In Sunday's Commercial Appeal (the local paper) there was an article about Nathan Bedford Forrest Park. In the opening paragraph it states: "Nathan Bedford Forrest monument in the Downtown park named for the Ku Klux Klan leader," and later "what the park would look like if, magically, Forrest disappeared," and the conclusion, "And in a space that has been home to just one story -- Forrest's -- it was fitting that on this day, he had no one there to speak for him.
He sat there mute, trapped as if in prison, as the future danced all around him."
FIRST OF ALL MS. THOMAS, Nathan Bedford Forrest was a great Confederate General, and Leader, and I know in your political correct, deluded sense of history he is displayed as a the devil's spawn, but in actuality he was a brilliant leader, a hero of the Civil War. But no, she labeled as "the Ku Klux Klan leader," reducing him to nothing more than a racist, demented bigot, as the politically correct version of history portrays him.
As for the second part, "what the park would look like if, magically, Forrest disappeared," seeing as the is the South, I seriously doubt he will disappear, and I will protest every time it is brought up by the City Council. I am not a racist, or bigot, BUT I WILL NOT STAND FOR LIBERALS BULLDOZING OVER HISTORY. HISTORY SHOULD NOT BE REWRITTEN. REWRITING HISTORY LEADS TO BIGOTRY, RACISM, AND IGNORANCE!!!! Furthermore, the monument is not just a monument, it is the site of Forrest's burial, and it is illegal, in this instance, to move interred remains.
As for Ms. Thomas's final sentence "... a space that has been home to just one story -- Forrest's -- it was fitting that on this day, he had no one there to speak for him.He sat there mute, trapped as if in prison, as the future danced all around him," THE EVENT WAS SECRET, SO OF COURSE THERE WAS NO ONE TO SPEAK FOR HIM! Furthermore, in the article of glowing praise for the program that celebrates the diversity of Memphis heritages there was one that wasn't represented-MINE!
You forgot something. Originally the KKK was a political movement. It just got out of hand. Imagine what would have happened if Obama hadn't won -- there would have been a nationwide riot. They also convinantly left out this quote by him, "Forrest gave many speeches and talks around the Memphis area from 1866 to 1874. Most of these speeches talked of peace, patriotism for the US Constitution, and trying to bring the country back together. Addressing an African-American group, he was quoted as saying, "We are born on the same soil, breathe the same air, live on the same land, and why should we not be brothers and sisters?" or that the South was put under martial law, which is why the KKK started initially. Yes, it did get out of hand, as most things do (Karl Marx hated the Communist party.) When asked about it, however, he replied ""Yes, sir. It is a protective political military organization. I am willing to show any man the constitution of the society. The members are sworn to recognize the government of the United States. It does not say anything at all about the government of Tennessee. Its objects originally were protection against Loyal Leagues and the Grand Army of the Republic; but after it became general it was found that political matters and interests could best be promoted within it, and it was then made a political organization, giving its support, of course, to the democratic party...." He pointed out that it worked for it's original purpose but "There were some foolish young men who put masks on their faces and rode over the country, frightening negroes, but orders have been issued to stop that, and it has ceased. You may say, further, that three members of the Ku-Klux have been court-martialed and shot for violations of the orders not to disturb or molest people." In all actuallity, he did not start the group -- just approved of its purpose which, at that time, was very needed. Think when Scarlett O'Hara was about to be raped by a carpetbagger and what'shisname her former black slave and friend saved her. When it was no longer needed, he said it openly. Could a man be so bad if, when he was sick and dying, his former slaves came to care for him? "Perhaps the most fitting epitaph for Nathan Bedford Forrest, were the words his friend, Minor Meriwether, was heard to tearfully say to his son Lee, within minutes of Forrest's passing away: "the man you just saw dying will never die. He will live in the memory of men who love patriotism, and who admire genius and daring."
ReplyDeleteAll quotes and stuff came from http://www.freeinfosociety.com/article.php?id=184 this guy who I think you'd like. I just hate it when people assume that it's all bad or something just because it ended up bad. Most things aren't started to be bad. Communism, sociallism, democrats.. :)