Jefferson Davis Day
The first and only, President of the Confederate States of America is celebrated by an official state holiday in Florida on June 6th. Davis was a man who was military hero, congressman, senator and stout believer in states’ rights. In fact many historians speculate he was never tried because of the fear that secession was granted under the US Constitution.
An Endangered Holiday
Because of Davis’ stature as leader of the Confederacy and its defense of the morally repugnant practice of human slavery, his day of celebration as well as other prominent Confederates (Robert E. Lee Birthday and Confederate Memorial Day) may become a thing of the past. Whether the holiday should survive is a question that begs serious evaluation. Is this being done as a protest against “racism” or is it an effort to rewrite history?
Racism or Redistribution?
For the last two decades the country has been subjected to accusations of “systemic racism”. America watched monuments and cities vandalized during protests against “systemic racism”. The rise of BLM and Antifa as violent protest organizations shocked everyday citizens. In the wake of the destruction new calls for racial reparations surfaced. Not a word was mentioned about reparations regarding Irish, Chinese or Japanese discrimination extending from post Civil War through World War 2.
Racism or Melting Pot?
Immigration, intermarriage and cultural assimilation created the most free and just society known to humanity. With the free associations Americans have had throughout our history it is impossible to differentiate black from white from red from yellow for the purposes of assigning race. We were, we are and always will be the “melting pot”. Reparations therefore are inherently racist because they tear at the theme of our national fabric: the melting pot.
Should Jefferson Davis Day and Other Confederacy Symbols Survive?
There is no avoiding reality. The Civil War happened. Slavery was a major point of contention. Jefferson Davis led the Confederacy. If we intend to erase our past, Confederate celebrations and symbols will be abolished. If we don’t buy in to the “systemic racism” trope, they may survive as testaments to past sins that America overcame, thus making us stronger. The choice becomes knee jerk reaction versus rational discussion of our history.
America: What is the point?
The opening quote is from Ronald Reagan and eloquently summarizes why so many immigrants have sacrificed to become American citizens. His words also explain why so many service men and women have given life and limb for a nation that extends the promise of equal opportunity to all. Reagan, always the optimist, would probably advise us to acknowledge the sins of the past but recognize the greatness that results from tackling our problems together. Let us choose "E Pluribus Unum" rather than a divisive cancel culture and racial reparations.
COSA encourages ALL US citizens, regardless of political or cultural alignments, to forge relationships with their town/city, county and state representatives. Let these local officials know how we wish to be governed, in spite of the Feds rejecting our voices.
