GW is an embarassement?

[MTUpower]

Here's a good photo- can anyone defend it?George Washington statue is hidden at the MLK rally in Columbia , SC

The annual MLK observance at the state house in Columbia SC had an interesting
twist this year. The event is held on the north side steps of the statehouse.
Prominent at that location is a large bronze statue of George Washington.
This year, the NAACP constructed a "box" to conceal the father of our country
from view so that participants would not be 'offended' by his presence.

[Botnst]

Ignorant bastids don't know he educated and then emancipated his slaves while providing for the continued support of the elderly slaves.

The probably think Jefferson was in their bed. Er, corner.

[catmandoo62]

what photo???

[MTUpower]

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

what photo???

You cannot see the photo on your computer?

[Chas H]

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Here's a good photo- can anyone defend it?George Washington statue is hidden at the MLK rally in Columbia , SC

The annual MLK observance at the state house in Columbia SC had an interesting
twist this year. The event is held on the north side steps of the statehouse.
Prominent at that location is a large bronze statue of George Washington.
This year, the NAACP constructed a "box" to conceal the father of our country
from view so that participants would not be 'offended' by his presence.

"George Washington was born into a world in which slavery was accepted. He became a slave owner when his father died in 1743. At the age of eleven, he inherited ten slaves and 500 acres of land. When he began farming Mount Vernon eleven years later, at the age of 22, he had a work force of about 36 slaves. With his marriage to Martha Custis in 1759, 20 of her slaves came to Mount Vernon. After their marriage, Washington purchased even more slaves. The slave population also increased because the slaves were marrying and raising their own families. By 1799, when George Washington died, there were 316 slaves living on the estate."

Perhaps the descendents of GW's slaves found his likeness offending. Are you claiming they are wrong?

[MTUpower]

Originally Posted by Chas H

"George Washington was born into a world in which slavery was accepted. He became a slave owner when his father died in 1743. At the age of eleven, he inherited ten slaves and 500 acres of land. When he began farming Mount Vernon eleven years later, at the age of 22, he had a work force of about 36 slaves. With his marriage to Martha Custis in 1759, 20 of her slaves came to Mount Vernon. After their marriage, Washington purchased even more slaves. The slave population also increased because the slaves were marrying and raising their own families. By 1799, when George Washington died, there were 316 slaves living on the estate."

Perhaps the descendents of GW's slaves found his likeness offending. Are you claiming they are wrong?

Nice bio- now tell us why you or someone else would be offended- or do you think the bio itself is enough? Do you also think that your version of this bio is complete?


Here's the rest you forgot to include:
George Washington's attitude toward slavery changed as he grew older. During the Revolution, as he and fellow patriots strove for liberty, Washington became increasingly conscious of the contradiction between this struggle and the system of slavery. By the time of his presidency, he seems to have believed that slavery was wrong and against the principles of the new nation.

As President, Washington did not lead a public fight against slavery, however, because he believed it would tear the new nation apart. Abolition had many opponents, especially in the South. Washington seems to have feared that if he took such a public stand, the southern states would withdraw from the Union (something they would do seventy years later, leading to the Civil War). He had worked too hard to build the country to risk tearing it apart.

Privately, however, Washington could -- and did -- lead by example. In his will, he arranged for all of the slaves he owned to be freed after the death of his wife, Martha. He also left instructions for the continued care and education of some of his former slaves, support and training for all of the children until they came of age, and continuing support for the elderly.

[Chas H]

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Nice bio- now tell us why you or someone else would be offended- or do you think the bio itself is enough? Do you also think that your version of this bio is complete?

No.

[MTUpower]

Originally Posted by Chas H

No.

See the edited version of my response and tell me your original post still stands; because I think you are off base.

Here is where both quotes from myself and you came from.

[Chas H]

Originally Posted by MTUpower

See the edited version of my response and tell me your original post still stands; because I think you are off base.

Here is where both quotes from myself and you came from.

I asked if you thought the descendents GW's slaves were wrong to be offended. You have yet to answer that question.

[Honus]

Originally Posted by MTUpower

...can anyone defend it?...

Sure - 1st Amendment.

I can't see your photo, either, but this page has it: http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/washstatue.asp

The local NAACP chapter says that they intended no disrespect. The box was supposed to provide a place to hang a graphic background to go behind the speakers at the event, but the graphic wasn't ready in time.

Seems really foolish to me. I can understand why they might find GW offensive, but they shouldn't disrespect him in that fashion, IMHO. Seems like a bad PR move for the organizers of that rally.

Is this a big deal?

[Chas H]

Originally Posted by Honus

Sure - 1st Amendment.

I can't see your photo, either, but this page has it: http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/washstatue.asp

The local NAACP chapter says that they intended no disrespect. The box was supposed to provide a place to hang a graphic background to go behind the speakers at the event, but the graphic wasn't ready in time.

Seems really foolish to me. I can understand why they might find GW offensive, but they shouldn't disrespect him in that fashion, IMHO. Seems like a bad PR move for the organizers of that rally.

Is this a big deal?

If one is knee-jerk bimbo it might be big deal.

[catmandoo62]

background my ass. their response sounds so typically politically correct.

[Emmerich]

If the races were reversed in this scenario do you think anyone would howl?

Originally Posted by Honus

Sure - 1st Amendment.

I can't see your photo, either, but this page has it: http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/washstatue.asp

The local NAACP chapter says that they intended no disrespect. The box was supposed to provide a place to hang a graphic background to go behind the speakers at the event, but the graphic wasn't ready in time.

Seems really foolish to me. I can understand why they might find GW offensive, but they shouldn't disrespect him in that fashion, IMHO. Seems like a bad PR move for the organizers of that rally.

Is this a big deal?

[Emmerich]

And all those people were descendants of slaves? Nice assumption if you don't worry about a basis in reality. Thats like blacks who want to be called African American when they have no idea if the are of African descent. Chris Rock does a great stand up on that subject.

Originally Posted by Chas H

Perhaps the descendents of GW's slaves found his likeness offending. Are you claiming they are wrong?

[Chas H]

Originally Posted by Emmerich

If the races were reversed in this scenario do you think anyone would howl?

I don't think so.
In the photo from Snopes, it seems to me the box was in a temporary place while the stage was being organized.
Can you provide another photo that sows the box around GW while the show was in progress?