VIEW: 19-17: More On Professional Offendees

VIEW FROM HERE
By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number 19-17
MORE ON 'PROFESSIONAL OFFENDEES' Week of 201/04/29
It seems to me that there is to be no end to the silly actions and demands of
those of the 'professional offendee' movement. Just when it appears it has 'run
it's course' someone with nothing better to occupy their time and effort comes up
with another, in my opinion, excuse to be offended and have whatever or whoever
'offends' them removed from visibility or sound.
During the April 23 'Pat Campbell' morning talk show, now 6:00 to 9:00
AM, he came up with a little, if any, publicized story that due to complaint(s?) the
recording of the late Kate Smith singing "GOD Bless America" would no longer be
played before baseball games, and possibly basketball games, in New York The
excuse given was that she had recorded two songs, in the 1930s, that were 'racist'!!
Hopefully, the reported lack of publicity will deprive them of that satisfaction
The old adage that 'he who forgets or is ignorant of the history is doomed to
repeat the mistakes of the past' still is in force. But it seems to me that these
groups and individuals are more interested in obtaining their moment of publicity
than in the actual reason for the fuss. Unfortunately for we who usually are actually
offended, and sometimes mentally damaged, by such monstrosities we usually
passively sit and accept the affront to our memories and sensibilities.
Frankly, it appears to me that such people are taking a page from the past
and present activities of those of the 'Islamic Extremist' World wide. Whenever
they have taken over a territory the first thing is to destroy any and all evidences
of the religion that was there, even if those features were of true historical
significance and/or of scientific importance. It has now occurred to me that this
influence is behind the sometimes violent removal here in the USA of statues of
past heroes and names of buildings.
Personal to me was the last year decision of the Tulsa Public School Board
to 'rename' the Robert E. Lee grade school attended by me and many of my
school friends. The excuse was that "he had owned slaves and was a Confederate
General opposing emancipation". This was a cut to the heart of most of those I
knew while in that school and the final removal of any physical memories of our
whole school life, since Horace Mann Jr. High was demolished and Central High
School building replaced by a building located not even close to being central.
Thankfully the purchaser, Public Service Company of Oklahoma has kept the
appearance of the building, but somewhat modernized it. That was necessary
since it was not air conditioned.
It did not bother them that General Lee never actually owned any slaves and
any involved were inherited by his wife. Reportedly he also was on record as
opposing slavery and had freed many of his wife's once they were literate and
could function in society and business. Also, President Lincoln had asked him to
lead the Union Army, but he declined because he did not 'want to be in the
position of killing any relatives'. Also he was a top of class graduate of the military
academy at West Point, was pardoned by Lincoln and treated generously at the
surrender by General Grant, who refused to take his sword.
Learned by me while on an "Honor Flight" to DC was that the Arlington
National Cemetery is on the property originally the Lee estate and the Lee home is
still present there. Maybe the next attack on his memory will be to rename that
whole area to eradicate his name completely from history. Of course there have
been some well publicized 'riots' in the South were militant mobs succeeded in
destroying statues of prominent individuals.
All these riotous mobs will continue to carry out their nefarious conduct until
the police of various levels of Government come up with the political permission
and capability to physically quell those illegal actions and incarcerate them, where
they should be, and exact reparations for those damaged by their actions. At least
we can hope for sanity to again rule.
END
Composed April 23, 2019
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. © 2019 841 Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com