Renaming of Forrest Park in Memphis: A Case of Civil War Remembrance (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I had mentioned the renaming of Bedford Forrest Park in one of my posts on the NYT Op Ed piece about renaming forts and thought the following might be of interest when it comes to the problem and desirability (or lack thereof) of renaming public places.

http://m.theatlantic.com/national/a...otests-as-memphis-renames-a-city-park/273560/

 

[Jack]

Brad

A really interesting article. Although I am generally not in favour of name changes I would feel uncomfortable being on the same side of the argument as the KKK. What I found the most surprising thing was the reasoning behind asking the KKK not to particpate. Not because of what they stand for but rather because "there might be people who are opposed to the Klan that might turn it into a hostile situation". How is that for a rationalisation?

Jack

 

[The Military Workshop]

Interesting read including the comments below it.

One thing is for sure and that is that the ACW is a very interesting subject. After all in the English Civil War most people only remember that a King lost his head. Although Cavaliers and Roundheads do look "cooler" than Blue and Grey {sm4}

 

[Shiloh]

It would be better to move that statue to Parker's Crossroads or Brice's Crossroads where Forrest actually fought or to the State Park named for him where he won his greatest distinction.

 

[jazzeum]

From what I recall reading earlier this year a complicating factor for the community was that the remains of Forrest and his wife are buried there and it hardly makes sense to move them.

 

[tdubel]

Across the board disagree with what happened in Memphis and the park. That said, understand Forrest's involvement in the KKK, however, it is a subject to study as history is conflicted on his role. There is an understanding that he tried to disband the group when it became apparent that racial bigotry and violence were becoming a guiding force in its movement. As I understand from my studies, he was a part of the group/leader in order to "combat" (for lack of a better word) reconstruction abuses and its intent was not racial in the beginning. As soon as it became that way, he quit the group and disassociated himself.

The KKK that surged in the early 1900s and continues today is a very racist and demented group and reflects nothing of the original group. They offer nothing to society and are a pure hate group who has twisted and misused symbols of the Confederacy. They are a complete stain on American history IMO.

TD

 

[jazzeum]

My recollection when reading about this was the City was thinking of changing the name to an amalgam of Forrest and a historical black personage (whose name escapes me now) but there wasn't agreement (although that probably would have been a good compromise) and since they were running up against a time limitation they changed the name to the neutral sounding Health Sciences Park and would revisit the issue later.