On Lake Calhoun
On this whole affair, I detect more than a fair amount of fake outrage. I trust most of you will be familiar with the topic of the minute, that of whether to keep the name "Lake Calhoun" or to change it to the Dakota name "Bde Maka Ska".
I think it's a rather silly proposition. Yes, of course, John Calhoun supported slavery. In fact, he stood on a much more unapologetic platform regarding slavery than many of his associates; he stated it was both "positive" and "good", rather than merely as a "necessary evil". Truly a despicable position to take, as I know I do not need to relay to you, dear reader.
I should like to ask anybody that agrees with this as a reason to change the name as to what their plans are for the Library of National Congress? After all, it started as slaveholder Thomas Jefferson's private library and therefore carries his legacy and, indeed fingerprints (both figuratively and literally) within its hallowed halls. Shall we take that as opportunity to, say, change the name of the "Thomas Jefferson Building"?
Further, Mr. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. Should there be some grand alteration here that will only satiate those who impose said change?
In fact, it was Mr. Jefferson who wrote the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom that was the embryonic statute that would later become our all-important First Amendment. The First Amendment, by the way, was written by fellow slaveholder James Madison. Does that merit some sort of... "update" on the back of Mr. Jefferson's and Mr. Madison's slave holding history?
Where do we demarcate the extent to which our outrage should reach regarding how we treat our unfortunate history with slavery? I would very much like to know.
Food for thought.
A good friend of mine, Adam Hackney, of whom we have very diametrically opposed political views on almost everything asked the following, "why do we care about a name change?". Damn good question. To recall you, dear reader, to my opening sentence, I truly think it has been done primarily out of boredom. We, as Americans (both Left and Right) sure do love our outrage, don't we?
My own thoughts, for anyone that insists on a name change, would be to change the name to the English translation of "Bde Maka Ska", which is "White Earth Lake". I find that to be quite a majestic name, personally. I have gotten into a few arguments with people that insist the local populous simply learn the Dakota name and pronunciation. I, quite honestly, chuckle at this notion. "Bde Maka Ska" is not a phrase that will be readily assimilable into the vernacular of the Minnesota consensus for rather obvious reasons. One boring frump hellbent on committing intellectual suicide went so far as to infer, no, outright proclaim, racism from this notion. Not at all. It is simply that, in my view, people are slow to change. Frankly, it would be difficult enough to get people to start calling the lake "White Earth Lake".
In any event, even if the name change does stick, it will be more of a symbolic victory, most certainly not functional. I risk repeating myself by saying that people are slow to change and will very likely continue referring to the lake as "Lake Calhoun".
My humble two cents which, indeed, may not be worth much more than that.
I think it's a rather silly proposition. Yes, of course, John Calhoun supported slavery. In fact, he stood on a much more unapologetic platform regarding slavery than many of his associates; he stated it was both "positive" and "good", rather than merely as a "necessary evil". Truly a despicable position to take, as I know I do not need to relay to you, dear reader.
I should like to ask anybody that agrees with this as a reason to change the name as to what their plans are for the Library of National Congress? After all, it started as slaveholder Thomas Jefferson's private library and therefore carries his legacy and, indeed fingerprints (both figuratively and literally) within its hallowed halls. Shall we take that as opportunity to, say, change the name of the "Thomas Jefferson Building"?
Further, Mr. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. Should there be some grand alteration here that will only satiate those who impose said change?
In fact, it was Mr. Jefferson who wrote the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom that was the embryonic statute that would later become our all-important First Amendment. The First Amendment, by the way, was written by fellow slaveholder James Madison. Does that merit some sort of... "update" on the back of Mr. Jefferson's and Mr. Madison's slave holding history?
Where do we demarcate the extent to which our outrage should reach regarding how we treat our unfortunate history with slavery? I would very much like to know.
Food for thought.
A good friend of mine, Adam Hackney, of whom we have very diametrically opposed political views on almost everything asked the following, "why do we care about a name change?". Damn good question. To recall you, dear reader, to my opening sentence, I truly think it has been done primarily out of boredom. We, as Americans (both Left and Right) sure do love our outrage, don't we?
My own thoughts, for anyone that insists on a name change, would be to change the name to the English translation of "Bde Maka Ska", which is "White Earth Lake". I find that to be quite a majestic name, personally. I have gotten into a few arguments with people that insist the local populous simply learn the Dakota name and pronunciation. I, quite honestly, chuckle at this notion. "Bde Maka Ska" is not a phrase that will be readily assimilable into the vernacular of the Minnesota consensus for rather obvious reasons. One boring frump hellbent on committing intellectual suicide went so far as to infer, no, outright proclaim, racism from this notion. Not at all. It is simply that, in my view, people are slow to change. Frankly, it would be difficult enough to get people to start calling the lake "White Earth Lake".
In any event, even if the name change does stick, it will be more of a symbolic victory, most certainly not functional. I risk repeating myself by saying that people are slow to change and will very likely continue referring to the lake as "Lake Calhoun".
My humble two cents which, indeed, may not be worth much more than that.
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