While some southern cities cleanse themselves of their Confederate past, others build on it

While some southern cities cleanse themselves of their Confederate past, others build on it
Statue of Robert E. Lee being hefted by a crane. (Image: YouTube screen grab via WWLTV)

While some cities in the South condemn themselves to reliving the past by obliterating reminders of it, others remain proud of their heritage. One such city is Hanceville, Ala., whose mayor — Kenneth Nail — recently contacted New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to inform him that the citizens of Hanceville will be happy to take unwanted Confederate statuary off their hands.

Last month, the Big Easy brought in work crews to begin the task of ridding the city of four Confederacy-related monuments. Landrieu acknowledged this study in political correctness by declaring, “This historic moment is an opportunity to join together as one city and redefine our future.”

The fate of the four pieces had not been determined, but if Mayor Landrieu takes Mayor Nail up on his offer, the monuments will have a new home. According to The Cullman Times (h/t WeaselZippers), Hanceville  is eager to accept New Orleans’s refuse.

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“Everybody who’s approached me has said they think it’s a great idea, and it seems like I haven’t offended anybody — which is never the goal,” Nail is quoted as saying. The mayor adds:

One of my good friends, who is black, even messaged me on Facebook and told me, ‘Look, some of my ancestors were forced to fight in that war [the Civil War], and I think it’s a good idea to remember these things.’ He told me, ‘I drive a truck, and I’ll even go down there and pick them up if the city needs me to.’

[…]

My view is that it’s an opportunity; a great teaching tool that we could have in our city. It’s an opportunity for all of us to reflect on all our struggles, and to celebrate how far we’ve come — while clearly acknowledging that we had those struggles. Different symbols mean different things to different people. We definitely don’t need to forget or be blind to history, which I think some well-meaning folks in our society are kind of pushing for, intentionally or unintentionally.

What I told the mayor, and what I’ve told everyone I’ve talked about it with, is that, for me, remembering these people and these events is about heritage — not hate. Anybody who knows me knows that I’m no racist. But ultimately, it will be up to the folks in New Orleans — and up to the people who live in Hanceville, and the Hanceville City Council — to decide what — if anything — happens next.

Sage words!

The monuments include statuary tributes to Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard, and President Jefferson Davis.

The move by Hanceville is not surprising in view of a measure passed by lawmakers in Alabama last month whose goal was to protect Confederate monuments, names, and other historic memorials that liberals are bent on removing from the public square.

Arguably the most ghoulish of these revisionist initiatives was a plan by the Memphis City Council in 2015 to dig up the earthly remains of Confederate Civil War General Nathan Bedford Forrest and those of wife. Happily, the city council came to its senses and elected not to disturb the couple’s final resting place.

Ben Bowles

Ben Bowles

Ben Bowles is a freelance writer and regular contributor to "Liberty Unyielding."

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