NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WBMA) – A statue of former KKK leader and Confederate soldier Nathan Bedford Forrest that has been in the Tennessee capitol for over 40 years could be replaced by another famous Tennessean.
Local lawmakers are considering options to replace Forrest and according to reports, Dolly Parton is one candidate.
The Tennessean reported in December last year that Republican state Rep. Jeremy Faison was the first person to bring up the idea of removing the statue that's been in the capitol building since 1978. Faison said he could "think of 100 other people deserving of that post" before suggesting Parton because of her popularity and status as a local and national role model.
More on this story at
WBMA (Birmingham). Those unfamiliar with Dolly should
read this 2019 post and listen to at least part of the podcast (start at 01:30 to skip the ad and promo).
As much as I disapprove of the removal and vandalism of the statues, Dolly Parton is a fine choice for the erection of one. She's done a lot of good for the world.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. One should not build statues to glorify traitors or failures, and all Confederate leaders are by definition both.
DeleteGeneral LeMay felt that, if America had lost WWII, he would have been tried as a war criminal, due to the firebombings carried out under his command.
ReplyDeleteThere are atrocities in EVERY war. Often by men who, in other situations, are fine men.
Forrest is an odd one. He is, so far as I know, the only man to begin the Civil War as a private, but end up a general. His tactics were being studied for use in WW1 (and probably WW2). He was the most feared commander in the South. Sherman supposedly said that if it took 10,000 live and broke the US Treasury, Forrest had to be stopped.
There is debate as to whether he was responsible for the Ft. Pillow massacre or even being in the KKK (I believe he testified to Congress on this matter).
Here's the thing: Forrest was a slave traders and owned slaves. Yet he also, after the South was defeated, did not go guerrilla, did not foment continued uprising against the Union, but sought to be a good citizen.
I imagine that nothing less than perfection will suit some. If so, there's only going to be one statue...and He doesn't need them.
Whether he was an excellent commander is besides the point. He was KKK and that alone should be enough to relegate him to a history book rather than being honored with a statue.
ReplyDeleteThis statue keeps falling over...must be topheavy...
ReplyDelete