Wednesday, November 1, 2017

HISTORY IS OUR TEACHER

George Washington is the “Father of our Country.” He served as the first president and served for two terms. He was also a plantation owner where he raised crops and brewed whiskey. As was the custom in that era as a wealthy land owner and grower, Washington owned slaves.

It is said that he attended Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia for some thirty years. The church even placed a commemorative plaque on their wall in Washington’s honor.

Well, apparently some, or who knows maybe one, of the parishioners took offense that a former slave owner was so honored, so they screamed to have it removed. Now mind you, this is the same George Washington who led troops to victory over the British that made America, the country, possible. The same George Washington who presided over the beginnings of this great country. The same Washington whose name is prominently on cities, counties, states, streets, avenues, buildings, schools, currency and all manner of American history.

Sometimes I just have to scratch my head in amazement. Not that someone would take offense at anything, but that a church would bow to such stupidity. There are people in this country who are perpetually offended. They look for ways to be offended. When we acknowledge their offense by acting on it, we are participating in their stupidity.

Shall we now rename Washington D. C. or Washington state? How about Madison, WI? Or Jefferson City, MO? Shall we destroy all currency bearing the likeness of former slave owners? Shall we remove all the statues of our Founding Fathers who may not quite measure up to some of today’s customs or morality? How about Mt. Rushmore? Should that monument now be  scheduled for destruction? Do you have any idea of how many places and streets are named for our founders? Schools, bridges, turnpikes. Beaches. Far too many to name.

We need to start a new movement. We need to identify stupidity and nonsense for what it is. We need to tell the “society of the perpetually offended” that their causes are ridiculous and that we will no longer give them any credence.

There was a civil war. Thousands died and were injured. Battle leaders on both sides of that war have been honored by statues and in all manner of recognition. In many parts of the country people proudly fly the Rebel flag. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, has highways named in his honor all across the south as well as schools and buildings.

The civil war is a part of our history. Slave ownership is a part of our history. Who among the early founders would be able to stand up to the type of inquiry today’s politicians face? There is probably a dossier on everybody from the credit bureaus to the FBI.

We have all heard the maxim, “If you choose to ignore history, you are bound to repeat it.” I believe that, don’t you? We cannot change our history by tearing down a few statues or changing the names of a few buildings or cities. Our history is our education. We either learn from our mistakes or we repeat them. We either learn from our victories, or we never see them again. Our history is our history and it won’t go away. Whether we acknowledge it or not changes nothing. It is still there.

I am proud to be an American. I have never owned a slave and wouldn’t. But wishing our past was different will not make it so. Our challenge going forward is to learn from our mistakes and be better. We are, and will continue to be, a beacon for the entire world and that is as it should be.

Ron Scarbro

No comments: