[Townhall] In the latest efforts to rectify America's history of its slaveholding past, Austin’s Equity Office suggested that the Texas capital change its entire name in addition to removing statues and street signs in honor of Confederate soldiers.
Austin, TX is named after Stephen F. Austin. The man, now known as the "father of Texas," one time "opposed an attempt by Mexico to ban slavery in the province of Tejas and said if slaves were freed, they would turn into "'vagabonds, a nuisance, and a menace."
Conventional wisdom, in 1835.
The report noted that there would be pushback against the proposed ideas, but defended it from accusations of whitewashing history.
Hardly "whitewashing". How dare you? Updating history, correcting history. Rectifying history. O.K., blackwashing.
"It is essential to acknowledge that societal values are fluid, and they can be and are different today compared to when our city made decisions to name and/or place these Confederate symbols in our community," the document said.
Exactly. That's why it is perfectly valid to leave an old name - or statue - alone. Embrace the different values. Be tolerant!
The office was aware "the likelihood of opposing viewpoints and nodded to inconveniences to businesses and residents and the view that changing the names could be considered a threat to historical preservation."
How perceptive!
"It is also important to acknowledge that nearly all monuments to the Confederacy and its leaders were erected without a true democratic process. People of color often had no voice and no opportunity to raise concerns about the city’s decision to honor Confederate leaders," the office added.
Washington Square in Austin will be next, followed by Jefferson Street. Time to point and laugh. |