This is a totally parochial article, pertains to the state of Georgia. Each state gets to put two statues in the Capitol Rotunda. The last time I was in the place, I gazed absentmindedly at our state’s statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens while some group’s tour guide blathered on about the statues. Stephens was the Vice President of the Confederacy and a virulent racist. Find his pre-Civil War quotes about the struggle being about white supremacy. Not much nuance about his views.
A perpetually sickly person, it is said that he never weighed over 100 pounds. He made up for that with his tongue. A plantation owner, many slaves, some longrunning discussion about a line of African Americans who trace their ancestry back to Stephens and a slave girl. There were some aspects of his slave ownership that southern apologists would call enlightened. But, his statue wasn’t chosen almost a century ago by the Georgia legislature for placement in Statuary Hall for his being a progressive slave owner. He’s there because he was VP of the Confederacy and an unashamed racist.
So, Georgia legislature, take a vote. Replace Stephen’s statue with that of the authentic Civil Rights hero, John Lewis who just died.
I’ve always liked Lewis even though his politics were such that I wouldn’t have voted for him in a thousand years. He was battered and bloodied as a young man. I know of no ethical failures that attach to him. There’s plenty of information about him available at the moment. I like that as a kid, he would preach to the chickens.
Move that old racist off to a museum. Put a statue of the young John Lewis, just off the farm and engaged in the civil rights struggle, in his place. That would be a pretty good swap for the peach state.
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Jim Galloway, Atlanta-Journal Constitution columnist has this idea yesterday. I stole it from him. Read his column on it.
Lewis was from Alabama but was smart enough to move to Atlanta where he lived and where his congressional district was located.
Georgia’s other statue is Crawford W. Long who first used ether as an anesthetic in surgery. I think of him every time I have a colonoscopy. Some dispute about another guy being first but, hey, we’ve got the statue in the Capitol rotunda.
And, there is nothing about this that pertains to the Southern Baptist Convention. If there’s a war on monuments, here’s a change that I would support.
Great suggestion!
I respectfully disagree because of his undying support for the killing of babies. I would suggest everyone do a little research on his record.
Georgia guy get to have an opinion on this. No problem from me on that.
Any comment on Stephens?
Little Alex was/ is destined to go home to Crawfordville. He was definitely a product of his times. He opposed succession even though he was a terrible racist. I like Hershel Walker for a replacement statue. Go Dawgs.
Another unnecessary, divisive suggestion from someone who clearly has too much idle time on his hands. Stephens held racial views very similar to Lincoln, although they differed on the morality of slavery. Stephens was closer to Georgia Washington on the slavery issue…you remember George, AKA the Father of the Country?
Lincoln father any children by slave girls? Washington? Bit of work for you to do on this one. But, if you’re not from Georgia your opinion doesn’t count on this one.
But I may have too much spare time. Seems I’ve been ordered to do some painting in my house.
Well, since this is a Georgia thing, I don’t get a vote. Hope you guys sort it out. Despite his showing great courage in the nonviolent student movement to end government sanctioned racial discrimination, and especially on the Pettus Owen Bridge, and further despite dispatching Julian Bond, a truly odious politician, in a congressional election a couple of decades ago, I would not advocate using Lewis as two of Georgia’s picks. The sooner we get away from honoring politicians, unless they do something like found a country or win a war, the better off we are going to be. There… Read more »
…on second thought, I’ll go with Herschel.
John Lewis, the “authentic Civil Rights hero” who voted “yes” every single time he had an opportunity to advance the slaughter of the pre-born? Sorry, but it seems your logic is horribly flawed.
Georgia person here. I can whole heartedly support the removal of AH Stephens statue and do so based on the reasons given by William. I personally would not support a statue of Lewis being its replacement. I think Lewis was a civil rights hero and I respect and honor that part of his life. But because of his pro-abortion stance and consistent voting record on those issues I would not be in favor of a statue honoring him. I believe all of us have complicated life histories with a mix of good and bad in them. I think we can… Read more »
Memo to rabid anti-Voices sites: This is my opinion. I didn’t run it by the non-Georgians. They may prefer Eli Whitney, yank, but who invented the cotton gin in Georgia.
You linked me to the post from the lying liars who lie at Capstone. Anyone who reads lying liars who lie gets what they deserve.
People simply refuse to understand how we operate here. “SBC Voices” doesn’t have opinions except in those rare moments that we jointly publish sn article.
My articles represent my views. William’s are his. If William had asked my opinion, I would have said…run it. It is a worthwhile discussion starter.
My opinion of the lying liars who lie at Capstone? I will keep that a secret. HINT: after their 2000th lie, I blocked them.
If anyone here supports the freedom of an individual then John Lewis is a hero. I saw where one person commented and said he would never support John Lewis because of abortion. That’s a strange statement because the Republicans are the ones who gave us abortion. I don’t see anyone on Voices threatening to vote the Republicans out of office for what their party done. On the contrary, Let’s vote those out of office who abide by what the Republicans done. Shouldn’t the church do it’s part in spreading the gospel of Christ to a lost country? I think this… Read more »
I guess I’ve missed that chance to vote for Supreme Court justices on my ballot in 2016.Which party has abortion protection as one of its main platform planks, again??
But I agree with most of your post. Lewis is a hero without equivocation because of his efforts on behalf of the disenfranchised.
We’ve been doing the door knocking thing within a several block radius and while seeds are planted, it can be enlightening, disheartening, and yet an experience that causes one to double down on the efforts to be a witness where you’re planted. Easy to say, tough to do.
Hopefully our nation will, at some point, come to the point to where we view abortion as the true civil rights issue of this time – the philsophy of which is quite akin to slavery – that one human being can own and determine the life and fate of another at thier own will and for thier own good – and that such life is only as valuable and dignified as it is “tor and to” me. I truly hope we come to a point where we castigate and not celebrate all those who advance this travesty based in grave… Read more »
There is a resolution in the Georgia State Legislature to replace the Alexander Stephens statue with a statue of Martin Luther King. It’s unlikely to be acted on this late in the session but will be around for 2021.
It will be interesting to see if those that have argued in recent posts concerning removing names of men that had the wrong view on race will comment here. Many said you can not honor men for their “good” if they were wrong on the issue of race. Since I believe murdering babies is just as sinful as racism, then I can not vote to honor John Lewis since he supported abortion rights. I do live in Georgia. I am not a prophet, but I don’t anticipate many from the recent posts about racism to respond because many are inconsistent… Read more »
Perfect solution: the Georgian who should be honored with the statue is:
Uga!
I’m not from Georgia and I am not even a Georgia fan but I think a solid case can be made for Uga.
Yeah. All of‘em. They keep dying.
Pat Dye, John Heisman, Tommy Tuberville… there are lots of options.
Anyone related to SEC football should be disqualified on moral and ethical grounds.
Here’s an idea: why don’t we just stop with the statues? Do we really need a statue of anyone, anywhere?
It seems a number of people have one argument for taking statues down and the opposite argument for putting statues up.
Todd, my friend…. It seems a number of people have one argument for putting statues up and the opposite for taking them down. 😉 Same suggest – that years later we take down statues of anyone connected with slavery – ignore the good – ignore that the statues (or naming of buildings at Southern) were not erected in celebration of their embrace of Slavery but of things much, much nobler and worthy…but lets erect one for Lewis who nobly and peacefully and yet in warrior like fashion fought for civil rights in the 60’s, but ignore his dogged and fierce… Read more »
William,
A little off subject, I grew up my teenage years in East Point. I really enjoyed going to see the cyclorama at Grants Park, I understand they have moved it, have you seen it since they moved? What do you think?
Thanks
woody
Haven’t been. Last saw the cyclorama 50+ years ago. Would like to go.
I saw Cyclorama over 50 years ago when I saw “Willie B” at the Atlanta Zoo.
R.I.P. Willie B.
I think we need to be very careful in politics or we may find ourselves deep in hypocrisy. James 2:10, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Allow me to give an example as it relates to politics, Suppose we are against the murder of the unborn which I am, yet I’m so conservative I don’t support feeding the poor and believe they should work for what they get. Remember Jesus said the poor you have with you always. Have I not become hypocritical in my beliefs? If we… Read more »
John Lewis, most other Democrats, and many Republicans, are also wrong on same sex marriage. This includes many that put the title “Rev” in front of their name. In light of this fact I do not promote publicly any politician.