Sunday, July 24, 2005
Rewriting History
Forrest proposal moves graves
Bodies, statue would go to Elmwood, park to UT
By Jacinthia Jones
July 24, 2005
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Nathan Bedford Forrest has a checkered reputation smeared across Civil War History. He founded the Ku Klux Klan, which according to sympathizers was originally founded as a kind of Kiwanis Club on horseback. Things for out of hand and Forrest distanced himself from the intimidation and lynching, or so the story goes.
Memphis is deeply engaged in a discussion about public places that bear the names of important historic figures like Forrest and Jefferson Davis. I guess this might be considered meddling, but I recall back in the "bad old days" when the Soviet Union also attempted to rewrite history. For many years, old Joe Stalin, reposed alongside revolutionary saint Vladimir Lenin, but authorities wanted Stalin forgotten. They moved the body. It was powerful symbolism for a state seeking total mind control.
I say let old Nathan rest in peace and may he be judged by the content of his character, whatever that might have been.
Bodies, statue would go to Elmwood, park to UT
By Jacinthia Jones
July 24, 2005
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Nathan Bedford Forrest has a checkered reputation smeared across Civil War History. He founded the Ku Klux Klan, which according to sympathizers was originally founded as a kind of Kiwanis Club on horseback. Things for out of hand and Forrest distanced himself from the intimidation and lynching, or so the story goes.
Memphis is deeply engaged in a discussion about public places that bear the names of important historic figures like Forrest and Jefferson Davis. I guess this might be considered meddling, but I recall back in the "bad old days" when the Soviet Union also attempted to rewrite history. For many years, old Joe Stalin, reposed alongside revolutionary saint Vladimir Lenin, but authorities wanted Stalin forgotten. They moved the body. It was powerful symbolism for a state seeking total mind control.
I say let old Nathan rest in peace and may he be judged by the content of his character, whatever that might have been.
