Rebel Shame

Some of you may know that there's a fight going on right now in Dallas over the proposed removal of the Robert E Lee statue in Lee Park. There're a bunch of stories on the subect here.

It is less well known, except to my loyal reader, that the Lee statue is less offensive than other memorials that have appeared in posts from this blog. Notable amongst those, are posts here, here, here, and even here. At least the last was "just for the day" and used the common name for what I sometimes call "The War of the Rebellion." The offensive memorial sits a block from Dallas City Hall. I believe it is on Dallas City property and is administered by Dallas Parks and Recreation.

The memorial in Dallas  was moved there only in 1961. It is notable that three of the four corner statues had their main connection with Texas during the Mexican War. There is no mention of the other notables, such as US Grant or Sam Houston that also fought in that war. Most shameful is the lack of any mention of those that lived and are buried in North Texas that fought to preserve the Union. THAT lack is the true REBEL SHAME. Inscriptions such as

“The brazen lips of Southern cannon thundered an unanswered anthem to the God of Battle.”
and
“Confederate infantry drove bayonets through columns that never before reeled to the shock of battle.”

(among others noted here) seem to me to attempt to rewrite history in a way unconnected to any reality as an attempt to change things to a narrative of "The Lost Cause." And THAT is the Rebel Shame. I'm not sure most of that belongs even in a museum, any more than Holocaust Denier documents would.

IMO, worthy of a memorial a block away from Dallas City Hall would be something including the Sam Houston quote: "I wish no prouder epitaph to mark the board or slab that may lie on my tomb than this: 'He loved his country, he was a patriot; he was devoted to the Union.'"

Closer to my home, almost hidden amongst the Rebel monuments, is the fact that Old Doctor Colley, after whom Colleyville (where I live) is named, was a Southerner that fought to preserve the Union. THAT should be a source of Southern pride. If we want to talk about history, let us at least not leave Rebel Shame as the only voice. It took REAL courage to stand up for the Union if you lived in the South. 

"Old Doctor Colley" is the Second Name from the Top; With a Union Star

Colley Enlisted in Missouri in 1864

"Old Doctor Colley" and Wife

Lest you think this is limited to the South, the "Jefferson Davis Memorial Park" is located in Southern Washington State. It is within sight of Interstate 5. In its defense, at least it is on private land, though I cannot fathom why people feel they need to put up a monument to two milestones originally put up along old Highway 99, many miles from where the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway was SUPPOSED to be. See the story here. 

Back around 2000, I clearly recall that the Blaine milestone still resided along the main border crossing into the US from Canada about five feet from the left side of the road, where you would have much time to contemplate its meaning if traffic was backed up. Look left and you see Jeff Davis. Look further left and you see the Peace Arch. Rebel shame indeed!