Argument against Confederate monuments is hard to apply to Andrew Jackson statue

http://www.nola.com ^ | 9/24/16 | Jarvis DeBerry, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

[BBell]

In 2004, when the comedian Dave Chappelle performed at UNO Lakefront Arena, he asked a white guy sitting in the audience to imagine that he and Chappelle could take a time machine back to colonial Virginia. He asked him to imagine them stepping out onto a road just as George Washington was approaching. "You might say, 'Look, Dave, there's George Washington, the father of our country. Let's go say hi.' And I'd say, "Run! It's George Washington!'"

There might not be a better explanation for why some black Americans look askance at white Americans' heroes. How much should it matter to a black man that George Washington beat the British and was the nation's first president when he also owned black people as property?

How much should it matter to black New Orleanians that Andrew Jackson protected New Orleans from a British invasion when Jackson also helped wipe out Native populations to create more area for the expansion of slavery? How much should it matter to Native populations that white New Orleans has built a statue to show its gratitude for a man nicknamed "Indian Killer?"

Take Em Down NOLA is forcing consideration of those questions with its announced plan to march to Jackson Square Saturday (Sept. 24) with ropes in hand. Despite Take Em Down NOLA's vow to pull the Jackson statue down, I can't imagine that they believe they can accomplish such a plan after announcing it.

Even though the New Orleans City Council approved Mayor Mitch Landrieu's proposal to remove four other monuments celebrating white supremacists, the city isn't just going to stand idly by as Take Em Down NOLA commits sabotage. The group must know that. So what's the goal here?

I can only speculate, but I think it's clear that by labeling the Andrew Jackson statue

[Retired Submariner]

Yup....I know.

In the mean time,I just need my grass cut and other lawn work done.

I guess it is because I am so privileged that I don’t live in the houses I pay for where the grass gets cut for free, and stuff fixed for free.

I am so very privileged that I pay for all that free housing and home repairs for them, plus I pay for mine.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

From 1790 to 1810, the proportion of free blacks in the Upper South rose from less than 1% to overall, and nationally, the proportion of free blacks among blacks rose to 13%.

So before his death in 1799, Washington would have likely seen many “free negroes”, as they were called at the time.

[Popman]

-—What history is that ?-—

Slave holder, Indian killer.

Of course all history needs to be taken in the context of the timeframe...

In today context, some would consider him a monster..

[BBell]

The best part about "dollar" Bill Jefferson is the way he lost his seat. His chief democrat (Hispanic lady) adversary was a tireless campaigner and was very enthusiastic. Bill would not even debate her and his campaigning consisted of visiting barber shops and restaurants. He beat her but then had to go against the republican who got the most vote. They had a special election on a Saturday but all of Bill's supporters forgot to vote. The republican won. The next day some people were pretty upset and a few of his more idiotic supporters wanted a "re-vote."

Of course the republican,a Vietnamese, only lasted one term.

[jmacusa]

Well how do cousin? Ain’t seen you ‘round these parts lately. No from Lincolns point of view the war wasn’t about slavery. But from the South’s point of view it sure as hell was.

[jmacusa]

“Slave holder, Indian killer’’. And father of The Democrat Party.

[mumblypeg]

“...there were wealthy black freemen in the south...”

And they owned slaves, too. Fact.