Letters to the Editor

Dear Board Members:

We, the undersigned, believe it is time to change the name of Lee High School. When it was originally named, it was a different time, and we did not think much about the significance of the name of the school. It was segregated, and we had limited awareness of racial issues at that time. We were teenagers, focused on ourselves, and inexperienced. Since that time and especially in recent months, our eyes have been opened to the wide disparity of justice in our country. This not only affects Blacks, but Hispanics, LGBTQ, religious minorities, women and other groups.

We are not historical revisionists and believe the history of our country, good or bad, needs to be documented and remembered. However, symbols of racial injustice should not be revered and glorified. Slavery, white supremacy and prejudice are all implied in these Confederate reminders.

There are many memorials around the world (Holocaust museums, WW II memorials, 9/11 monuments), that remind us not to forget the lessons we have learned about the dark periods of our history, and to never let these things happen again. However, they are not intended, unlike many Confederate symbols, to glorify these events.

In our increasingly diverse culture, with the spotlight on the history of racism in America, we can understand why a Black-American student, such as Trude Lamb, would refuse to wear the name on her track jersey of a Confederate general who owned slaves. We applaud her action. Black-American students should not have to attend a school whose name symbolizes oppression and slavery. If Nazi Germany had won the war, we doubt any of us would like to attend “Hitler High School.”

The point is: we are in a different time now than when the school was originally named, and we need to be on the right side of history. To name a school after a man who led a battle to divide our nation and maintain slavery is not appropriate. Let’s take what may be a difficult step for some, but a necessary forward step for others, and change the name.

Sincerely,

Members of the REL Class of 1960: Jack Spitzberg, M.D. (Student Council president); Mike Woods, attorney-at-law (Student Council vice-president); Linda Baldwin Sebring; Margaret Marsh Mebus; Celia Roosth Schoenbrun; Leon Thomsen, Ph.D.; Bill Thomson, Ph.D.

DIVERSITY TRAINING

Today’s political and social climate irritates me. Decades back, an idea to stabilize society included banning cultural stories because they might create prejudice. Then my employer required me to attend frequent diversity training sessions. In disgust I shook my head because literature (“Little Black Sambo,” “Little Brown Koko,” the movie “Song of the South” with Uncle Remus) had let me experience delightful, imaginative glimpses into the other cultures. Wasn’t that diversity training? Banning books and diversity training are incongruous with reality — at least my reality, mid-America reality.

This week I received an invitation to write a book featuring African American children. It would be humorous except for the above paragraph.

I’ll spare you my abundant thoughts concerning the U.S.’s heartbreaking situation. Rather, to the Black Lives Matter movement I say: “Jesus loves the little children…red and yellow, black and white — they are precious in His sight …” ALL Lives Matter.

A few days ago Rev. John David Manning said, “White people should knock the chip off the shoulders of black people.” He recognizes that when thorny buzzwords are spoken by stubborn agitators, problems are exacerbated, not resolved.

Anna Russell

Tyler

EXAMINE YOUR CONSCIENCE

Watching more TV because of the pandemic has left this 78-year-old mind a little confused. “All lives matter” seems like a humane view, but say it out loud and you’re subjected to hate-filled comments and I’ve seen people suspended or fired from their jobs. Watched some protesters calling police fascists with their right arms raised, and it looked like a Hitler fan club.

Slavery is immoral, but it was also legal during Washington’s and Jefferson’s years. Killing babies is immoral, but legal with our current abortion laws. Examine your conscience before you decide to tear down another statue.

Michael M. Miller

Troup