Carolina prof: "'Silent Sam' should topple exactly like Hussein statues"

Daily Tar Heel ^ | April 23, 2003 | Prof. Gerald C. Horne

[Constitution Day]

'Silent Sam' should topple exactly like Hussein statues

April 11, 2003

TO THE EDITOR:

After the dramatic scenes were broadcast globally of Iraqis -- with a boost from the U.S. military -- pulling down and destroying statues of Saddam Hussein, I expected outrage to erupt in Chapel Hill.

Why? Well, we are routinely told that the reason monuments to the thankfully departed Confederate States of America litter the landscape, including the centerpiece of this campus, i.e. "Silent Sam," is because this is merely a monument to history and that depositing this monstrosity where it belongs in the nearest museum would be like stowing away history.

Interesting. So where are the voices from this campus bellowing in outrage against Iraqis "destroying their history" by destroying statues of their erstwhile leader?

Actually, the CSA cause -- slavery -- led to far more deaths than those attributed to Saddam Hussein. Furthermore, those rebels and traitors of the CSA fought a war that led to far more deaths than those caused by Saddam Hussein in his battle with that very same government in Washington.

Actually, I await the call by CSA defenders demanding construction of monuments in Iraq to Saddam Hussein, in the interests of "history" of course. Hence, if anything, rather than cheering the pulling down of statues in Iraq, residents of Chapel Hill should be insisting on removing these Confederate eyesores that dominate this campus, this state and this region.

Gerald Horne

Professor

Communication Studies*

E-mail Professor Horne

(*note: Also African & Afro-American Studies, see his homepage)

[Constitution Day]

WRAL.com article:

'Silent Sam' Sparks Conversation At UNC

POSTED: 7:42 a.m. EDT April 23, 2003

UPDATED: 10:22 a.m. EDT April 23, 2003

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A silent soldier is causing a ruckus on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Silent Sam, is a tribute to Carolina alumni who fought in the Civil War. Now, the nearly century-old statue is the site of controversy.

Silent Sam, is a tribute to Carolina alumni who fought in the Civil War. Now, the nearly century-old statue is the site of controversy.

"This statue was put up to keep people like them in slavery," said UNC Professor Gerald Horne.

Horne calls the monument to Confederate soldiers a monstrosity.

In a letter to the Daily Tar Heel, the university's student newspaper, Horne suggests Silent Sam should be toppled just like the statue of Saddam Hussein.

"It's very interesting that people were celebrating the toppling of the statue of Saddam a few days ago, because, of course, in Chapel Hill, people say you can't take down statues. That's history," he said.

Horne's history lesson surprised students who stopped to take pictures in front of the statue Tuesday. What he calls a lightning rod, others simply call a landmark.

"We didn't know the significance, but now we know. We were just taking pictures to give to friends," said a visitor.

And where some see black and white, others see shades of gray. Axel Ruprecht said to take down the statue is to sanitize history.

"My ancestors fought for the North and I think they were right, but it's part of our history. Those who fought, fought for a number of reasons," he said.

UNC leaders said the statue is part of the university's history and it has no plans to remove it. They said UNC embraces diversity and has several buildings named after prominent African-Americans.

Reporter: Stephanie Hawco
Photographer: David McCorkle
OnLine Producer: Michelle Singer

Copyright 2003 by WRAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Constitution Day]

The Axis of Wlat™ bleats!

Sorry, okchemyst; I had to "borrow" your tagline. It was too good.

[Constitution Day]

UNC ping.

[Darksheare]

Please tell me this isn't for real.
Please.

[Illbay]

I don't support this, because this is the depiction of a soldier, not a political leader.

I would agree with pulling down statues of (for example) Jeff Davis, etc., but not an anonymous soldier.

[Constitution Day]

A cursory search of Google shows that Horne's works are reviewed on socialist websites.
It IS for real, but at least UNC is not caving... so far, anyway.

[Constitution Day]

Silent Sam, ca. 1913

Save Silent Sam

Silent Sam, recent photo

[Redleg Duke]

"I would agree with pulling down statues of (for example) Jeff Davis, etc., but not an anonymous soldier."

That even goes too far. The first step in revisionist history creation is to eliminate any reminders of the facts. The American Civil War was a crucible that formed the strength that is America. Until recently, when the pampered offspring of the former slaves started their efforts to open old wounds and settle imagined scores, we all looked back on the war with a sense of shared history and purpose. Now these pampered members of the Jesse Jackson Extortion and Shakedown Mob are trying to get everyone else fighting or feeling guilty.

To all of you shakedown artist wannabes...STFU and get over it! If you want to get your piece of the pie, get off your dead asses, get off of the RAT Party teat, get a job, get a useful trade (that doesn't mean a degree in "Black Studies") and earn it!

And by the way...stop trying to rewrite history. Remember...YOUR OWN KIND SOLD YOUR ANCESTORS TO THE SLAVERS! YOUR OWN KIND DIDN'T FIT IN BACK IN THEIR HOMELAND!

[Constitution Day]

NC ping!
Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[wardaddy]

They will come for everything....and when (if) they finish with us, then they will come for your icons as well.

There is no American History pure enough for them.

[labowski]

Can I just say: What an ASS! arrogant pompous ASS!

[LonePalm]

If Silent Sam comes down, I will make sure that UNC NEVER gets a penny from me and that I will be the fifth and last generation to attend the University.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Constitution Day]

You may be interested in the link on post #7.
Personally, I do not think that UNC will cave in.

Hope you, Mrs. Palm & the fronds are doing well!

CD

[LonePalm]

We are well. My best to you and yours.

I am in the last three weeks of my run for the town council.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Martin Tell]

Let's see if I can get these things straight. UNC assigns a pro-Muslim text for in-coming freshmen to read. When protests arise, free speech is seen as in danger. UNC should remove and prohibit all reminders of the Confederacy because they are treasonous and non-inclusive.

Of course it is not just UNC. Vanderbilt "cleansed" a building of the name "Confederate" Memorial Hall in the name of diversity.

When Hollywood types (or Dixie Chicks) promote hatred against the US (or President Bush) it's free speech, but calls to boycott the products of these "speakers" is "McCarthyism" etc etc.

[hnorris]

Obviously, with idiots like this professor causeing a ruckus, there still are slaves in the south....

[justshutupandtakeit]

You think this is something of importance when that campus is as left as they get. And you worry about a statue? Why not the anti-Americanism which is rampant?

[LonePalm]

You are just scratching the surface of my unhappiness with the University. They seem to be in favor of diversity for everyone except conservatives.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[CaptainJustice]

There is quite a difference between a soldier fighting for a revolution or whatever the south considers the Civil War, and a brutal torturous regime that slaughter innocent women and children if it got tired of raping them. What a sick idea, comparing the confederacy to the Ba'ath party. sheesh.

[Darksheare]

*Slaps forehead*
D'oh!
I was hoping you'd lie ot me and say, "No."

Horne sounds like Iraqi propaganda statues are more important than American history.
The guy is rabidly Anti-American in some of his writ, isn't he?
(I've never run into his 'work' before, thankfully.)