Statute of Confederate Soldier Erected in Norfolk
Lee Hart climbs a ladder to position a granite confederate soldier to the base of a monment in Elmwood Cemetery off Princess Anne Road this morning as members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Pickett-Buchanan Chapter 21, were on hand to watch the installation. PHOTO BY BILL TIERNAN / THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Many of the comments in my earlier post about the proposed resolution apologizing for slavery have a “get over it” kind of attitude. And then I click on PilotOnline and see this. Black folks are supposed to “get over” slavery but white folks are allowed to glorify the Confederacy.
Somehow, I think this is a bit of a double standard. If I need to “get over” slavery (despite the fact that the vestiges of slavery remain), then I think y’all need to “get over” this obsession with the Confederacy.
Some Southerners do need “to get over it” as in this passion for the confederacy. It’s interesting how often do you hear that no one today “served in the confederate army” contrasted against how many times we have heard….”they weren’t slaves”…..All goes as evidence of racism that still exists today. I often find that those that scream that blacks should “get over it” the loudest are often those waving the confederate flags.
The fact is that our country has NEVER started the dialogue needed between black and white citizens to truly put this slavery issue behind us.
As far as the bill before Congress…for the life of me no one has given an explanation of what harm will result if an overdue apology is made….It says a lot that Republicans are already opposing this bill yet remain AFFIRMATIVELY AND SUPPORTIVELY silent over Virgil Goode’s recent remarks attacking a black muslim, duly elected to Congress.
Kudos to Vivian!
Posted by mosquito | Friday, January 5, 2007, 7:48 am“You are among those that just don’t get it. And I’ve neither the time nor the inclination to argue with the likes of you.”
Isn’t that why you started this blog in the first place?
Posted by Jack | Friday, January 5, 2007, 7:55 amI have no problem if people, legislatures or groups want to apologize for things they didn’t do.
Slavery was an abomination (but hey…I’m a Northerner too). I’m sorry it happened.
Here’s my key. Usually when an apology is offered, and accepted, the issue is considered to be in the past and dropped.
Is that really going to happen?
Posted by Brian Kirwin | Friday, January 5, 2007, 8:57 amI regret birth defects. I am sorry hurricanes kill people. Traffic accidents happen even to the best drivers. Disease kills millions. Cancer causes innumerable painful deaths.
For some reason I do not understand, God has not seen fit to apologize for allowing all these awful things to happen. Nonetheless, I will do my part. I apologize. There it is. It is done. Do you all feel better now?
Posted by Citizen_Tom | Friday, January 5, 2007, 9:43 amGive us a break. None of those things you mention are deliberate choices on the part of human beings to subjugate and dehumanize another group of human beings. There’s no comparison.
Posted by kathy | Friday, January 5, 2007, 9:50 amI hope all of you listened to the podcast. Both Delegate Suit and Delegate Iaquinto agreed to support the resolution.
Slavery was an abomination …. I’m sorry it happened.
Thank you.
Now, was that so hard?
Posted by vjp | Friday, January 5, 2007, 10:17 amI never said it was. Is it accepted, or will the subject linger on and on and on and on and on and on and on…..
Posted by Brian Kirwin | Friday, January 5, 2007, 11:20 amThat wasn’t directed at you, Brian. It was directed at the others.
Your apology is accepted – absolutely.
Will the subject linger? Probably. But why? Because the US has never acknowledged what you said.
Posted by vjp | Friday, January 5, 2007, 11:24 amI don’t know. Let’s try it and find out. Worse case, it doesn’t happen, and life goes on. That’s not so bad, is it?
Posted by Waldo Jaquith | Friday, January 5, 2007, 12:26 pmEvery time I see a confederate flag it reminds me of a swastika. Oh, I’m sorry.
Posted by Frugal Revolutionary | Friday, January 5, 2007, 12:52 pmWho is paying for this statue? Who owns the land it’s sitting on?
Posted by Frugal Revolutionary | Friday, January 5, 2007, 12:57 pm“Give us a break. None of those things you mention are deliberate choices on the part of human beings to subjugate and dehumanize another group of human beings. There’s no comparison”
How regrettable! I understand that because I chose to apologize the wrong type of abomination, my apology was insufficient. So I must carry on. I hereby apologize for the crimes of Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and all the tyrants who ever lived. Do you all feel better now? I trust that at some of you will find meaning in this meaningless gesture.
Posted by Citizen_Tom | Friday, January 5, 2007, 1:25 pm“I simply informed you of the difference. BTW, the reason no soldiers were tried for treason after the Civil War was that the soldiers’ oaths were to their STATES, not to the United States. Robert E. Lee actually stated, when he accepted the position of leader of the Confederate Army, that his sympathies lay with the Union, but that his oath was to Virginia.”
I think YOU need a history lesson.
Posted by Terry | Friday, January 5, 2007, 3:22 pm“It’s entirely interesting that many of those who don’t understand the word “marriage” will be quick to jump on the bandwagon to issue this meaningless and entirely inappropriate “apology.”
Oh, you mean the meaning of marriage that bigots have artificially made up, and inappropriately written into the Constitution? That definition of marriage? Or the one I’ve always know it to be: two LOVING indviduals without giving specification to race, gender, or religious creed.
Posted by Terry | Friday, January 5, 2007, 3:23 pmTerry thinks others need a history lesson? Terry – go read a bible. It is clear that marriage was one man married to one woman. For thousands of years.
Posted by Reid Greenmun | Friday, January 5, 2007, 3:29 pm