Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

[JudsonWatkins]

Dear Friends,

There was a news story made public by University of Texas President William Powers Jr. in which the school is again '...considering what, if anything to do with the Confederate statues..." on the South Lawn of the campus. It seems that the politically correct forces are once again gathering to test our honor. We need you to do your duty and send a letter expressing your outrage, in courteous yet firm language, to the President of the University of Texas.
It is for that reason that I call upon each of you to immediately prepare a letter and mail it to President Powers admonishing him for even considering removal of the statues to OUR heroes.

The University of Texas at Austin
President's Office
PO Box T
Austin, TX 78713
And email it to: president@po.utexas.edu
And then FAX it to: 1-512-471-8102


I can email you an example letter if you would like:

You can also aid by voting on the MSNBC poll. but we encourage the letter writing.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16382232/

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS EMAIL ME:<<<< watkins2356@cs.com



FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS

[rebjeb04]

Re: Posible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

Hey Mr. Watkins,

Thanks for putting the links to the poll and info on where to send letters. This is a real shame, and some people will not rest until they wipe us (Southerners and our culture) off the face of the earth. Our country was once made up of strong and brave men and women, and it seems like we now belong to a country of whiners. Everyone is offended at something, but the problem is the things that some folks find offensive are things that have a heartfelt meaning to our country. Such as prayer, nativity scenes, U.S. flags, Confederate flags, the Bible, pledge of allegiance, etc. No one seems to care about the things that are truly caustic like pornography and what goes on in Hollywood, our nations capitol, etc!

Anyway, I could go on and on about how this upsets me and a majority in this nation, but I know thats not what the good folks who established this forum intended it for. They have done a good job with focusing on creating a positive venue for us to converse about issues and lifestyle of the era which we hold so dear.

Hopefully this problem at the University will be resolved soon, and the statues remain where the founders entended them. If you don't like the scenery, go to school somewhere else. How about Berkeley!?

Thanks,

[billmatt04]

Re: Posible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

One argument that can be made, and this is my own opinion, is that the statues are an integral part of the history of the university itself. Perhaps one step toward fixing this controversy would be to install plaques which describe a brief history of the particular statue, the reason it was erected, and its significance to the history of the institution. In this way the statues can remain where they are while their historic context is explained for viewers.

Yes, these statues will be viewed by some as inappropriate and offensive, and there is nothing we can do about that. What we CAN do, however, is to ensure that the historic nature of the statues and the context in which they were constructed is made known. That is our duty as historians and preservationists. The statues will then not be seen by some as simply glorifications of a romanticised by-gone era, but as educational and instructive by their presence.

I will pass these thoughts on to those participating in the discussion surrounding the statues.

Sincerely,

[DougCooper]

Re: Posible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

I HIGHLY recommend that the letters you send mention nothing about Southern Heritage and culture, but instead appeal to the heritage of the Great State of Texas, the University of Texas and the shared history of all Americans. The valor of the son's of Texas is a chain that runs unbroken from the Texas Revolution to Iraq and should simply avoid any mention of politics or Southern Culture...which to some confused but very sincere folks in the US is a codeword for racism.

When you start hiding and discounting a piece of Texas, which those statues represent, we all suffer. When the University of Texas does it...doubly bad. I like Matt's idea.

[Dignann]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

I was kind of curious as to what relationship Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, or any of the other figures memorialized in bronze on the UT campus, have with the school.

I surfed the Web in hopes of finding some background on the statues origins, specifically why they're there, but failed to find much. I did, however, find some interesting info on the individual who donated the statues.

The donor of these, and a few other, statues at UT was George Washington Littlefield (1842-1920). During the Civil War, he fought with the 8th Texas Cavalry and eventually rose to the rank of major. After the war, he made his living as a rancher and eventually as a bank president in Austin.

From his biographical sketch on The Handbook of Texas Online:

"In 1911 Governor Oscar B. Colquitt appointed Littlefield to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas. When Littlefield complained of Northern bias in the text books used in teaching American history, Eugene C. Barker of the university's History Department, with whom Littlefield, by appointment of Governor Thomas M. Campbell, had served a year, 1909-10, on the first Texas Library and Historical Commission, replied that better history could not be written without adequate archival resources. Littlefield in 1914 established the Littlefield Fund for Southern History to collect such material, and during the remaining six years of his life he gave well over $100,000 to the fund. In 1918 he gave $225,000 to purchase the John Henry Wrenn Library. Including benefactions such as the Littlefield Fountain, Alice P. Littlefield Dormitory for freshman women, and his home, Littlefield gave more than any other single individual to the university during its first fifty years..."

UT has an honorary organization that recognizes its most generous benefactors. It is called the Littlefield Society, and the society's website says of its namesake: "Through his gifts and active engagement, he personifies the philanthropic spirit at UT Austin.

Here's a link to an interesting 1942 article about Littlefield and mentions the erection of the monuments:

http://www.terrystexasrangers.org/newsclippings/dallas_morning_news/1942_04_11.htm

I must admit, I do find the ongoing debate and fight over southern symbols and figures absolutely fascinating.

Eric

[JudsonWatkins]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

First, I would like to address what Mr. Cooper stated,

I HIGHLY recommend that the letters you send mention nothing about Southern Heritage and culture...and should simply avoid any mention of politics or Southern Culture

If I were to be completely oblivious to the idea and phrase we use today, "Southern Heritage", a lot of things would come to mind; including cows, tractors, pride, and racism. But I am not oblivious. I know good and well that my ancestor did not leave his warm red clay to loose his life in a war to protect or free the black men and women who made his food on his dinner table. Of course we look back now and see that slavery was a horrible thing, and still is, but I know that my grandfather fought in the "Civil War" because northerners were invading a country that him and his neighbors created to better insure their happiness. I know that my ancestor was of the poor folk, he didn’t know anything about politics, but he knew where he came from, the South. He would be ashamed to see me and his neighbors descendents disgrace what he did because they would not be politically correct. You cannot fight fire with fire. We must send letters letting the president and his "consideration board" know what our forefathers really fought over. Letting them know what really drives us to sit down and write them to protect statues that remember them.

Second, I would like to address what Mr. Mink said,

I was kind of curious as to what relationship Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, or any of the other figures memorialized in bronze on the UT campus, has to do with school.

I have heard people argue, 'Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis didn't have anything to do with Texas, Robert E. Lee may have came here once.'
Robert E. Lee and Jeff Davis both led a country that Texas was part of for over 1,095 days. Days that men fought for their countries.
But then again, who cares what they have to do with Texas. I personally enjoy seeing them being honored with the statues, as do many of the students. A good many of the students want these monuments to stand as they do today. Untouched by people who don't see eye to eye with their counterparts in society. Some student’s wish for statues to have the same, safe, fate; statues of Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez. I can't find record of where Mr. King or Mr. Chavez had to do with the school.

I don't want to be misinterpreted. I do not have anything against Martin L. King; he accomplished many great things in his life. As for Cesar Chavez, I don't know him so I can't say anything.

Thank you all for posting your opinions thus far...

[paulcalloway]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

Two important things -

#1 - This needs to be a thread about Preservation, not a thread about the South shall rise again or other Modern Day politics.

#2 - Mr. Watkins, our Private Message system is not to be used for unsolicited advertising.

[Chessa]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

Mr. Watkins, you should know better than that, being an Admin on your on forum.

[rebjeb04]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

I understand where Mr. Watkins is coming from, and he is not alone. Many Southern folks are frustraited with all this kinda mess. I have toured many of the Southern states and locations from which my ancestors once came. These monuments built are the last vestages we have and commemorate their sacrifices. They are so well crafted in bronze and granite -- many of the artisans were of the Old World stock, and the best in the biz. Ladies of the U.D.C. were instrumental in putting most of them up on courthouse lawns across the South. They had bake sales and fundraisers to erect these momentos of the lost Confederate cause, and its soldiers. I heard one fella say once "they don't deserve these monuments, they EARNED them!" I would like for my children someday to have the chance to enjoy them as I have. These things are just as important and a battlefield being wipped out by a casino! I just hope one day will come when it is not so popular to pick on the South, her fighting men, and thier legacy. The flags have been removed from the capitol lawns, and I guess the next thing are the statues. After that, then what: the cemeteries or graves! Don't laugh, it came very close to becoming a reality when HBO did not want to film a boxing competition in Memphis because, Gen. Forrest's monument in some way offended them. A commitee of Memphis councilmen wanted the monument taken down, and Gen. Forrest and his wife removed from the park near the university. Their graves are beneath the monument. I hope these monuments will stay and are not moved or molested. The comments about putting plaques up to better describe them sounds good to me. Anything for them to remain, and their fate becoming simular to the Texas Supreme Court plaques that were removed a few years back. Those were put up, I think by the state saying thanks to the Confederate Widows who donated money from their pension fund to complete the building when money ran out.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

Mr. Watkins, you should know better than that, being an Admin on your on forum.

For the record, Mr. Watkins was not removed due to the Private Message issue. He asked for his account to be removed and we therefore obliged.

[Chessa]

Re: Possible removal of Confederate Statues (you can help)

I heard about that when he sent me an email. I was half teasing when I said that.

rebjeb04: I totally understand where you are coming from. I am at thsi point about to go on campaign to help Mr. Watkins.

[amity]

Confederate statues at U.T. Austin

There is a move afoot to have the Confederate statues removed from University of Texas in Austin:

CNN has a Dec. 28th article

MSNBC has a poll about the subject. Should the University of Texas remove its statues of Confederate leaders? You must vote to view the results.

UT News here

I would appreciate it, should you feel so moved, if you would read the article, and then vote in the poll! I am sure I don't need to tell you what the issues are... you already know.