MONUMENTS THAT SPEAK

MONUMENTS THAT SPEAK 

My monuments are the faces of Southern relatives who continue to support the whip cracking, the raping of African American women, the hanging and castrating of African American men, and the burning of African American homes. These faces support a White Power government, the Confederacy that was built on hatred, bigotry, prejudice and injustice. I am a product of that government, and I recognize the social flaws that continue to haunt the American nation, but I have moved on to a better location. 

I have heard your remarks of anger when I have written examples of your discrimination, and I have seen your replies of hate against anti-Confederate Op-Ed’s. I am ashamed to admit that the same type of blood flows through my veins, but the blood that flows through me has gone though a purification process called, “ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL.” It may not have changed the color, but it has changed the content of the character. 

You have been quick to talk about the burning of the American flag and of course, we all know that is wrong. But the greater wrong is to ignore the thousands of service men and women who gave their lives to give you the right to wave your Confederate and Nazi flags. The freedoms those flags represent are not even one tenth of the freedoms represented by waving the Red, White, and Blue. Only by your birthright have you been allowed to live in a free democratic society, and now you see that society through the naive lens of selfishness and would rather destroy it than share it. 

The power of the American government has always been in the hands of the white man, simply known as White Supremacists. The election of an African American President placed an awakening fear that the white man was loosing control. Thus the bells started ringing and White America went to work to make sure that White Power stayed supreme.  A pact was formed within the Republican Party that they would do whatever is necessary to keep White Power in control, even if it meant lying.   And they have been true to their commitment. By closing voting booths in minority neighborhoods, removing minority’s names from voter registrars, attempting to deny mail-in ballots, and using other illegal tactics of voter suppression are the ways the Republicans plan to stay in power.    

To continue fighting the Civil War is the most destructive element to a peaceful America. To revive the meanness of White America not only reverts to the troubles of the past but invites troubles for the future. Also, there is a contagious characteristic in meanness that is quickly absorbed into younger generations. To live a life in conflict is an elementary level of improvised incompetence. In other words, it is a totally wasted life. 

Sins are sins and the results are evident, but the sin of all sins is the inability to learn from the original sin. The enslavement of humans was America’s original sin and nothing good will ever come from the exploitation of living beings.  Racism can add nothing beneficial to America’s future but revive the revolts from the past. Human slaves, by nature, will never be satisfied with that position in life and within institutions of slavery there is no peace. Americans are missing the art of successful living by failing to learn from the mistakes of the past. It is much easier to get along with people than attempting to enslave them, a lesson many white Americans have failed to learn. 

It seems strange that some Americans cherish living in conflict. If America is ever to have peace the inherited prejudice of the white race must be corrected.  It can only be corrected by education that comes from parents, the schools, and the churches. There will never be peace in America as long as prejudice accompanied by hatred is preached from the pulpits. The monuments that speak are still carrying the hatred, bigotry, and prejudice, of the Confederate Era. Although, there seems to be widespread condemnations that may bring those images of hate crashing to the ground; it is hoped that the widespread condemnation will show up strong in the election of November, 2020.