In that press conference from which Joe Biden and the rest of the Democrats and progressives took the lie that President Trump had called neo-Nazis in Charlottesville “very fine people,” the president asked a very good question: If the country was going to take down all statues of and monuments to Confederates and rename government buildings and schools, where would it end? Would statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson be taken down because they had owned slaves?
No one, especially in the press, seemed to give it a second thought, and just this summer we saw pieces in the news about tribal leaders not necessarily wanting to blow up Mount Rushmore — that would be environmentally unfriendly — but to erase it somehow.
Martin Austermuhle of WAMU in Washington, D.C., reports that a working committee put together by Mayor Muriel Bowser has put together its list of recommendations that will better reflect “contemporary D.C. values,” like looting and vandalism.
There are some big names on that list — and by big, we’re talking the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.
A D.C. working group put together by @MayorBowser is recommending that a large number of schools, parks, buildings, and other sites be renamed to better reflect “contemporary D.C. values”: pic.twitter.com/ml9abJoM2O
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) September 1, 2020
Also, these: pic.twitter.com/z8ob3wMCxr
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) September 1, 2020
Here are the factors the group considered in deciding whether a site, building or facility in D.C. should be renamed: pic.twitter.com/H3AQW3aBPi
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) September 1, 2020
Those factors are participation in slavery, involvement in systemic racism, support for oppression, involvement in supremacist agenda, and violation of District human rights laws. So something needs to be done about Christopher Columbus, Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and others.
And it’s critical to note: the report’s section on federal monuments and sites recommends renaming, removing, or contextualizing. I would imagine the emphasis will be on the latter, at least for things like the Washington and Jefferson memorials.
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) September 1, 2020
Obviously, we’d assume the same. We’re expecting they’ll erect kiosks of some sort outside the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial to “contextualize” the structures by listing the sins of the Founding Fathers. Would they just remove them if it were practical?
BREAKING: DC Mayor will push to destroy American history in nation’s capital. https://t.co/3zYuPGqfsU
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) September 1, 2020
We’re reminded of the black tour guide who gave tours of D.C. specifically geared toward black history and how he was berated by a hysterical young white woman for wanting the Emancipation Monument to stay as-is.
Well, that’s basically the list of things I would go to see as a tourist. 🤦🏻♀️
— Katie (@Katie82185735) September 1, 2020
Cultural sacrilege
— Wrangler Curly 🇺🇸 (@wranglercurly) September 1, 2020
And they are denying they are suggesting changing the names
— Roger Jalbert (@JalbertRoger) September 1, 2020
I love the idea that we “contextualize” certain statues so the unwoke masses will understand why they’re bad
— Patrick Crowley (@rpc68) September 1, 2020
Time to move the capital.
— @Commonsensenow2 (@Commonsensenow2) September 1, 2020
Relocate the Washington Monument. LMAO
— Direxion Trader (@DirexionTrader) September 1, 2020
Seriously, move it to a state that would appreciate it.
In the old days, citizens were educated enough to freely “contextualize” for themselves. I’d say the DC Mayor is failing her City in more ways than one.
— Marie von Astra (@marievonastra) September 1, 2020
I feel like a spring that’s being wound tighter and tighter everyday. This country is going to explode soon. This is Obama’s doing, he started this, divide & conquer, cause total turmoil while he & the Mooch sit back & laugh in Martha’s Vineyard.
— USA proud (@Soproudofsarah) September 1, 2020
Those statues and momuments belong to ALL THE PEOPLE of the US and not just to Washington DC residents. She has no jurisdiction or say over Federal property.
— El Chelón (@_El_Chelon) September 1, 2020
She can try but she has no power.
— Better dead than red (@ihatecommunist) September 1, 2020
Maybe the mayor should relocate!
— Shane (@shanepruttis) September 1, 2020
We’d have to go back to our archives to find the exact date when it was determined the Confederate flag had to go (we think that was first on the list).
Related:
Joe Biden says statues of Washington and Columbus are OK to stay, but Confederate monuments belong in a museum https://t.co/QQfyK3oIJc
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 30, 2020