Reply to Petition to Change Names of Stuart and Lee HS

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Reply to "Petition to Change Names of Stuart and Lee HS"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.  [/quote]

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. [/quote]

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.  [/quote]

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