Austin, Texas is a weird place. I don't think anyone will disagree with me on this and if you do disagree, you haven't experienced it — not really.
Austin is home of many questionable things that are hard to describe and is a central hub of all liberal thinking in Texas. Some of this thinking comes in the form of proactive change for the "good of the community." One of the most recent pushes involves the names of four elementary schools.
Earlier, this summer, Austin citizens voted to remove Confederate monuments from the capitol. Right on them. There was valid reason prompting this, including many other southern states doing similar acts.
The latest edition in the proactive step is one that just doesn't sit well with me. Throughout the summer, and especially more recently, parents in the Hyde Park area of Austin have been petitioning AISD to change the name of Robert E. Lee Elementary School to something that better reflects "the values of the district or the community."
Now, I understand that Robert E. Lee was a general for the Confederacy during the Civil War and that many people are concerned with what the Confederacy represents, especially with as many hate-crimes towards the African-American community that have been occurring recently. However, I don't agree with the actions of the some of the parents that are standing up for this.
Specifically, I want to point out Mr. Junker, a parent interviewed by KEYE during their coverage. He says that the name has become a burden to the kids and teachers of the school. He also said that it is important to see the message the name of the school sends to the students, currently and in the future.
First off, a name is what you make of it. The school is in excellent standing within the district with many alumni being successful in the future. I am fairly certain that the name of the elementary school that they went to when they were too young to truly comprehend the tribulations and meanings of the Civil War did not burden them to become who they are today.
Secondly, the message is only valid based on interpretation. Do you see Robert E. Lee as the general who fought on the wrong side of the Civil War, yet still personally opposed slavery? Or do you see him a decorated military man who helped secure Texas as a member of the United States and was personally against slavery? To add to this point, one of the names who thought to replace Lee is Willie Nelson. I personally would choose decorated military over country music star who is synonymous with marijuana usage to "reflect the values of the community."
I could go on and talk about how it would talk about how it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to change a name of a school, or how if Lee Elementary gets changed, what it would mean for other schools in the district, but I think it is fair to say my position is firm.
You can't bury the past with name changes, people of Austin. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
If you would like to ready KEYE-TV's report, click here.http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/st...
