Is it wisdom or folly to erase rather than learn from history?
The Chicago Tribune Columnist article titled, Rename Austin over slavery? How about Washington, was written by a liberal columnist who grew up in Austin, Texas. He ends his column with a statement.
“It’s important that Americans have begun to rid ourselves of monuments to avoid glorifying evil and folly. It’s equally useful to know where to stop.”
The purpose of this post is to reply to Steve Chapmen
, “Sorry Steve, you cannot have your liberal views justify two opposing solutions about history, either can you erase history. What’s been done should be a lesson taught about “evil and folly” so as not to repeat history.
“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.’ The quote is most likely due to writer and philosopher George Santayana, and in its original form it read, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.””
King Solomon
Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. (Proverb 22:28)
Excerpt John Gil
and a curse is denounced upon those that did it, Deuteronomy 19:14; and was always reckoned a very heinous crime in early times; See Gill on Job 24:2.
What’s My Point?
I believe I made my point already with the statement, “Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.”
Many still believe in curses, but frankly I prefer to believe this quote of my older brother Joe.
“We are the masters of our own disasters.”
In My Opinion,
In a previous post I recommended a compromise with reasons why we should just add a plaque on every Civil War statue containing the words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Steve, you have a right to express your liberal opinions, but they are neither wise, not compromising on this issue. It is folly to try to erase history rather than learn from past mistakes.
If Interested
Read the previous post Source Links below, consider the following statements.
“You can’t erase the past, but you can rewrite the future.”
“the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War.”
You Decide
Which is a wiser solution to this issue, compromise or war, erase or learn, wisdom or folly, continue or stop?
Steve, if they change the name from Austin, how about changing it to “Willy.” Willy Nelson is an Austin Native, also very famous or being a big fan of recreational marijuana, another favorable liberal issue.
Regards and good will blogging.
Source Links
Chicago Tribune
King Solomon, Pondering a Civil War Statue Solution
https://rudymartinka.com/2017/08/19/king-solomon-pondering-a-civil-war-statue-solution/
Compromise
Willy Nelson on Marijuana
I think they should do local voting if they want landmarks removed and if voted to do so they should be donated to historical societies for preservation of history if someone wants to receive the items.
As a side note I think there is some idle worship happening with some of the statues that’s unhealthy in relation to faith.
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Do you think the city name should be changed too which is the what the writer wrote about in his article.
He also brought up that George Washington had slaves. So if someone brings that up next, should that city name be changed too?
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I’m not sure how your questions change anything I said. but I will expand my answer a bit to be more clear.
Any city with any name should have local tax payers vote on any topic that impacts landmarks or identification (such as city name, streets, etc.) regardless of names, culture, identity, or history.
If for any reason something is removed the tax payers should benefit locally from the sale of any historical item, landmark, media, etc, to independent organizations. If no such bid is made then donation to an organization should be made to allow public or private display of historic materials.
The people who pay taxes should not be forced to maintain any material not desired by the voter in relation to the law.
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I like your solution. Unfortunately, that is not what is or was done. Mayors or city councils took it upon themselves to remove the statures.
Regards and good will blogging.
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Oh I know, the people in power put things up and the people in power take things down.
Wouldn’t it be nice if they followed the people or even better wouldn’t it be nice if they follow God.
Sadly the people don’t hold the government responsible they just fall in line with a party.
This is why I was saying how much better it would be with AI. Mankind just can’t manage they are better when controlled.
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