Thanks so much. I particularly liked the Thanksgiving piece. The issue of removing statues and deleting school songs has me somewhat upset and something about it feels wrong, but that’s just me. I believe sometimes the answer to these demands is simply “NO!”
My real purpose in writing you today is to let you know that I received your new book a few days ago. My husband and I read it in the morning - together and aloud - and it gets our day off to a pleasant start. God Bless Humorists!
I'm living in the midst of the damage that the 'elitist hegemony' has inflicted on the rest of us, and for what? I'm a 70 year old white teacher working in an urban, Title 1 qualified high school. Yes, the 'elitists' imposed 7th and 8th graders onto our high school students for local reasons I won't bore you with but, these 7th graders are broken in ways that won't be repaired any time soon. It reminds me of the sense of futility I was left with, after reading and analyzing the 'Lord of the Flies', as only a 9th grade English class could. (1965).Concerning the statues, why can't we at least ask what impressed their peers enough to tell future generations about them? Why did Detroit keep the statue of Joe Lewis? Let's look at the whole person, in the context of their own time on the planet. The question: What would I have done? - would then be more challenging and beneficial. Hindsight's shelf life does have a 'use by' date. (I will reread your 'Thanksgiving' wisdom before tomorrow!) Thank you for sharing.
You're asking a lot, Vicki. When people accuse TR of being an elitist and worse, nobody wants to stand up in defense of elitism, so they defer to the aggrieved. Anyway, the statue will be appreciated by the residents of Medora, ND, and New Yorkers have plenty of other stutues to look at.
I am reluctant to add more comments because I have grown old and cynical. They say that one gains wisdom with age and I hope that is true; but as one ages one comes to see that so much of human activity is just busy work. People don't have anything to do so they come up with "crying needs" which they can then proceed to address. It makes them feel important and it is nice for people to feel important.
Human history is littered with stories of humans mistreating and abusing each other; the strong take advantage or plunder the weak. I wish that people always treated each other fairly and justly and no doubt what Columbus and others did was wrong. But Columbus has been dead for about 600 years. He did not know that he was being honored with street names and statues; and he will not know that he is being dishonored with the removal of said street names. etc.
Are we going to go back through history and correct wrongs and rename streets and cities and move statues? Addressing past wrongs and injustices takes time and money. I don't have time to do what I need to do today; I can't take time to address all of the wrongs of the distant past. We have hungry people and other "crying needs" today.
I agree that people attach too much significance to street names and statues. When I was growing up there was a statue of an unnamed Confederate veteran on the court house square in our town. For most people it was just a statue. It looked nice and fit in with the trees and shrubbery. But it never occurred to me that it represented some supposedly glorious or inglorious past. It was just part of the scenery like the park benches and the decorative fountain. I assume that it has been moved elsewhere by now. and that is fine with most people.
And likewise people who go through Columbus circle never think about Christopher Columbus. Columbus Circle is just a name and it has to be named something.
Enough rambling for now. Garrison, I hope that you and your family and the readers of your column all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is a wonderful time of the year and we have so much for which to be thankful. Remember the good things and forget about the bad.
I think there should be a referendum on statue removal/street renaming that allows all those 800,000 new non-citizen voters to vote on the issue. Since the best argument against democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter (thanx Winston...), how about we let all those previously non-voters...now allowed to vote...decide for us?
Thank you, Garrison! Loved the photo with 1/3rd of Peter, Paul and Mary in it. Another good singer in the group! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Just give Roosevelt’s horse a pat on the rump and he’ll take off for Medora on his own. Cheers!
Nice words but suggest you take a little deeper look at the lives of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Flawed? Yes. Great men in many ways? Yes. Don’t go by the Readers Digest version… Dig a little deeper and I think you will be surprised. History is full of imperfect characters, still searching for the perfect one with the exception of Jesus.
Yep that is the easy way to look at it and you wouldn't be wrong. So much more there that gets missed with this simplistic viewpoint. I suppose you also think that the Northerns fought the war primarily to free slaves. Really not true... Some did, but many didn't give a rip about that. My point is, the simple, largely emotional interpretation / condemnation of something or someone usually misses some important truths.
The story of secession and slavery and the Civil War is fascinating but that doesn't change the simple fact that it was treason, an insurrection, and when you honor it, you're prevaricating.
Statues are material objects. We do not belong to them. I have a relative who is unable to dispose of objects, even old useless broken ones, that were given to her by a friend, even if the friend is dead. This is pathetic.
For this we give thanks: GK! Selah!
Thank you Garrison! I am always grateful for your keen insight, wit, and love!
Thanks so much. I particularly liked the Thanksgiving piece. The issue of removing statues and deleting school songs has me somewhat upset and something about it feels wrong, but that’s just me. I believe sometimes the answer to these demands is simply “NO!”
My real purpose in writing you today is to let you know that I received your new book a few days ago. My husband and I read it in the morning - together and aloud - and it gets our day off to a pleasant start. God Bless Humorists!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Susan
Austin, TX
I'm living in the midst of the damage that the 'elitist hegemony' has inflicted on the rest of us, and for what? I'm a 70 year old white teacher working in an urban, Title 1 qualified high school. Yes, the 'elitists' imposed 7th and 8th graders onto our high school students for local reasons I won't bore you with but, these 7th graders are broken in ways that won't be repaired any time soon. It reminds me of the sense of futility I was left with, after reading and analyzing the 'Lord of the Flies', as only a 9th grade English class could. (1965).Concerning the statues, why can't we at least ask what impressed their peers enough to tell future generations about them? Why did Detroit keep the statue of Joe Lewis? Let's look at the whole person, in the context of their own time on the planet. The question: What would I have done? - would then be more challenging and beneficial. Hindsight's shelf life does have a 'use by' date. (I will reread your 'Thanksgiving' wisdom before tomorrow!) Thank you for sharing.
You're asking a lot, Vicki. When people accuse TR of being an elitist and worse, nobody wants to stand up in defense of elitism, so they defer to the aggrieved. Anyway, the statue will be appreciated by the residents of Medora, ND, and New Yorkers have plenty of other stutues to look at.
Medora - it sounds like a great place to visit. And yes, New Yorkers have plenty!
Thanks Garrison for those fine comments.
I am reluctant to add more comments because I have grown old and cynical. They say that one gains wisdom with age and I hope that is true; but as one ages one comes to see that so much of human activity is just busy work. People don't have anything to do so they come up with "crying needs" which they can then proceed to address. It makes them feel important and it is nice for people to feel important.
Human history is littered with stories of humans mistreating and abusing each other; the strong take advantage or plunder the weak. I wish that people always treated each other fairly and justly and no doubt what Columbus and others did was wrong. But Columbus has been dead for about 600 years. He did not know that he was being honored with street names and statues; and he will not know that he is being dishonored with the removal of said street names. etc.
Are we going to go back through history and correct wrongs and rename streets and cities and move statues? Addressing past wrongs and injustices takes time and money. I don't have time to do what I need to do today; I can't take time to address all of the wrongs of the distant past. We have hungry people and other "crying needs" today.
I agree that people attach too much significance to street names and statues. When I was growing up there was a statue of an unnamed Confederate veteran on the court house square in our town. For most people it was just a statue. It looked nice and fit in with the trees and shrubbery. But it never occurred to me that it represented some supposedly glorious or inglorious past. It was just part of the scenery like the park benches and the decorative fountain. I assume that it has been moved elsewhere by now. and that is fine with most people.
And likewise people who go through Columbus circle never think about Christopher Columbus. Columbus Circle is just a name and it has to be named something.
Enough rambling for now. Garrison, I hope that you and your family and the readers of your column all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is a wonderful time of the year and we have so much for which to be thankful. Remember the good things and forget about the bad.
I L-O-V-E this.
I think there should be a referendum on statue removal/street renaming that allows all those 800,000 new non-citizen voters to vote on the issue. Since the best argument against democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter (thanx Winston...), how about we let all those previously non-voters...now allowed to vote...decide for us?
Let's not wear the voters out by putting these little issues to a vote.
Indeed.
As you wisely said some years ago, "More we do not need."
Love this column. Well said.
I offer this Thanksgiving prayer/poem n response: https://thebickerstaffblog.blogspot.com/2021/11/thanksgiving-prayer.html
I’m thankful for you and your lovely words that bring calm and insight into this world of ours.
I'm in!! Thank Thee—
Thank you, Garrison! Loved the photo with 1/3rd of Peter, Paul and Mary in it. Another good singer in the group! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Just give Roosevelt’s horse a pat on the rump and he’ll take off for Medora on his own. Cheers!
Hooray. How to demolish wonkiest nonsense with you usual wit, brilliance and...kindness. Tnx, GK.
Thank you Garrison
Nice words but suggest you take a little deeper look at the lives of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Flawed? Yes. Great men in many ways? Yes. Don’t go by the Readers Digest version… Dig a little deeper and I think you will be surprised. History is full of imperfect characters, still searching for the perfect one with the exception of Jesus.
Leading Americans into battle against Americans in defense of slavery is not a small matter. The Confederacy be damned.
Yep that is the easy way to look at it and you wouldn't be wrong. So much more there that gets missed with this simplistic viewpoint. I suppose you also think that the Northerns fought the war primarily to free slaves. Really not true... Some did, but many didn't give a rip about that. My point is, the simple, largely emotional interpretation / condemnation of something or someone usually misses some important truths.
The story of secession and slavery and the Civil War is fascinating but that doesn't change the simple fact that it was treason, an insurrection, and when you honor it, you're prevaricating.
Nevertheless, not a fan of the statue police and their attempt to create Year 0.
Statues are material objects. We do not belong to them. I have a relative who is unable to dispose of objects, even old useless broken ones, that were given to her by a friend, even if the friend is dead. This is pathetic.