Statues Removal is not Erasing History

Robert E. Lee

The removal of statues is not erasing history. The Civil War that ended slavery, the Jim Crow laws which followed and the systematic racism which continues to persist is both history and current reality.  

The removal of Confederate and Jim Crow era statues are both is symbolic and important and needs to be done. But, the work to destroy systematic racism continues. 

Local Governments Have Jurisdiction

Local governments primarily have jurisdiction over the removal of statues. Local government can remove them whenever they want to, for any reason, and whenever they want to – in the middle of the night or in the middle of the day.

Again, the removal of statues does not erase history. 

The removal of an ice cap not eliminate the mountain. The mountain will still exist and history will still exist.

Three years ago this Spring, I visited the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in WashingtonDC which is a magnificent structure that commemorates the historical experience of a people who were torn from their homeland, Africa, and brought to this country by Europeans under the most inhumane conditions imaginable and then subjected to slavery for over 300 years. 

The outstanding achievements of African-Americans, after being subjected to such an experience, is unmatched by any race of people on this Earth.

For Those Who Want to Preserve History

Now, here’s an option for anyone, including the white supremacist bunch, who want to so- called “preserve history”. They should establish a museum of white confederate and supremacist history and put their statues of Robert E Lee, Robert Byrd, George Wallace, Margaret Sanger, and others like them in it, and see who would come and visit. Note, all these people were Democrats. They should raise their money privately, acquire some land, and just build their museum.

Then let’s compare the number of annual visitors coming there to those coming to visit the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.

Short of doing this, just put the statues in some other museum that is willing to set aside a section to allow memory of these despicable characters and just mentioned them in history books.

If you want to preserve this segment of US history, this is the way to do it.

Any comments? Leave them below.

You Have the Right to Go to Church

As I reflect upon the coronavirus pandemic, I’m reminded of two verses in the Bible and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that have great significance to me. 

The Bible verses are: Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” and, 2nd Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

While one can study God’s word regularly, the benefit of hearing the spoken Word in church cannot be replaced by You Tube, Skype, Zoom or other any type of technology.  While I’m well-versed in current technology, I also believe that church members can be urged to be responsible adults and not attend services nor bring their children when they have a fever and coughing and sneezing. And, also be urged to keep hand sanitizers on their person or in their cars along with paper towels, as necessary.

Moreover, in some cultures, such as in Japan, people typically do not shake hands at all. They smile and nod in recognition of the other person. It can be suggested to members to just smile and nod rather than shake hands while this emphasis on this pandemic continues.

Even with this emphasis on social distancing, I’ve noticed that in many churches the membership has dwindled to the point where social distancing is the norm rather than the exception. Even so, pastors can: 

• ask members whether or not they want to come to church, 
• estimate how many can attend in keeping with the temporary social distancing requirements. 
• and, allow the members to choose, in a fair way, who will be attending or not. 

Again, with regards to eliminating church services, local elected officials cannot lawfully require churches to stop having services as I alluded to in referring to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I think that the churches should be open for regular worship services and let the members choose whether or they want to attend..

If a misguided and incompetent elected official choose to have the police to illegally arrest people for attending church, then it should be made clear to them that they will not be allowed to just arrest the pastor, but will have to arrest all of the church members. Also, if responsible church members are jailed, they would be put in proximity where they could easily be infected by irresponsible inmates with unacceptable consequences.

I hope and pray that all people who believe in God, and cherish the opportunity to worship with fellow believers, should not rush to give up their civil liberties. This deeply concerns me. 

During our civil rights struggle in the South during the 1950s and 1960s, followers of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders were willing to go to jail if they had to. It was just that important to them to acquire the right to vote and to otherwise be treated as citizens of this country. Isn’t the right to attend church just as important?