New Activist Makes Demands
Dear Editor,
As I’ve watched events across the nation unfold the last couple of months, I’ve decided to become an “ACTIVIST,” and here are a list of my demands!
I want Yale University renamed; it is named after Elihu Yale, who was an American born British merchant, slave trader, president of the East India Co. settlement in Fort St. George at Madras and a benefactor of the Collegiate School in the Colony of Connecticut, which in 1718 was renamed Yale College in his honor. Yale’s trust fund must be turned over to BLM!
I want and demand New York State and NYC renamed. They’re named for the Duke of York, the most successful and ruthless slave trader in history. Very troubling!
I demand all bridges, streets, highways and buildings named after Robert Byrd, former Democrat senator, be renamed now! Byrd was exalted cyclops for the KKK, enforcer and longest Democrat senator in history. Obama’s statue’s most come down; he gave a eulogy for the KKK Robert Byrd. This cannot be tolerated!
I want and demand Anderson Cooper of CNN fired; he’s a Vanderbilt through his mother and they made their fortune on the backs of slaves and were the first to bring slaves to the South!
I want and demand Nancy Pelosi immediately removed from office; her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., publicly endorsed bigotry, by her own definition, when he dedicated a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E Lee while mayor of Baltimore. In a speech dedicating the statue, Pelosi’s father hailed Lee and Confederate General Stonewall Jackson as a symbol of unity and source of our inspiration. She must be removed from office because of her father’s actions!
Finally the shoe is on the other foot.
Ed Byrum
Great letter. But you forgot that the governors of southern states who denied black students access to public schools because their only crime was they were black. So any building, bridge, road or structure-public or private-must either be torn down or renamed. Now all we have to do is figure whose name would be used to replace all those nasty, nasty folks. They can’t be named for white people because that would be racist and show a deference to those who are beneficiaries of white privilege. Could we use the names of prominent ‘people of color’? Of course we would have to delve into their family history to make sure they and none of their ancestors ever owned or were slave traders. But if we exclude people who are not ‘people of color’, isn’t that racism too?
By the way, why did it take Nancy Pelosi 30+ years to become incensed by the confederate statues in the halls of congress? Do you suppose her angst might be a little political?
We must all remember that all these statues are historical markers identifying prominent people of their time. They are not political and do not endorse or promote their attitudes or values. They tell a story about our American history.
Personally I think all the tearing down of statues is a danger to American. We are a flawed country to be sure. (Please name me one that is not flawed) We have come a long way but our journey continues. The best way to improve our country is to stop identifying everyone by their race, gender, sexual orientation, height, weight, hair or eye color, age…….whatever. These identifiers only serve to separate us. They do not allow us to join into ONE AMERICAN FAMILY. You cannot remake our history by trying to erase it. If we want to remain the United States and improve the UNITED States of America, we must learn from our past. We must learn about the good, the bad and the ugly parts of our past so our children and grandchildren do not make the same mistakes over and over again. God help us if we erect a statue for a hero of today and our great grandchildren discover that person had some undiscovered flaws and tear it down. It is well past time to STOP THE MADNESS so we can move forward.
ECHO —ECHo — ECho — Echo — echo
This is what I’ve been advocating. Fight by their rules. Yse their tactics. Bring a gun to a knife fight.
A lesson I’m sure you go over thoroughly in your arms safety course: if my weapon is better than yours you have to do what I say.
I agree with you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!
American History should be taught….. not erased!
Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it!
Yes, it should be taught in a classroom not at a courthouse. We should be reminded frequently of the abhorrent behavior and culture of our country and strive to do better. Perhaps we should work towards progress through a federal day of remembrance, reflection, and action – you know if another holiday won’t be too expensive.