As we see those who are offended by symbols of our past history remove and destroy monuments it reminds me of the same mentality and actions as seen with ISIS. We have seen the effort of these groups as they use hate and fear to make their world as sanitized to their way of thinking and beliefs.
I warn both Mayor Berke and County Mayor Coppenger that they must have some sort of contingency to address this “snowball” issue. One can not drive around our beautiful city without seeing some sort of reference or monument pertaining to the Confederacy or the Civil War.
Furthermore the federal government must also prepare for the assault which will eventually make its way to the federal parks and reservations where monuments and memorials abound.
How have we reached this point where something that offends someone must be destroyed or removed? Only in isolation or a perfect would can anyone expect not to be offended.
Jay Reed
Falling Water
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Mr Reed you are absolutely right with your comments about monuments. WTCI frequently shows a monument from the Chickamauga reservation that is a Confederate monument. I'm sure few if any noticed but I did.
The Civil War in America (or the War Between the States) would by its nature include monuments from the states participating, some Union, some Confederate. If the federal and local officials don't have a plan to deal with those jumping on the protest du jour bandwagon it could lead to the kind of ugly messes we now see across the nation.
As protesters try to outdo those in other cities, I have no doubt we will see more demands to erase the names from an ever growing list of villains from streets and parks.
There were recent threats in New Orleans to actually destroy the statue of General Jackson in the city square named for him. This bronze statue is an incredible work of art specially constructed to allow the front feet of the horse to be off the ground. I thought liberals and leftists valued art for art's sake and not what it portrayed. I guess politics outweighs art when it's their politics.
Will Sevierville will need to change its name? John Sevier led one of the first bands of Tennessee Volunteers to attack the Chickamaugas, led by Dragging Canoe, after the tribe attacked the settlers in Long Island (Kingsport) and another tribe, led by Old Abraham, attacked the Watauga settlement in Washington County. Sevier battled the Chickamaugas right here in Chattanooga on the side of Lookout Mountain on Sept. 20, 1782. How long before Sevier's name is an anathema and his statue in the U.S. Capitol is threatened with demonstrations and destruction?
And then who will be next?
Ralph Miller