Posted on 07/09/2014 12:56:01 PM PDT by Timber Rattler
Washington and Lee University expressed regret Tuesday for the school’s past ownership of slaves and promised to remove Confederate flags from the main chamber of its Lee Chapel after a group of black students protested that the historic Virginia school was unwelcoming to minorities.
President Kenneth P. Ruscio’s announcement was a surprising move for the small, private liberal arts college in Lexington, which has long celebrated its Southern heritage. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee served as the university’s president after the Civil War, his crypt is beneath the chapel, and the school has gingerly addressed its ties to the Confederacy and its having profited from the possession and sale of slaves.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This is a private college. Why do they care about PC? I’m sick to death of 13% of the population telling 75% what to do.
I am a Yankee and this Orwellian erasing of history makes me sick. I do not know if there are descendents of General Lee around but they should demand the University give up his grave and remove Lee from the name of the school. Although the type of people who want the Confederate Flag removed probably want Lee removed from the name too.
If he was scared of a bunch of useless communist scumbags crying racist he will be terrified of the alumni.
How sad. I’ve twice visited this wonderful campus to say “Hi!” to Marsh Lee and Traveller. When I first visited in 1992 (on my honeymoon!) I was called “a Yankee” by a volunteer at Lee’s burial spot. Last year, it was very different and the volunteers took me all around and took me to the church where Lee first became ill with his mortal illness. How nice they were! I don’t remember if there were flags about. I know I could not buy them at Chancellorville or Antietam.
“school has gingerly addressed its ties to the Confederacy and its having profited from the possession and sale of slaves”
The democrat party was the driver behind the confederacy, slavery, secession, the KKK and the rest of the racism up to the present. The democrat party was the biggest profiteer of slavery and its aftermath up to the present.
Demand that the democrat party immediately be outlawed and that it be held responsible for providing all reparations that might be made.
Well, they should remove his name from the school. Just call it “Washington and “. WAIT! George Washington was a slave-owner! He is not worthy to be honored either!
From henceforth, the school ought be known as “and”.
Yep, if we want to go all in with political correctness, you can’t have a college named for Washington & Lee. They have to rename it entirely.
Obama & Travyon University????
Turner and Brown University? (After Nat Turner and John Brown?)
Turner and Brown wouldn’t work.
Today’s idiot young liberals do not know their history, thus they have no idea who John Brown and Nat Turner were. So naming a university after them would not register with such liberals.
Another Civil War story.
In my opinion, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia Code, Laws on the Books for Memorials for War Veterans, of which Confederate Monuments and Memorial are listed Under this Virginia Code: 15.2-1812, and wording copied exactly: “If such are erected, it shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials so erected, or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same. For purposes of this section, “disturb or interfere with” includes removal of, damaging or defacing monuments or memorials, or, in the case of the War Between the States, the placement of Union markings or monuments on previously designated Confederate memorials or the placement of Confederate markings or monuments on previously designated Union memorials.” The Memorial Ceremonial flags have been at this monument, since the monument was placed here.
In my Opinion, the W&L President may have violated this Code of Virginia, and such - If the Citizens of Virginia would like to bring suit against him should do so. I would love to join several thousand Southerners of Confederate heritage to bring a Class-Action Law Suit against the President and the Board of Directors. This Law on the Books of Virginia is very clear and states this: “it shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials so erected, or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same.” Unlawful is unlawful, and when someone has clearly been unlawful they are subject to a remedy through a suit.
The Southern Citizens of Confederate heritage may find this an opportune moment to go after the “authorities” mentioned in the Code 15.2-1812 to seek remedies. Can you say Class Action?
Any Virginas with guts out there?
When I was growing up, Robert E. Lee ranked high among America’s heroes. Even Yankees admired him.
Not to change the Subject, but anytime you see a Cloned General Lee Dodge Charger (Dukes of Hazzard), the roof is just painted Orange like the rest of the Car rather than sporting the Confederate Battle Flag that was on the original Cars.
Absolutely Un-American PC BS. It just pisses me off, along with another thousand things nowadays. LOL
If I ever win the Lotto, I will have one that is an exact copy of the original.
Now back to the topic at hand, Revisionist History.
Lee's greatest act of the Civil War was to accept Grant's offer of surrender at Gettysburg.
Lee could have ordered his troops to go guerrilla and they would have followed him to the final man. Lee did the honest math and made the magnanimous decision to end the fighting and spare anymore of his troops.
If Lee had rejected Grant's offer, the war between the states could have gone on for another 50 years. Lee should be celebrated as one of America's greatest generals, not this...
“school has gingerly addressed its ties to the Confederacy and its having profited from the possession and sale of slaves”
The School President should follow Joan River’s lead and just say “get over it”.
I’m one Yankee who felt privileged to visit General Lee’s crypt at W&L a few years back. Lee put that school on a sound footing after the War and honors it with his name. Removing these flags is just vandalism. The troublemakers who agitated for this stupidity could just attend another school.
they had better remove the names, too. Both of those villainous southerners owned slaves. And the University should be moved in toto to a northern state that has never had legal slavery. Hmmm.. That had best be a northWESTERN state.
In Texas, few schools whose teams are called "Rebels" display the Confederate battle flag any more. It is way less common to see license plates, bumper stickers, etc., even in rural areas, that display the flag, than was the case 30-40 years ago. No law restricting its use has been passed, but fear of retaliation, social pressures, and the dying off of older generations have taken their toll.
Revolution in slow motion is what we are witnessing.
And how long before these quislings will agree to take down the American flag because it offends some group which is permanently offended about something? Or scripture quotes will have to be removed from government buildings because they hurt the sensibilities of mohammedans or atheists?
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