Handling Our Historic Failures: Should We Remove History?

Jefferson Davis Bust – Wikimedia commons Photo

Since the terrible tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina where a murderous hate crime was committed against a historically African-American church killing 9 worshippers the Confederate flag has come under attack.  There has been a desire to take it down from the state grounds where it flies over a Confederate memorial in Charleston.

This subject is controversial and has spurred much discussion this week.  In many ways it is sad that our rhetoric and the news programs have focused so much on the young man who committed the murders and now on the Confederate Flag, while not focusing enough on the victims and their tremendous example of love, grace, and forgiveness (see Michael Whitworth’s excellent post on this topic.)

Being that I am a history major and lover of history, I have a few thoughts I wanted to share on this topic.

The Confederate Flag

I stayed in a room in college that had Confederate Flags hanging, though it was not used by us in any kind of a racist way, I am sure looking back it was offensive.  I regret any offense we might have caused. I have never  been a lover of the Rebel flag.  I have always been somewhat uncomfortable with it, and have been opposed to its use for many years.  I do not, nor would I wear or fly the Confederate Flag.  Personally, I feel that most of the racist symbolism tied to the flag has come in the last 80 years or so more than in the Civil War time period.  It was a national flag during the Civil War.  It has become a racist symbol. I strongly oppose all racism on the basis that it is sinful in the eyes of Christ.  Yet, the Confederate Flag still should have a place in historical museums and in Civil War memorials.  It is a key symbol of American history.

Historical Memorials, Busts, and Names

This national discussion has also prompted voices to call for historical busts to be removed from State Capitals.  The Tennessee governor has called for the removal of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s bust.  Political leaders in Kentucky are discussing the bust of Jefferson Davis which currently is in the Capital rotunda with his Civil War rival Abraham Lincoln.  They were both from Kentucky and had ties to the state.  Some have suggested that we should change or remove military bases or forts that are named after Confederate leaders.  Maybe we should changes schools that are named in honor of leaders too?  How far does this go?

My Two Cents!

We need to know and respect our history.  We cannot clean up and santize our historical characters, picking and choosing which ones to honor and remember!  We are a nation filled with a despicable history in many ways!  Yet, we are also a nation filled with a glorious history.  We are a nation with human ancesters who did a lot right and a lot wrong.  But we need to remember the wrong, just like we remember the right!  If a historical symbol becomes current and wrong in meaning, like the Confederate flag, then it should not be used currently.  But it is still a historical symbol that has a place in our history.  

Personally, I don’t think we should remove busts or names of historical leaders of the past.  How far do we go?  Washington was a great man, but had his problems.  Washington and Jefferson both owned slaves.  Alexander Hamilton fought in a duel.  Even Lincoln, one of my favorite historical characters, is not above reproach.

We even face this in the church.  It is sad how many of our forefathers, a few generations back at our Christian schools or in our local congregations, acted unbecoming of the gospel in racist ways.  I love to visit Old Chapel Hall on Freed-Haldeman’s campus and look around on the walls at all the old photos of great preachers and school administrators.  Some of those men taught and acted in ways that were sinful in my understanding of the gospel.  They promoted segregation and did not treat African-American students the same as white students.  Should we remove their photos if we find fault with them?  I certainly think not, we recognize the good they did and learn from their wrongs.    

Consider how God still honored many of his “historical” characters in Scripture though they had checkered past in the genealogy of Jesus and the Hall of Fame of faith in Hebrews 11.  In fact, imagine how many Bible characters would have to be cut out if we only could study the good and not remember the man or woman who had some bad.  David was a great man, but he certainly had lots of faults.  On and on the list could go.  I think we would be left with only Jesus!

We have to realize the place of history in our culture.  It is to help us remember; both the good and the bad.  

By the way, have you ever thought about what folks might be saying about our own leaders and current symbols in 100 years.  We certainly are far from perfect.  Maybe they will try to learn from our mistakes and see some of the good in us.