Anonymous wrote:cracks me up - John Poole Middle School in Poolesville

Will they have to change the town's name, too? After all, it's named after John Poole who had around 30 slaves.

Anonymous wrote:They’ll go after Churchill too

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Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Yes, all people are asking for is a conversation. Maybe Key stays with a full and careful accounting of his life in honor of his literary contributions. Maybe Col Lee is changed because we decide as a community that the thing he is honored for - zoning - is on balance not to be celebrated.

This is not an attack.

The people harping on the cost of the report seriously should get a grip and realize how your hysteria and insistence on ad hominem extremes undermine your position. We’re talking about a little research and writing from a few salaried employees and student volunteers. No decisions. No recommendations, even. Just some fact gathering.

Then we need to have a discussion and study on Washington too, he doesn’t get a free pass because you decided you like him better. By modern standards, owning and enslaving hundreds of people makes him a monster and outweighs any good he did.

If we’re excusing his behavior because it was the norm at the time, then why study all the others too? They can all be excused because their behavior was the norm at the time they lived.

+1.
Every single slave owner needs to be evaluated. Whitman should not be Exampted.

Whitman's not on the list. Quit being a troublemaker.

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Yes, all people are asking for is a conversation. Maybe Key stays with a full and careful accounting of his life in honor of his literary contributions. Maybe Col Lee is changed because we decide as a community that the thing he is honored for - zoning - is on balance not to be celebrated.

This is not an attack.

The people harping on the cost of the report seriously should get a grip and realize how your hysteria and insistence on ad hominem extremes undermine your position. We’re talking about a little research and writing from a few salaried employees and student volunteers. No decisions. No recommendations, even. Just some fact gathering.

Then we need to have a discussion and study on Washington too, he doesn’t get a free pass because you decided you like him better. By modern standards, owning and enslaving hundreds of people makes him a monster and outweighs any good he did.

If we’re excusing his behavior because it was the norm at the time, then why study all the others too? They can all be excused because their behavior was the norm at the time they lived.

+1.
Every single slave owner needs to be evaluated. Whitman should not be Exampted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Yes, all people are asking for is a conversation. Maybe Key stays with a full and careful accounting of his life in honor of his literary contributions. Maybe Col Lee is changed because we decide as a community that the thing he is honored for - zoning - is on balance not to be celebrated.

This is not an attack.

The people harping on the cost of the report seriously should get a grip and realize how your hysteria and insistence on ad hominem extremes undermine your position. We’re talking about a little research and writing from a few salaried employees and student volunteers. No decisions. No recommendations, even. Just some fact gathering.

Then we need to have a discussion and study on Washington too, he doesn’t get a free pass because you decided you like him better. By modern standards, owning and enslaving hundreds of people makes him a monster and outweighs any good he did.

If we’re excusing his behavior because it was the norm at the time, then why study all the others too? They can all be excused because their behavior was the norm at the time they lived.

+1.
Every single slave owner needs to be evaluated. Whitman should not be Exampted.

Whitman may have had racist views, but he wasn't a slave owner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Yes, all people are asking for is a conversation. Maybe Key stays with a full and careful accounting of his life in honor of his literary contributions. Maybe Col Lee is changed because we decide as a community that the thing he is honored for - zoning - is on balance not to be celebrated.

This is not an attack.

The people harping on the cost of the report seriously should get a grip and realize how your hysteria and insistence on ad hominem extremes undermine your position. We’re talking about a little research and writing from a few salaried employees and student volunteers. No decisions. No recommendations, even. Just some fact gathering.

Then we need to have a discussion and study on Washington too, he doesn’t get a free pass because you decided you like him better. By modern standards, owning and enslaving hundreds of people makes him a monster and outweighs any good he did.

If we’re excusing his behavior because it was the norm at the time, then why study all the others too? They can all be excused because their behavior was the norm at the time they lived.

+1.
Every single slave owner needs to be evaluated. Whitman should not be Exampted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Yes, all people are asking for is a conversation. Maybe Key stays with a full and careful accounting of his life in honor of his literary contributions. Maybe Col Lee is changed because we decide as a community that the thing he is honored for - zoning - is on balance not to be celebrated.

This is not an attack.

The people harping on the cost of the report seriously should get a grip and realize how your hysteria and insistence on ad hominem extremes undermine your position. We’re talking about a little research and writing from a few salaried employees and student volunteers. No decisions. No recommendations, even. Just some fact gathering.

Then we need to have a discussion and study on Washington too, he doesn’t get a free pass because you decided you like him better. By modern standards, owning and enslaving hundreds of people makes him a monster and outweighs any good he did.

If we’re excusing his behavior because it was the norm at the time, then why study all the others too? They can all be excused because their behavior was the norm at the time they lived.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Yes, all people are asking for is a conversation. Maybe Key stays with a full and careful accounting of his life in honor of his literary contributions. Maybe Col Lee is changed because we decide as a community that the thing he is honored for - zoning - is on balance not to be celebrated.

This is not an attack.

The people harping on the cost of the report seriously should get a grip and realize how your hysteria and insistence on ad hominem extremes undermine your position. We’re talking about a little research and writing from a few salaried employees and student volunteers. No decisions. No recommendations, even. Just some fact gathering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

Let’s start from changing County’s name first. After that, let’s change all school names to PS ES0001, 0002, ..., and MS, 001, 002, HS 01, 02....
it is easier for pupils to learn and reme,berbtheir school names and also help them to learn numbers.
As an immigrant, I cannot remember names well. Numbers are easier.

And they're universal and NOT racist! Not one number has owned slaves!

a win-win

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Mt Vernon is a museum. I support whatever efforts they’re making to reckon with the full truth of life there.
The Washington Monument honors Washington for being our first President. We honor him because we believe in the ideals and promises the country was founded on even as we face the full truth of our history and the ways we’ve fallen short. I’m certainly willing to hear out arguments for changing how we describe and relate to it I guess.

This notion that oh, if you start to point out and talk about the role that slavery and racism have played in American history you must want to toss the whole project in the bin is so lame.

Quoting a tweet from Adam Serwer:
“it is a testament to black commitment to American values that they have championed them for centuries despite being excluded from them. Equally revealing is the shallow patriotism of those who cannot love their country without blinding themselves to its history.”

If you are a person who thinks anyone is suggesting we “tear down all the statues” to “end racism” you should read the NYTimes magazine this weekend. If you actually read the whole thing, maybe you’ll start to think about it differently.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.

Isn’t Francis Scott Key (for one example) also being recognized for being more than a slave owner? Doesn’t the same logic apply?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, serious question...everyone who is advocating for the county to spend money on this...do you also want to change the name of Washington, DC, should we rip down the Washington Monument, should we tear down Mt. Vernon?

No. You’re welcome.

Yup. Me neither. Any other questions?

Why not?

Because Washington is recognized for more than being a slave owner in his service to our country. People are fallible, even our heroes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This is not “just” an East Coast conversation either. I live in Columbia, MO. We have changed the name of Lee Elementary School because Lee was celebrated for what he did for the South in the Civil War. There has not been one peep about removing the statue of Thomas Jefferson on Mizzou’s campus, because—while he was a slaveowner—Jefferson is being recognized as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an inventor, and a person instrumental in the founding of the university: the first one west of the Mississippi.