In ancient China, a physician could not look directly upon a lady from the Emperor’s court; she would appear before him in a screened palanquin. All diagnoses were the result of careful questions lest one offend, a matter that could lead to decapitation, or worse! — and an examination of the lady’s hands and wrists, the only parts of her anatomy available to the physician’s scrutiny. Obviously, such “diagnoses” seldom resulted in a return to good health, thus making pointless the physician’s intervention.
Today we have more access in our society to the nakedness of human bodies than we do to many issues affecting our culture. We are forced to tiptoe around “sensitive” matters not because the facts are unknown to us—as was the body of the Chinese noblewoman to the doctor—but because those facts are unacceptable to certain groups and when facts become unacceptable, there can be no rational, intellectual discourse involving them. Eventually we reach a condition in which discourse is so limited as to be useless! When that point is reached, one must then ask, why bother? The truth is as far from those seeking it as was a correct diagnosis from the ancient Chinese physician.
The matter here is the ongoing—indeed increasing—assault upon all things Southern including Dixie’s history and heritage encompassing a period during which thirteen Southern States exercised their constitutional right of secession and established a legitimate nation upon this continent called the Confederate States of America. In better times, men of good will on both sides would sit down and debate these issues using such sources as were appropriate and credible. Though there might be very little agreement when all was said and done, yet the process was sacrosanct and respected by all. Today, such debate is not even permitted. Those who attack the South do so with impunity as every attempt to counter their charges are, like the efforts of the Chinese doctor, disallowed. All defense of the South fails because it “offends” those who insist on believing that the cause of the South—and hence the South itself—was evil and therefore its heroes, symbols and monuments must be driven from the Public Square.
This is what prevails virtually throughout the South in places like Lexington with its banishment of the flags of Lee and Jackson, at Washington & Lee with its removal of the battle flag from the Lee Chapel, in Danville with the demand of the Historical Society to remove the Confederate flag from a Confederate museum, in the Pelham Chapel which forbids the Confederate flag anywhere on the grounds and, worst of all, in the (former) Museum of the Confederacy, established by its Founders to commemorate: “The glory, the hardships, the heroism of the war (as) a noble heritage for our children. To keep green such memories and to commemorate such virtues, it is our purpose to gather together and preserve . . . the sacred relics of those glorious days.” The Museum was supposed to be: ” . . . an organization to preserve a true and faithful record of the gallant struggle made by the soldiers of the South for independence being keenly felt . . . its object being to teach all future generations the true history of the war and the principles for which these soldiers laid down their lives.”
But in keeping with the current crusade against all that is Southern and therefore Confederate, that institution rejected its duties, betrayed its trust and wedded itself to a “heritage partner” run by the United States Parks Department, an agency that makes no secret of its contempt for all things Confederate. And while many of these heritage assaults arise from non-Southerners who somehow have achieved positions of political and academic power, this particularly despicable decision was an act of a descendant of the very men whose memories the museum was created to extol—and the result of which will be the exaltation of those against whom his ancestors fought and who were eventually able to subjugate the South and its people. Meanwhile, our politically correct society will not even permit these matters to be debated!—a situation that is both cowardly and unacceptable
Ms. Protopapas, I worked in and around Richmond for 35 years. I never would have lived there or any other city but was rather proud to say “I’m from near Richmond”. I often had to travel the world class Monument Avenue, at times taking it for granted, and was privileged to make frequent trips to The Museum of the Confederacy. I have a hard time describing the excellence of the curatorship and display of Confederate history and people in the Museum and White House. The narrative of the War years in the winding exhibit featuring so many priceless artifacts told the story without editorializing and politics; fifteen years removed I best remember Gen’l Lee’s campsite. With hindsight I recognize change was afoot even before Waite Rawls, recalling speaking to a couple of Museum officers who were very guarded against revealing any enthusiasm for their responsibility.
I wonder – if the Museum hadn’t closed shop and the collections scattered – do you think it would have survived the Summer of St. George? I could see the mayor sending a regiment to firebomb the Museum as they did the UDC headquarters.
Hang in there Valerie. Things are turning around. See Dr. Wilsons post for 1/31/25 and look up groups like Virginia Flaggers, Dixie Forever and Southern heritage groups. All the hate really IS causing a resurgence by private individuals and groups all over the South. In the last 15 to 20 years the truth of the ‘Civil War’ has spread far and wide with more and more informed, and aligned with Us, Americans. We are actually winning the info wars, but it’s slow in relative terms.
Thanks for the post and Have a Dixie Day!
I think the construction of the 1619 memorial at Ft. Monroe has begun, about a week or so ago. They’ve torn up quite a bit of the road and the ground near the seawall and pier. About a hundred yards or so from the Chamberlin.
You have to bear in mind there is no more dangerous demagogue than a religious demagogue. And liberalism is at heart a religion. It has government for its god, the President for its ultimate high priest, Congress and the Supreme Court for its Sanhedrin, whatever mindless drivel passes for public policy as it’s Bible, and ostracism and public shunning for its punishments. So expecting logic and rational thought from a liberal is about like expecting to find cold fire or hot ice. It’s an exercise in futility to say the least.
A fine article. And, I am from Brooklyn NY!!!
Keep enlightening and inspiring us Valerie. Whenever I see your articles I read and am grateful for your efforts
Yes Ms Valerie, keep up the great work. My eyes were opened when the modern day slave supporter wal-mart removed all things Confederate from their shelves in 2015. A knee jerk reaction on their part. However, I don’t shop at wal-mart any longer because of their hypocrisy. And since 2015 the investigation began. For instance “Freedmans Village” stands out as outrageous. Most importantly, as everyone here and those interested in seeking truth outside of the lies, each persons contribution adds up to victory for all. Thank you for your passion. (From Pennsylvania where 6 or 7 Great Confederate Generals arose.)