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Memphis Mayor Wants to Dig Up Dead Confederate War General (Nathan Bedford Forest)
Fox News ^ | June 26, 2015 | Todd Starnes

Posted on 06/26/2015 9:58:02 AM PDT by C19fan

Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton wants to dig up the bodies of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife and remove them from a city park in the latest and perhaps most despicable example of the anti-Southern cleansing spreading across the nation.

“Which African-American wants to have a picnic in the shadow of Nathan Bedford Forrest?” Wharton said in a Thursday press briefing.

(Excerpt) Read more at radio.foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: acwhartonjr; confederate; confederateflag; memphis; nathanbedfordforrest; tennessee
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To: C19fan

In 1875 Forrest was invited to address a meeting of the Independent Order of Pole Bearers, an early black civil rights organization in Memphis, at their Fourth of July barbecue on July 5. Forrest was told by many whites that he should not accept, but Forrest went. Just before he spoke he was presented a bouquet of flowers by Miss Flora Lewis, a daughter of one of the members of the Pole Bearers. Here is Forrest’s speech.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the Southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God’s earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. (Immense applause and laughter.) I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man, to depress none.

(Applause.)

I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don’t propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I’ll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand.” (Prolonged applause.)

After the speech Forrest thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet and kissed her on the cheek. This type of familiarity between the races in public was almost unheard of at the time. Forrest’s speech was probably motivated by his desire to become a Christian. As his health faltered and his time on Earth grew short, Forrest sought to make amends for some of his deeds, and I think this speech was part of his attempt. This speech was also the last appearance at a public event by Forrest as a speaker.


61 posted on 06/26/2015 10:58:36 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: C19fan

It figures, he’s black and prejudiced.


62 posted on 06/26/2015 11:07:57 AM PDT by Parmy
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To: Ancesthntr
<> They're too stupid & hysterical to think about this. The idea is to overwrite the truth. Because they can't handle the truth. Maybe they just can't handle any contradiction to their denial. This is utter tyranny. Where are the patriots?
63 posted on 06/26/2015 11:23:58 AM PDT by KGeorge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground)
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To: C19fan
Very few picnic at Forrest Park anymore, Mayor Whorton. The whites that have made that mistake were mugged and car jacked by the race of professional victims and affirmative action. It is very dangerous there.
64 posted on 06/26/2015 11:32:29 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: E. Pluribus Unum; Liz; Old Sarge; sickoflibs; MrB; stephenjohnbanker; SunkenCiv
ISIS is the correct role model for democrats...

ISIS goes out and destroys historical sites that don't support ‘their view’ of history.

Democrats should blow up all buildings that represent things like don't like. After all democrats and ISIS have a lot in common.

Then they can pile all the books in the middle of the street (that aren't PC) and burn them. Just for good measure they can top the pile with flags they don't like. It's gonna be so much fun living under thugs.

65 posted on 06/26/2015 11:37:19 AM PDT by GOPJ (Dems are going to build THE FENCE FINALLY. And they'll shoot us if we try to leave...)
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To: GOPJ; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Thanks GOPJ, well said!

66 posted on 06/26/2015 11:58:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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To: broken_arrow1
"I don’t see this ending well."

Anyone who didn’t see this coming just wasn’t looking. In our country’s recent history we’ve celebrated diversity in our population as if it were a good thing. However, one look at world history will show you that no country with a diverse population of different races, languages, and religion has long survived.

Countries don’t naturally form with a diverse population, and when in the past they’ve occurred it’s usually been as a result of armed conquest. These unnaturally formed countries have either melded together into a single population made up of one mixed race with one language and one religion or they’ve come apart, and they’ve usually come apart with extreme violence. The longer these diverse populations are forced to coexist with one another without mixing and becoming one, the more the hatred grows among them and the more violently they break apart, but break apart they will, or genocide will settle the issue once and for all.

67 posted on 06/26/2015 12:12:01 PM PDT by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: DJ Taylor

Yugoslavia was very diverse. It ended in a nasty civil war.


68 posted on 06/26/2015 12:27:34 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: bgill

If they dig him up, he should not be buried in Memphis, they don’t deserve him.

Forrest’s speech during a meeting of the “Jubilee of Pole Bearers” is a story that needs to be told. Gen. Forrest was the first white man to be invited by this group which was a forerunner of today’s Civil Right’s group. A reporter of the Memphis Avalanche newspaper was sent to cover the event that included a Southern barbeque supper.

Miss Lou Lewis, daughter of a Pole Bearer member, was introduced to Forrest and she presented the former general a bouquet of flowers as a token of reconciliation, peace and good will. On July 5, 1875, Nathan Bedford Forrest delivered this speech:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the Southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God’s earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. (Immense applause and laughter.) I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man, to depress none.

(Applause.)
I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don’t propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I’ll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand.” (Prolonged applause.)

End of speech.1

Nathan Bedford Forrest again thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard of in the society of those days, in 1875, but it showed a token of respect and friendship between the general and the black community and did much to promote harmony among the citizens of Memphis.

J.H. Sears, Charles Kelly Barrow “Black Southerners In Confederate Armies” (Pelican, 2007)


69 posted on 06/26/2015 12:38:11 PM PDT by duffee (Dump the Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, joe nosef.)
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To: C19fan

Reminds me of the excesses of the French Revolution where the graves of the French kings at St Denis were broken into and their remains scattered. Even the statues of the Old Testiment kings on the exterior of Notre Dame were beheaded. (note the original heads of these statues were found a few years ago and are on display at the Musee de Cluny in Paris)


70 posted on 06/26/2015 12:45:37 PM PDT by The Great RJ (“Socialists are happy until they run out of other people's money.” Margaret Thatcher)
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To: C19fan

The USSR was famous for “re-burying” their former
“heroes”. If politically motivated enough, they would be re-buried face down!


71 posted on 06/26/2015 6:22:04 PM PDT by Does so (SCOTUS Newbies Will Imperil America...)
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To: C19fan

This african american is the mayor of one of the most dangerous cities in the US. It is largely dangerious because it is filled with other african americans. I don’t think focusing on NBF will help change any of that.


72 posted on 06/26/2015 7:37:45 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
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To: bgill

Saw a photo today of them digging up the grave.

The council member stated this. “It is no longer politically correct to glorify someone who was a slave trader, someone who was a racist, on public property,” said City Council member Myron Lowery.

Guess the idiot like so many blacks who show fake outrage have no idea that they are in the Dem party, the same party which was the party of slavery, the KKK and the party which signed segregation into law.


73 posted on 07/11/2015 6:03:45 PM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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