive movements and such. However, ever since the slain of George Floyd and the riots in 2020, there seems to have been a new attempt to pit the blame on the “monuments” that apparently glorize these views, and to radically erase them from history and forget about them once and for all. I seem to check google maps and am seemingly forced to learn new road names Like Langston Blvd in Arlington on a weekly basis. From my perspective, being a native of Fauquier county in southern country Virginia and spending lots of time in rural Loudoun and Prince William county, it’s a great change to what I’m used to.

Why the call for action now? Are we really suppose the blame people whom lived in an era where slavery and segregation was an unarguable stance that was unanimous among all politicians? What good does it really do, as it seemingly hasn’t seen a decrease in any sort of statistic that they intended to target. Do you support such action against these historical landmarks? Would love to know what the general consensus is, especially from other Virginians.

Would you want to be an 8 year old black child going to a school that was named for someone who fought to keep slavery?
Why until now? Because it took until the death of George Floyd and many other people recently for US TO REALIZE that because we haven't addressed the systemic racism in our country it will lead to continual and seriously horrible consequences, here in the 21st century. That is why.
We do not honor racism. We learn about racists, but we don't honor them.

Also, LOL that it's unfair to blame segregationists; when was it "an unarguable stance"? There were abolitionists since slavery existed. Plenty of white people knew it was wrong (never mind the slaves themselves, who were probably pretty clear on the issue). Also, LOL that road signs are the only way to remember history. We have books and museums and documentaries; no one is learning history from traffic circles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who are white supremacists are always people like my idiot cousin. He's a 400 pound pill addict with a GED who spent 3 years in prison for robbing a Dunkin Donuts. But he called my other cousin, an extremely accomplished physical therapist the N word.

We all refuse to be anywhere near him anymore.

But of course when you're that pathetic race is all you cling to.

Bingo.

[Anonymous]

When people can't figure out how to lift themselves up, they try to tear others down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When people can't figure out how to lift themselves up, they try to tear others down.

That applies broadly, including with respect to people constantly looking for new litmus tests in order to cancel large numbers of their fellow Americans as insufficiently committed to the "work," the "reckoning," "equity," "social justice," etc. It's scary how constantly aggrieved yet weirdly intolerant some of these people are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is an example of why these monuments need to be removed, schools need names changed, and a lot of history needs to be taught.

Can you imagine that here we are, in 2022, explaining why slavery was bad? This entire thread is frightening.

Well this thread is also very biased. What percent of these posters you think are from VA as opposed to Dc or Md? Probably only half. Also take into account the political biases, it’s not representative of the state at all.

Really? What do you think would be “representative of the state” — which includes everything from southwestern Virginia to the DC suburbs? Are there views “representative of the state” that somehow include the FFVs, the Ballston Bros, the recent suburban transplants, the immigrants, the longtime rural communities AND the 20% of the population that’s made up of non-monolithic Black communities?

Well this forum is made of people who come from the DC area, so i would doubt those from southwest virginia or even people from as south as fredericksburg engaging in it. Obviously it would be more insightful to get the standpoints of people from all across the state, as these monuments are concentrated from anywhere from Arlington to Richmond to Southwestern Virginia.

I’m not questioning the value of having insights that are “representative of the state”. I’m asking what that would look like since the PP has decided that “this thread is…very biased”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is an example of why these monuments need to be removed, schools need names changed, and a lot of history needs to be taught.

Can you imagine that here we are, in 2022, explaining why slavery was bad? This entire thread is frightening.

Well this thread is also very biased. What percent of these posters you think are from VA as opposed to Dc or Md? Probably only half. Also take into account the political biases, it’s not representative of the state at all.

Really? What do you think would be “representative of the state” — which includes everything from southwestern Virginia to the DC suburbs? Are there views “representative of the state” that somehow include the FFVs, the Ballston Bros, the recent suburban transplants, the immigrants, the longtime rural communities AND the 20% of the population that’s made up of non-monolithic Black communities?

Well this forum is made of people who come from the DC area, so i would doubt those from southwest virginia or even people from as south as fredericksburg engaging in it. Obviously it would be more insightful to get the standpoints of people from all across the state, as these monuments are concentrated from anywhere from Arlington to Richmond to Southwestern Virginia.

I’m not questioning the value of having insights that are “representative of the state”. I’m asking what that would look like since the PP has decided that “this thread is…very biased”.

Various county elected officials and board members have voted to keep these monuments and statues in place throughout Virginia. County-wide Referendums across the state have also indicated that the majority of the voters do not want to remove these statues.

[Anonymous]

Cool - so if a majority of people in my town vote for a Hitler statue that's cool then? GTFO

These statues are coming down - they are offensive to our country no matter what any local group thinks. I guess this is yet another example where "states rights" is not a license for racism. You'll have to cope without them.