“…whatever hand pulled the trigger did not buy the bullet. That bullet was forged in the crucible of the West, that death was dictated by the most successful conspiracy in the history of the world, and its name is white supremacy.” –James Baldwin.
Everybody has their heroes and people they feel like are due honor. This is a personal choice that should not be limited/dictated by some outside force. Let’s be clear, when you publicly declare your heroes be ready for any criticism that may arise. Your heroes may not be held in such high regard by the general public. Evidently, some people, in my state of Mississippi, consider Nathan Bedford Forrest a man that is due recognition. The sons of confederate veterans* has proposed the state make a car tag in his honor. I am only sure they have their own personal reasons for holding Forrest in such high regard. Personally, I haven’t done much research on Forest but the facts are that he was an excellent general and the FIRST grand wizard of the kkk*. There have been some claims that later in life Forrest somewhat distanced himself from the kkk. Whether this claim is trueor simply a way to soften the blow I have no idea. Either way, I am not a fan of Forrest or the idea of this car tag.
In Mississippi, there is a car tag for just about everything from barbers to sororities. I say let them have their Forrest/sons of confederate veterans (who are all dead by the way) car tag. In my opinion, it would be a great identifier. It is always good to see the snake before it strikes. This is the best way to identify business owners, lawmakers, and other everyday people that have been hiding behind masks, hoods, and sheets for too long. Now since they have been identified it is left up to those that feel so strongly about this issue to react in a way that produces results. If a certain business owner or lawmaker has such a tag, I will not support their business or support their campaign simple as that. I cannot say that everyone that purchases such a tag is racist or promotes the activities and values of the kkk but sometime the good have to suffer with the bad. People are entitled to hold whomever they want as heroes no matter how inappropriate but there are consequences to doing so.
Check out the NPR article on this topic.
*all lower case is intentional
…by the way it’s PANTHER!
3 comments:
You have certainly been hiding. You only come out when white people do something stupid?
RAAAAACIST!!!
Paul only posted this because I knew you would comment and I have been MISSING you terribly!
You can always e-mail me, you know?
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