Posted on 07/21/2015 11:37:48 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Just south of Nashville, Tennessee, along Interstate 65, there sits a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest riding on horseback, surrounded by Confederate battle flags. For those with little more than a passing interest in American history, Forrest may be only known to you as the person after whom Forrest Gump was named in the movie. Others will know that he was a Confederate general and the first Grand Wizard of the KKK. It’s been sitting there on private land since 1998, but given recent events you can imagine that it’s become the target of renewed political interest.
The Metro Council approved a resolution earlier this month that asks the Tennessee Department of Transportation “take the necessary action” to plant vegetation to block the view of the private owned statue that stands along the interstate.
But TDOT commissioner John Schroer informed the council on Monday morning that it does not plant vegetation on its property for the sole purpose of blocking items on nearby private land.
Schroer’s response came in an email to the Metro clerk’s office that reads:
“TDOT does not plant foliage on its right-of-way with the sole intention of blocking items on private property based on what might be offensive to some and not to others. Therefore, the request of Metro Nashville’s Council to have TDOT plant vegetation on I-65 near the Harding Place Exit is respectfully denied.”
There’s no telling how far opponents are willing to go on this one, but it’s worth keeping an eye on just for the interesting combination of private property rights and state vs local government involvement. It’s something of a convoluted story because, as noted above, the statue sits on private property. It was created by someone who was not only an artist, but also one of the attorneys who defended James Earl Ray. (Talk about throwing some more kerosene on the fire.) Also, the resolution wasn’t asking for the statue or the flags to be removed, but for the state government to spend the money to plant shrubs and trees along the interstate so people couldn’t see it while driving by.
That part of the request, at first glance, makes it seem like the state’s response is perfectly reasonable. Why would they invest the resources to add vegetation for no reason other than to hide a piece of private property? It’s a fair question, except that the government already invested resources in clearing all of the existing trees and shrubs shortly after the statue was erected eighteen years ago for the express purpose of making it visible from the highway. That too required action in the legislature to accomplish. Obviously it doesn’t obligate them to honor the current request, but it makes it a bit more ticklish when they claim that such activities fall outside their purview.
I must confess I’ve never seen the statue in person, even given the fair amount of time I spend in the Volunteer State. (I’m usually further east than that.) But looking at the photos, let’s be honest… that’s not a particularly flattering statue.
It’s made of fiberglass, not stone, and it looks rather cartoonish to me. But hey… I’m no art critic. And the artistic quality of the piece really isn’t what’s at issue here. First question: being on private property, is it the business of the state to either hide or feature the statue to motorists? Number two: Forrest was a Lt. General, but is he a “historic figure” of the Confederacy on the same par with Lee and Jackson in terms of immortalizing his figure? Third: does his position as Grand Wizard detract from that historical reverence significantly as compared to others who were simply slave owners or supporters of the institution at the time?
I look forward to your thoughts. As I said… this is a bit more complicated than a flag on State Capitol grounds or a statue carved into a mountainside.
Yes, especially considering that black radicals hammered Democrat O’Malley for having the audacity to say that “all lives matter”.
Hey Jazz. Read the entire history of Nathan Bedford Forrest before you write your little articles. You might be surprised.
Nathan Forrest: “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.)”-July 5, 1875 (From comments in the original Hotair article)
We have a Forrest Ave. here in Apopka, Florida ,, runs right past the city hall and the Mason lodge.... Most of the street signs were changed to “Forest” a few years back but a Black Church on that street still has the original spelling on it’s sign...
Sonic the hedgehog’s mother?
I am not sure about the claim that the State spent money removing the vegetation. I do remember that when the statue went up there were trees there and then they disappeared. I assumed the property owner had them cut down.
Every story about Forrest mentions the KKK angle, but of course that's not why he's honored. He was a military genius - basically uneducated, but he certainly got results.
And on the KKK, he resigned (I think before Reconstruction was over) and ordered it disbanded.
The US Congress held hearings on his conduct at the Battle of Fort Pillow, but it was never shown he did anything wrong.
He also had several notable sayings, like battles are won by whoever gets there the first with the most; and war means fighting and fighting means killing.
It’s made of fiberglass, not stone, and it looks rather cartoonish to me.]
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Indeed it do.
It’s getting worse!
If this statue was brought into American Jewelry and Loan, Les might offer the owner $50 for it.
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