I'll Make Up My Own Mind, Thanks...

     First off,  I think we can all agree the recent events in Charlottesville are disturbing on many levels. Most notorious being the ignorantly blatant display of Nazi flags and white supremacy/nationalism.  That being said, the real narrative lies (as it so often does) in subtlety...and subtlety combined with a gross lack of context and ignorance is quite the nasty concoction! Interestingly, and not on a pure whim....*gasp* I know, I know, let that sink in for a minute...I was in Charlottesville this morning and we took the opportunity to walk through some history.  I made a few observations...Beginning with what a stranger at the park told us..."Don't judge us based on what you see in the news..."








1. The Robert E. Lee statue is not just a "statue".  It is located in Emancipation Park which is smack dab in old, historic downtown which is just that...historic.  FYI Charlottesville is also the location of Monte Cello and is in the same county as Thomas Jeffersons birthplace in Shadwell .  As we walked past old taverns, churches, the courthouse, mercantile's etc we took a brief moment to read the placards telling the history of these quaint buildings and snapped pictures of the several other monuments and statues scattered about.  It was extremely sobering to stand at what had once been a slave auction block. The building at this location was "originally number zero" and a mercantile.  In front of the courthouse stood a monument to "Confederate Soldiers Defenders of the Rights of the States".   A statue of Stonewall Jackson was among the many other monuments, statues, and placards. Ironically, the brief tour filled with me with immense patriotism for not only was this historic mall a tribute to our nations early years and the men who helped shape it but it gave testament to what we as a nation were able to overcome during the Civil War! Simultaneously, it was a glimpse into the reality that was slavery.  It was as if that small stone screamed "This was reality. A fact. Don't forget."   So no...the Robert E. Lee statue is not "just a statue".  It is a minuscule piece of an entire display of Charlottesville history and founding pride.  If you remove the statue you would have to remove the entire historic downtown mall...and so, Charlottesville! Context, people! Context! Not to mention the dangers of erasing history. Which leads me to my next observation...

2. It wasn't until I was standing at the old auction block looking at a piece of cardboard which simply read "PEOPLE" that I started to be angry. Just hold on, and hear me out.  To me, this was the most somber moment of the whole trip. And here I am in 2017 wrestling with myself as to whether or not I should remove the piece of cardboard which covered the word "slaves". (For the record, I didn't) It's 2017! Does anyone think slavery is ok! Are people still afraid to be on the wrong side of history when it comes to this issue? Is history really so offensive to people?  Here I was on an incredibly historical and fascinating walk only to be met with signs that people wanted to remove it or erase it like it never existed.  Which brings me to my third observation.

3. Why are the only people who came to defend the removal of history a bunch of despicable Neo-Nazi, white supremacist nationalists trash! These people are the worst of the spectrum. They used this as an opportunity to express their own vicious hatred and deplorable agenda! Where are the fellow patriots! The ones who know that history is just as important to our past as it is to our future! Where are those who study history so we are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past but also highlight the good? And in the words of Sarah, "Do we study the Civil War to have an opinion?!" It's absolutely mind boggling! I really have noting to say to either side.  The issues run centuries long and include way too much political theory, history, and mere
human nature!
             

     So there it is.  Just my take and opinion after personally having been there and seen it.  I don't ask you to share the same opinion. I only encourage you to do your own research, check things out for yourself, and then come to a educated decision based on facts and your own reasoning. Peace out!