Trending
On February 14, 2024, the National Park Service announced the opening of a new National Park named Amache National Historic Site in Colorado. In making this announcement, the following statement was made by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland of the National Park Service, and I quote "As a nation, we must face the wrongs of our past in order to build a more just and equitable future … (The) establishment of the Amache National Historic Site will help preserve and honor this important and painful chapter in our nation's story for future generations."
I concur with the above statements, but I do have one question. Having submitted letters regarding the foolish practice of removing Historical Statues, mostly in the south, which were representative of Confederate States military and political individuals leads me to ask, where was the above stated sentiment regarding these removals by not only governing bodies, but also thugs who destroyed property, some beyond repair, supposedly in the name of equality and equity? Granted, we as a nation no longer should revere these symbols of the confederacy, but should look at them as a reminder of a dark part of our history and their display should be representative of painful events that should not ever be repeated.
The Southern Cause, which has been described as a fight against Northern Aggression was fought mostly by common farmers and poor southern citizens and they died perhaps for a lost cause, but non-the-less fought bravely and gallantly. Death had no distinction as to who was right or who was wrong.
Statues in memory of this tragic time in American History abound in both North and South. Should we completely erase half of the history involved with this era. Why would removing a statue be considered a proper event since by doing so it erases a significant historical event. Why stop at statues or flags? The Confederate Battle Flag has been attacked and removed as well. This flag is as American as the Star-Spangled Banner. Just because a racist organization wrapped it around their message doesn't mean that it does not represent a significant historical event. They also wrapped the Stars and Stripes around their message. Should we not then ban any display of this American banner? I think not. So why remove half of American History to negate an event that surely happened and should be remembered for what it was, an historic event.
Following this "Political Correctness" path only weakens us as a nation, we need to preserve, not erase history. Our constitution allows for freedom of speech and opinion, but it does not allow for the exclusion of differing opinions held by another person. This unjust, and perhaps, unlawful action by liberal politicians must not be tolerated. Keep our history alive and factual. There are two sides to every story and each side deserves to be heard and/or seen. God Bless the USA both North and South!
MEL BENJAMIN
Watsontown
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom