An Appalling Idiocy: A Slave Memorial

www.CapitalismMagazine.com ^ | May 28, 2003 | Thomas Sowell

[Chancellor Palpatine]

It kinda makes me want to put up the graphic of the guy with the "Aw, Geez" pained expression. 30 years ago, nobody gave a damn, and maintenance of school names and monuments was fine - and the image of the rebel was positive. On top of that, nobody pretended that slavery was good, or denigrated the ancestry of African Americans - we're too close to it, generationally, to be so damn rude.

All of a sudden, reenactors and historical revisionists pop up everywhere, and it becomes suddenly important to revere Confederate ancestors, and to pretend that the slaves didn't exist. If it weren't for that fouling of the well, any race problems would be that much further behind.

My motto is that if you honor the rebel, you have to honor the slave, and you have to understand if the descendant of the slave is less than pleased by the honor paid the rebel.

And I say that with men who served under John Hunt Morgan in my direct family line.

[Howlin]

Where have you been, man? Reenatctors have been around FOR-EVER.

I say no to this silly memorial.

[billbears]

Even in the United States, there were thousands of black slaveowners, and in Africa many more.

Shhhh, Thomas!! It's a ploy, I tell you, a ploy!! Like the good Dr. Williams writing on the historical fact of Black Confederates, along with many other authors attesting to the authenticity of said brave gentlemen

then we can rip down Confederate monuments and the signs off schools named after prominent traitors all over the South

Chancey, you're more than welcome to come down here. Why don't you start in Fort Mill SC? You know, the monument dedicated to the loyal slaves who stayed behind to protect the women and children, and the even braver freed black men who fought side by side against a tyrant. Or the monument to the brave servant in Canton, MS. Come on down and ignore the names of Sam Anderson, Charles Dempsey, Willis Dove, Pvt. Everett Hayes, Will Linch and Frank Hunter, just a few of the brave black men from NC who fought defending their state first and their nation.

Come on, Chancey, you're more than welcome

[onyx]

Thanks for all of the information. Just more proof that Congress has entirely too damn much time on its hands. Shorter sessions are needed. I'm so sick of the blatant pandering.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I don't know how to explain it - but it had a different flavor years ago, and the folks just had fun. Its almost as if some of the groups have been coopted by folks with a bleaker agenda.

I can't say as I mind the memorial - it steals a lot of thunder.

[Howlin]

Not around here.

[Under the Radar]

Thomas Sowell bump!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Look, Sowell has been marginalizing himself over the years, and has increasingly pandered to the only group that continues to pay money to buy books telling them things that they already believe.

And I can say that, because I've bought a bunch of his stuff in the past and read it - but the fact is that he makes his living catering to fear, and writes his material with his customers in mind.

As to me coming down South, I'll be along the SC coast the week after next - so yes, when not sailing, I'll probably find some history to tour.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

There are some spooky folks here that do it. I know people who got out because of it.

[Sparta]

Very well written.

[billbears]

so yes, when not sailing, I'll probably find some history to tour.

Well I suggest you stop in at Charleston then and ask to see the memorial paid to one dead mule. Never mind, it's all around us, a national government that doesn't know when to quit spending our money on memorials. Heck, when are we going to have an American Indian memorial to the hundreds hanged in MN? How about the sweatshops of NY? Might as well put a memorial up to that as well.

I'm sorry but I see no good that can come out of a memorial that is just going to be marginalized by the race baiters like Jackson and Sharpton. Were there injustices to blacks? Yes, but it wasn't just on our side. How about the Jewish peoples? Do you really want to go there? How I treat someone is based on their attitude and not on their skin color. My grandmother was raised by her grandparents and she had kin that fought bravely. I also agree there are some that use the flag of my ancestors to push their racist agenda. But I do not agree the best way to stop these racists is to destroy the memory of my family either

[GOPcapitalist]

Come on, Chancey, you're more than welcome

Please don't encourage him! It's annoying enough to put up with all those left wing banshee dykes from northeastern college campuses that the DNC busses down here every time one of their precious congressmen or senators has a tough reelection.

I swear, every last one of them thinks they are on another "freedom ride" to save Max Cleland/Mary Landrieu/Fritz Hollings/(insert southern democrat name of choice here) from evil backwoods white male republican confederate gun owning Christians. And from what he posts around here, Chance buys into that kind of stuff whole heartedly!

[dr_lew]

Things like this prove that slavery was wrong for more reasons than one would expect. The fact that they are still here is one of them.

No. Paradoxically, it's why slavery was RIGHT, in some weird sense. It WAS. It's a condition of our existence, and in particular, a condition of black American's existence. To accept ourselves we have to accept the past.

... he spoke, and drank rapidly a glass of water.

[jimfree]

Hell, what would it look like, a body swinging from a rope!

Strange fruit.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I also agree there are some that use the flag of my ancestors to push their racist agenda. But I do not agree the best way to stop these racists is to destroy the memory of my family either.

You may be surprised, but I agree with that 100%.

And on that positive note, I bid you good night, in order to avoid rolling up and smoking one nicotine patch in this elusive bid to stop a bad habit.

[mhking]

Strange fruit.

Indeed...

[Victoria Delsoul]

Excellent letter, mhking, Thank you.

A slave memorial is guaranteed to become a magnet for every race hustler from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton down to any local demagogue who can scare up a crowd to go stand in front of the slave memorial and spew venom at American society on TV. Some reconciliation, some healing!

This is a bad idea and it will lead to reparations for sure.

[MHGinTN]

Well and truly said, Mister King. [People are starting to understand why many of us in TN were not that thrilled with Frist becoming Senate Majority Leader.]

[farmfriend]

The sad thing is, if he heeds your reasoned and well thought out advice, he will be labeled a racists for not wanting the memorial. The left will twist the intent.