Horror: Jefferson Davis Highway in Washington State

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 25 January 2002

[KC Burke]

The American Enterprise Institute asked noted author Shelby Foote the following question:

After the Civil War, a compromise was obtained in which the North acknowledged the bravery of the Southern soldiers and the valor with which they fought for a cause in which they believed, while the South acknowledged that maybe it was for the best that the Union was preserved. Has this compromise finally broken down?

This removal is further evidence that it has. Foote is critical of the South for letting its symbols of honor be appropriated by the Klan and others. He thinks that this was the reopening of the wounds that has lead to where we are today.

None can be any sort of student of history of the Civil War era and not appreciate what a great thing the compromise mentioned by AEI was in allowing our nation to reconstitute as one and what restraint and honor was shown by both sides in doing so. The people of that era had more respect for what they, and theirs, had been through than all sides of the debates today.

Belittlement of people that went through such a great trial on either side, by light-weights sitting on keyboards today, is a sad thing to see.

[meandog]

[Dante3]

Everybody let's just ignore JudasPriest, aka Hans Dunshee. Imagine being so full of hate!

[aomagrat]

This news doesn't surprise me. I read recently that Washington's King County, which was originally named for Vice President William R. King (1853-1857), has been renamed for Martin Luther King.

I just read this in "Bank Note Reporter" of all places. Seems that someone recently found out that Vice President King once owned slaves. Of course changing the name solved all of the racial problems in the county.

[AUgrad]

Jefferson may have well been a common criminal. He was a traitor, nothing more

He was a Patriot. Do some research before you spout off. You obviously know very little about the Civil War. I suggest you read a few of Shelby Foote's books.

[RetiredArmy]

Well, King County, Seattle area, is was not named for Martin Luther King originally. It was named for some guy, I think who was a prior slave owner and the socialists here went nuts about it. I think it has officially gone over to MLK being honored now, but not originally.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

You talking to me? Try again. The war was before my time and I'm from the north. Either way, I remain a sovereign individual and my own master. Try me.

[AUgrad]

Actually, it is a little silly to name anything after Davis. Now, if they'd named the road after Robert E. Lee, that would have been different. Davis? Nah.

Nathan Bedford Forrest would have been a good choice also. Even Thomas J.(Stonewall)Jackson would be good.

[texson66]

"Every evil which has befallen our institutions is directly traceable to the perversion of the compact of union and the usurpation by the Federal Government of undelegated powers." -President Jefferson Davis, CSA

[Verginius Rufus]

They can keep the name of the state as it is, but pass a law that it is meant to honor Booker T. instead of George.

I recall reading one of the slave narratives (interviews done under the auspices of the WPA in the late 1930s) which was with a freedman who had the last name Davis. He explained that at the end of the war he didn't have a last name and had to choose one. He had heard Jefferson Davis mentioned so often that he decided that Davis was a good name and chose it for himself.

[Christian B]

Read your bio. Thanks for the info. Hope someone throws a pail of water on you and you "progressively" melt.

[arly]

Hey Juda's are all the liberal whining rooms full??... Why don't you go and see if you can find one open to play at!

[Navy Patriot]

Jefferson Davis was an honorable man, well respected by friends and enemies alike.

Correct. As was Gen. Robert E. Lee and many Southern and Northern participants in the Civil War/WoNA. All were from American Rebels from 76 or 61. Honoring those on both sides is fitting. The war is over and Southerners are Americans too.

[LynnHam]

Karlmarx state sounds better!

[HaveGunWillTravel]

Speaking of having lost, it looks like you are the one living in Virginia.

[Ditto]

Jefferson Davis was an honorable man, well respected by friends and enemies alike.

I wouldn't go quite that far, but how about a Wm. T. Sherman Highway running from Atlanta down to the beach?

[wysiwyg]

From your page: Former ardent McCain supporter, now disgruntled detractor!

I would like to point out that your bumper sticker (You Lost. Get Over It!) applies here.

[breakem]

He was on the losing side, get over it. Time to move on.

[wattsmag2]

Wow, can I be cool like you?

Nope. You'll just have to be content to be the a$$hole you are.