Widening Chasm

Thursday, April 25 2019 - 4:12pm

Debate over the Civil War statue in Oak Bluffs is turning into something of its own civil war, and it’s time the selectmen showed some leadership.

Whether they accept the recommendation of the local NAACP and remove two plaques honoring confederate soldiers on the statue of a Union soldier, or bow to opposition from veterans groups and others, some people will be unhappy.

But their decision this week to schedule a forum for May 21 rather than putting an end to an increasingly ugly skirmish serves only to prolong and inflame the acrimony. Comments online and at public meetings have taken on a racially charged tone that has no place on Martha’s Vineyard. This is a deeply emotional issue, not one that can be resolved by more argument or additional facts.

And there really is only one answer: take down the plaques.

This newspaper, at another time, attempted to distinguish the statue from other Civil War monuments based on its unusual history. It was built in 1891 by a man who fought for the confederacy and was trying to win favor in his adopted home by depicting a union soldier. It wasn’t until 1925 that the two plaques were added, specifically honoring confederate soldiers, and declaring in one that “the chasm is closed.”

But the chasm was not closed then, and it isn’t now. If anything, the endurance of symbols of the pro-Slavery confederacy around the country has become harder to excuse with the passage of time.

The notion that this odd remnant of history, originated by someone whose motives even at the time were murky at best, must remain unchanged is just silly. Our physical history is rewritten every day as buildings are razed or renovated or added onto. The plaques were added three decades after the statue was built; they can be removed nine decades later.

And what is the purpose of war memorials if not to inspire patriotism and unity? It should be enough that some members of our community are offended, not elevated by the plaques.

If veterans want a fitting memorial, a far better use of effort would be to build one in honor of a true war hero, the Island’s own Ted Morgan, who fought in a war that united, not divided our country.

That would be a cause worth fighting for.

Comments

Why doesn’t it occur to you

Bob Oak Bluffs

Why doesn’t it occur to you that when you denigrate the position of one side by suggesting that the selectmen should not “bow to opposition from veterans groups” and that “there really is only one answer: take down the plaques” – you are only serving to widen the division on this issue? The plaque on the statue was set by veterans to commemorate veterans. Why do you seek to invalidate the position of those who state this fact, and who hold it dear? What good comes of your attempt to close your ears to the valid arguments of those who disagree with you? You state that “It should be enough that some members of our community are offended” as justification for altering a war memorial. I have news for you, in 2019 there will always be a contingent ready to take offense at any provocation, real or imagined. This editorial is just another sad reminder of the depths to which our public discourse has sunk.

It’s like this. Confederate

Barbara Phillips Oak Bluffs

It’s like this. Confederate soldiers served The Confederacy and were engaged in treason against the United States for the purpose of maintaining a slave economy. They are not “veterans” of the United States.

For you information Barbara

Civil War Historian Oak Bluffs

For you information Barbara Confederate soldiers are officially considered American veterans and have the same protections as Union soldiers because of an act of Congress called Public Law 810 and other federal laws and that they would be entitled to the same benefits as Union soldiers.
Confederate soldiers are also buried in Arlington National Cemetery!
I Truly Hate when people who dont know squat add to serious issues with bold faced lies to worsen things. Do some homework and I will save you some time ..... https://sites.google.com/site/scvcamp1710/home/federal-law-regarding-co…

The Oak Bluffs Board of

Clennon L. King Roxbury

The Oak Bluffs Board of Selectmen failed again to muster moral courage this past Tuesday, as they continue to fret over how to respond to the local NAACP’s request to remove two plaques honoring Confederate soldier located on public land, maintained with public dollars. My sense is the Board’s hastiness in deciding to hold a public forum in a month’s time flies in the face of fundamental fairness. Their timetable totally excludes an important missing voice—thousands of Black tax-paying vacationers who, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce bring in an estimated 30-plus million dollars when they converge on Martha’s Vineyard every July and August. One would think Oak Bluffs would be appreciative of this Black customer base, who, drawn to places like its historically-Black Inkwell Beach, helps fill its tax coffers. Instead though, this all-white, predominantly-male Board has decided to eliminate the input of Black visitors, most of whom don’t arrive until late summer. Given Wednesday’s decision, elected officials will leave the discussion on this racially-charged issue up to town residents, 90 percent of which are white, and less than five percent Black. Mind you, all of this is done with an eye toward a possible ballot referendum this fall, again when Black taxpayers aren’t on the Island. Talk about taxation without representation. Talk about voter suppression. Talk about disenfranchisement. The only silver lining for me, as a Black seasonal visitor, is learning from Oak Bluffs Police Chief Erik Blake that no official paperwork is required if one wants to exercise their constitutional right to stage a protest at the statue over the Confederate plaques this August.

Mr King, you and I are both

Bulkington Edgartown

Mr King, you and I are both taxpayers. I cannot vote in Roxbury, however. I do not live in Roxbury. (MV is where I pay a tax on the value of my car so I can park on this Island.) If you want to take part in an Island referendum, declare residency and move here. Struggle to find a place to live you can afford, and struggle to find a job that pays a living wage. I hope you do actually protest and have a Plan B and a Plan C, because paying taxes in Marhta's Vineyard does not give me the right to vote in Roxbury.

I have no idea where you live

Bob Oak Bluffs

I have no idea where you live, Mr. King - but I have no intention of going there and staging any protests. I have no idea why you think it's proper to bring your manufactured outrage to our community. You are correct in that public tax dollars maintain the statue in question. I pay taxes, and I support that maintenance. You are trying very hard to make this a racial issue, and you seem very comfortable leveling financial threats on behalf of all black island residents and visitors. You miss the point of this place completely. Oak Bluffs is not a black resort. This town has a history of welcoming visitors of all persuasions. Even if you were the individual anointed to speak on behalf of all black island residents and visitors, your threats would ring hollow. There is no one monolithic group that wields the sort of financial influence over our economy that you suggest. We welcome all, but we'll bow to none. If the manner in which the veterans of Oak Bluffs choose to honor fellow veterans offends you, then I would respectfully remind you that you have any number of other vacation destinations to choose from.

The Gazette is to be

Harry Seymour Oak Bluffs

The Gazette is to be commended for a taking a courageous and wise position on such a controversial issue.

Should we also remove all

William ExPBA NYC, Chilmark

Should we also remove all WWII's memorials in consideration of Japanese Americans because of the horrific interment of over 100'000 Americans by its own government. What about all of the unjust American wars, do we punish our soldiers memory to forget our bad war acts, (Korea/Vietnam).

Clearly if this glorified what the war stood for REMOVE IT! But it does not try or do that LEAVE IT ALONE!

Who in GOD`s name are you to

Retired combat veteran of two wars Oak Bluffs native!

Who in GOD`s name are you to tell Veterans what type of memorials / monuments they should be in favor of?
I know that you do not have a clue about what you are talking about and that you either ignore or do not know that today at "Vicksburg National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service)
more than 1,400 monuments, tablets, and markers dot the landscape offering mute testimony to the courage and sacrifice of blue and gray alike.
Google it you and others might learn something about war and battles and that it isn`t always about race!
Lets see if this gets past your shredder.

https://www.nps.gov/vick/index.htm

There is more than one way to

Poor White Male Year Round Resident MV

There is more than one way to look at a population. Color of skin is one. Economic status is another. I'm outraged by the turn our country has taken under Trump. I feel like I know my fellow countrymen much better, and wish I didn't. As a liberal white male, who has voted for democrats my entire life, and cheered the recent progress we have made as a society towards equality (gay marriage being top of the list), I'm all for removing the plaques. Racism is profoundly intolerable, and is making a frightening comeback. But. Here is the thing. What was once an income gap is now a gaping cavern, and the one percent are taking over. They are partnering with the billionaires and leaving the middle class with table scraps. It doesn't matter if you are black or white, when you start threatening to pull your dollars, start reminding people that you are the hand that feeds them, you'll get a visceral response from your audience. Clennon King speaks to us like the Koch brothers. That's where much of the pushback is coming from. It is a separate conversation. Hey rich folk, black or white, are you aware people are living in basements and have bed rotation schedules so you can have a nice rich liberal guilt free vacation? The NY Times and Guardian have covered the shameful living conditions of our servants here, so you should be aware. Do you care? Isn't this an injustice? How about a deal? We'll yank the plaques, which we'd do anyhow, but how about you bring your passion to the inequitable treatment of service people here on your party island? The landscapers, dishwashers, painters, cooks, and cleaners; they are from Jamaica, and the Baltics, Brazil and Framingham. Every color person you can imagine. Will you stand up for them Clennon?

Apologies. I meant the