Buffalo Soldiers receive much deserved recognition at the expense of a Cival War Confederate General (Robert E Lee) What are your thoughts?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:46:17 -0400

Fort Bliss renames Robert E. Lee BLVD to Buffalo Soldiers Road in a move to further commemorate the historical significance of the Buffalo Soldiers. Although this action was planned and completed more than a year ago, do think that more changes will occur across all Army installations in light of the more recent controversy surrounding the Confederate flag and the Civil War Confederacy altogether?

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_25176180/fort-bliss-rename-robert-e-lee-road-honor

Fort Bliss to rename Robert E. Lee Road to honor Buffalo Soldiers

FORT BLISS Fort Bliss wants to give a lasting, fitting tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers, a group of African-American soldiers who were instrumental in protecting settlers as they moved West after the Civil War.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 7 at 2015 2:50 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:50:52 -0400

Robert E Lee was one of the best military minds ever. Let's keep in mind, the Union begged him to command the Union Army in the early days of the Civil War yet he followed his heart and stayed loyal to his state.

The Buffalo Soldiers themselves were great as well, leading the way for so many and taking on some dangerous missions. Whatever the motivation was/is to rename the road, I hope that the base can find a way to honor both Gen Lee and the Buffalo Soldiers.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 7 at 2015 3:29 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:29:40 -0400

So the street name went from honoring a Confederate general to honoring Black Soldiers. Hmm, very interesting... Apparently they couldn't do both? Very timely and very interesting...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 4:01 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:01:48 -0400

If this is truly an exercise in Political Correctness, and it is hard to believe it isn't, then the PC Police did not do their homework very well. The "Buffalo Soldiers" of the US Army's 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments got their moniker from the Native American peoples they were a party to subjugating during the Indian Wars. They were generally busy patrolling the West as (mostly) white settlers moved in and claimed land.
They were also engaged in the "Punitive Missions" crossing the border into Mexico in pursuit of Poncho Villa, and saw action in the Spanish-American War as well as WWi and WWII.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jul 7 at 2015 4:12 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:12:13 -0400

This was probably in the works for a while, but the recent shifts made it easier to put through. The reasoning is sound and a memorial to black soldiers on a road named after a man who was legally obligated to execute any he found is somewhat odd.

Or it's more knee-jerk silliness. Hard to know without more information.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 4:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:12:25 -0400

Warrant Officer, I sometimes have a problem with being "PC", this is one of those times...hoorah for Gen Lee and hoorah for the Buffalo Soldiers. Too bad for Ft Bliss, an army post as big as the state of Rhode Island, could not find a street, road, or trail that could have been paved or repaved in order to maintain history, instead of being "PC".

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 4:29 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:29:04 -0400

Chief, I don't necessarily disagree with the changing of the name of the road but I definitely do not agree this at all ties directly into the issues of The Confederacy and Confederate symbols we are facing today primarily because this article is from last year. Now as for the question posed I don't really mind them changing the name of the road after all its just a road the whole post is named after a Confederate general is renaming a road really that major? As for GEN Lee he has an entire post dedicated to him as well, in his home state, so I don't think changing one of the many roads named for him is really going to affect his legacy that much.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 5:16 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:16:31 -0400

The comments are sure to be reasonable, reflect that this was planned more than a year ago, and definitely won't devolve into crying about political correctness or Lee's flag. I'm certain I won't be disappointed when I scroll down and read them.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 9:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:41:47 -0400

Of all the Confederate Generals, Lee was probably the least offender. He knew the slavery plantation system was doomed and that slavery was going to eventually become obsolete. Still, he is a very visible symbol of the South that people know, and the Buffalo Soldiers deserve a lot of recognition.