I am heartsick to hear that there is any discussion about taking down the historic Solder's Cenotaph in historic Madison.
I denounce anyone who calls this memorial to veterans a symbol of hate, white supremacy or racism. That cenotaph represents the blood of fallen heroes who died protecting us from an invasion – not to free my family or anyone else's – but because the Northern invaders wanted their tribute and were willing to take up arms to get it back.
Yes, when Florida and other Southern states seceded from the Union, they contributed more than 80% to the Federal treasury. When they left, US President Lincoln couldn't put up with it. When ask why he was making war on the South he replied "Who will pay the taxes?"
My ancestors went to war, like those names of the Cenotaph… at least one who looks like me... to protect their family and their community from an illegal, immoral invasion. I challenge the people in Madison to look around and ask which of them would not do the same thing right now today if they were in the same situation.
There are many reasons to keep the Cenotaph right where it is. And there are NO good reasons to tear it down. It might make someone 'feel better' for a moment, but after it is gone, how will that improve high school graduation rates, how will it reduce poverty, how will it improve housing, how will it create more jobs?
I have learned over the years that posers point fingers at bogeymen they can do something about to distract from important problems they refuse to do something about.
So I ask the City Commissioners, what are they doing to improve the lives of the citizenry and how will succumbing to those with hate and resentment in their heart fix anything.
It won't. But what it will do is fuel the fires of division between our Southern family. The Southern family that used to exist before the poverty pimps and race-baiters came into our communities to foment division.
Fix the schools, teach the babies to read – leave the Cenotaph and teach them it represents the integrated Southern Army…men who loved Madison so much they were willing to die for her.
HK Edgerton
HK Edgerton is past president of the NAACP in his home town of Asheville, NC and has been a civil rights activist for half a century.