Should honors bestowed to avowed racists be revoked? Should road, towns and villages be renamed?

2015-06-26T12:40:46-04:00

Parody-Satire - Many prominent legislators were former KKK members who have lost of things named after them. SEN Robert Byrd is a case in point. Many roads, bridges etc., in WV are named after him. With many out of work, the designing, engineering and placing of signs, updating maps, registers,etc., could employ many people. An extreme example may be renaming the musical group the Byrds.
[Correction 6/30/2015] SEN Strom Thurmond was a segregationist; but, not a member of the KKK.
Lets not forget the Black Panthers - anything named after Huey Newton or Bobby Seale should be fair game as well. I personally thing Fig Newtons should be renamed because they remind me of Huey Newton.
"Most prominent in counties where the races were relatively balanced, the After the civil war the "KKK engaged in terrorist raids against African-Americans and white Republicans at night,"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ku-klux-act-passed-by-congress

Ku Klux Act passed by Congress - Apr 20, 1871 - HISTORY.com

On this day in History, Ku Klux Act passed by Congress on Apr 20, 1871. Learn more about what happened today on History.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 26 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-06-26T12:53:06-04:00

There's a certain point where it has to end.

Our Framers & Founders were not perfect when we look at them through the lens of history. By today's standard they would be classified as "Racist" & "Sexist." Should we remove all reference to them?

People aren't perfect. Scratch the surface long enough and you will find something to hate about everyone. In 200 years people will hate the heroes of today. That doesn't mean their honors should be stripped, or never bestowed.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jun 26 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-06-26T12:59:04-04:00

erasing history will not fix the future

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Jun 26 at 2015 1:09 PM

2015-06-26T13:09:30-04:00

Is racism a crime? Can you legally be charged for simply being a racist? Or is it the actions behind your opinion that we have a problem with? Do we bestow honors on criminals? If they aren't criminals for having an opinion, then the honors should remain. Everyone has their differences, and everyone has something bad in their history. It's the things worthy of recognition that these honors were based on. We also have to realize that what was considered honorable hundreds of years ago, may not seem honorable today. It's still a part of history, and I'd much rather tell my children about the good and bad in our history, rather than try and erase the evidence of the bad ever existing.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jun 26 at 2015 1:10 PM

2015-06-26T13:10:02-04:00

We need to stick to generic names from now one numbers are only authorized for roads and highways. That is until numbers offend someone

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 26 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-06-26T13:18:03-04:00

There is a fine line between judging someone unfit for honor and being anachronistic. Holding historical figures to today's standards is pretty stupid, BUT we probably shouldn't be naming schools after Nathan Bedford Forrest or celebrating Christopher Columbus. Both were responsible for things beyond what could be written off as simply the spirit of the day.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jun 26 at 2015 1:48 PM

2015-06-26T13:48:19-04:00

I think it is time to end the nonsense.

Washington and Jefferson were slave owners, as were many Union Generals and ancestors of Obama's mother. Where does it end? History is history -- let it rest.

I abhor slavery and think it is morally wrong, yet my ancestors were some of the biggest slave owners in the South. Does that have anything to do with me as a person and what I believe?

End the nonsense now...

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 26 at 2015 2:16 PM

2015-06-26T14:16:13-04:00

We can not change the past, only the time we live in, so let history be what it is. Besides it is very Orwellian to do something like that. Political correctness is in some ways a form of new speak: ref. the book 1984. Words become un-words, the whole idea is ++ Bad. If you do not get ++bad please read 1984, you will find it a bit ironic. CC: LTC Stephen F. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Sgt Jay Jones

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 26 at 2015 2:27 PM

2015-06-26T14:27:18-04:00

No, but we should take a hint from Missouri. Remember a few years back when the KKK had a stretch of I-55 in Missouri where they sponsored highway cleanup? Highway cleanup groups have signs posted with the name of their group along the stretch of highway they're responsible for. Missouri couldn't take down the signs because it's unconstitutional, so instead they renamed that stretch of highway the Rosa Parks Memorial Highway.

While we may not like it, this is still America and the Constitution guarantees certain rights.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 4:26 PM

2015-06-26T16:26:56-04:00

No, they earned the honors. They were a product of their time. Not pretty, but, also not uncommon. The war is over and right prevailed. Nothing can be gained by judging people by standards that were different. Were the wrong? YES. But, if they had won would we be where we are today?

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 8 at 2015 4:26 PM

2015-08-08T16:26:05-04:00

Let's rename Oak Ridge,Tn.,I like pecans and walnuts, acorns are bitter and hard to crack.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Oct 23 at 2015 5:21 PM

2015-10-23T17:21:47-04:00

The humor to your question is that is a swing in the pendulum, years back the PC of those times made for selecting names, the pendulum swings back and the PC of these times make for changes; It all Yin and Yang Grasshopper. Now back to rum and coke.