{"id":2068416,"date":"2023-10-16T03:02:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T07:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-statues-topple-so-do-our-freedoms\/"},"modified":"2023-10-16T03:06:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T07:06:55","slug":"as-statues-topple-so-do-our-freedoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-statues-topple-so-do-our-freedoms\/","title":{"rendered":"As statues fall, freedom crumbles."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fas-statues-topple-so-do-our-freedoms%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2068416&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New York City\u200c Considers Removing Historical Statues<\/h2>\n<p>New\u200c York City is currently discussing the removal of statues honoring significant historical figures, including Christopher\u2063 Columbus and,\u200c shockingly, George Washington.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063controversy \u2064surrounding Washington stems from\u2064 his ownership of slaves. Despite the fact that he \u2063treated his slaves with respect and played \u2062a crucial role\u200d in the creation of \u2064the United States, he is now being condemned for his past \u2062actions.<\/p>\n<p>Alan Dershowitz and \u2064Andrew Stein criticize this new perspective on \u200dWashington, emphasizing his contributions to \u200bAmerica&#8217;s formation:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>&#8220;George Washington did \u2063benefit from slavery, although\u2062 he\u200c emancipated his own slaves upon his\u2063 death. But \u200bwhat he accomplished for other people changed the face\u2064 of America for the better. There probably wouldn\u2019t have been a\u2063 United States of America were it not\u200d for\u200d Gen. \u200dWashington. He\u2064 demanded equal rights for those of all\u2063 religious persuasions, sending letters to the leaders of various denominations \u2026 \u200cCertainly, that and his other good deeds should be part of any calculus \u2064in evaluating America\u2019s first president.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If the city&#8217;s cultural affairs committee decides against removing the statues, they \u200bplan to\u2062 install explanatory plaques\u2063 next to each\u200c one,\u200b highlighting the \u200dperceived cultural &#8220;sins&#8221; of these individuals.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, these individuals\u200b were the ones who fought for and\u200b established the freest country on Earth. \u2063They liberated our \u2062nation \u200bfrom the\u200b horrors of slavery and ensured freedom of speech and religion for all. However, \u2062due to the influence of the &#8220;woke&#8221; movement, they are now seen as irredeemable villains who must\u200d be erased from our collective memory.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GWU \u200cDrops &#8216;Colonials&#8217; Nickname<\/h2>\n<p>In July 2020, George Washington University formed a committee to consider retiring\u2064 the school&#8217;s nickname, &#8220;The Colonials,&#8221; as it was seen as glorifying colonialism and\u200d systemic oppression. \u2063Two years later, the committee announced \u2064the change, claiming\u200c that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-statues-topple-so-do-our-freedoms\/\" title=\"As statues fall, freedom crumbles.\">original selection lacked thoughtful consideration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Back in \u20641926, \u2064when the\u200c nickname\u200c was \u2064chosen, George \u200bWashington and the colonists were revered as heroes\u2063 who fought for our \u2064freedom. The sacrifice they made united our country and instilled pride in the\u2062 freedom they secured.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Historical Context<\/h2>\n<p>It is essential \u2063to understand Washington and Jefferson&#8217;s actions within their historical and \u2063social context. While they\u200b did own slaves, we now recognize that \u2064slavery was morally unacceptable. We must\u200b learn from history and strive for a more just society.<\/p>\n<p>In my recent book, &#8220;Toward a\u2063 More Perfect Union: The Moral and Cultural Case for Teaching the Great\u2063 American Story,&#8221; I aim to provide a balanced understanding of our \u200dnation&#8217;s history \u200cand heritage. By\u2062 erasing \u200bfigures like \u2062Washington and Jefferson from our national memory, \u200dwe risk losing sight of how we arrived at our current state\u2062 and where \u200cwe should go in the future.<\/p>\n<p>In his book, &#8220;The War on History,&#8221; Jarrett Stepman\u200b discusses the dangers of destroying statues and \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blinken-authorized-use-of-blm-flags-at-us-embassies-consulates-on-floyd-anniversary\/\" title=\"Blinken Authorized Use of BLM Flags at US Embassies, Consulates on Floyd Anniversary\">monuments honoring<\/a> our country&#8217;s founders:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>&#8220;There is a spreading belief that the men who built this\u2064 country were oppressive and\u2063 their\u200c values irredeemable. The purveyors of this view argue that we must transcend the ugly ideas, principles, and even people of the past to perfect our society. We\u2064 must transform America by wiping out previous generations celebrated as exceptional,\u200d but we know to be \u200ddamnable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We cannot allow \u2064this transformation to occur. History has shown that once \u200dmemories are erased, freedoms are \u200calso at risk. Let us\u2062 celebrate our nation&#8217;s founders instead of condemning them, preserving our freedoms for future generations.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How did the university justify the decision to change the\u200c nickname?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  S seen as controversial and offensive. The committee&#8217;s recommendation\u200d to change the nickname was \u2064recently approved by the\u2064 university&#8217;s Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nhls-dallas-stars-statement-after-mark-cuban-anthem-ban-were-playing-the-national-anthem\/\" title=\"NHL\u2019s Dallas Stars\u2019 Statement After Mark Cuban Anthem Ban: We\u2019re Playing The National Anthem\">controversy surrounding<\/a> the nickname stems \u2064from its association with colonization and the\u2062 negative impact it had on indigenous peoples. Critics argue that using \u2062a term associated with colonization is inappropriate and offensive to the diverse \u2063community of students and staff at the university.<\/p>\n<p>In \u200ba \u2062statement \u200cannouncing the nickname change, \u2063George Washington\u2064 University emphasized\u200c its commitment to inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment for all. The university recognizes that the term &#8220;Colonials&#8221; does not align with these values and has therefore decided to take action.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2062 decision has been met with mixed reactions. Some students and \u200dalumni support the change, \u200bbelieving that\u2063 it reflects a \u200cprogressive \u200dstep towards fostering a more inclusive campus\u2063 culture. Others, however, argue that\u2064 the nickname has historical\u2062 significance and should be retained as a reminder of the university&#8217;s connection to its namesake, George Washington.<\/p>\n<p>It is\u200b important\u2063 to acknowledge that \u200cthe decision to change or retain a nickname is a\u2063 complex one. On one hand, it is crucial to address and rectify any offensive or inappropriate associations that may exist. On the other hand, it is essential to preserve and honor the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-washed-up-leftists-who-found-homes-in-academia\/\" title=\"5 Washed Up Leftists Who Found Homes In Academia\">historical context<\/a> and legacy of \u200dinstitutions.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the goal should be to find a balance that respects both\u200c the concerns of marginalized communities and the historical significance of the institution. This \u2063can be achieved through open and respectful dialogue, where the diverse voices of the community are heard and taken into consideration.<\/p>\n<p>As society continues\u200d to evolve and become more aware\u2062 of the impact of\u2062 language and symbolism, it is\u200c natural for discussions and debates surrounding controversial\u2063 names and\u2063 statues \u2064to \u2064arise. These conversations provide an opportunity for growth and learning, as long as they are \u2063approached with empathy and a genuine willingness \u200bto understand different perspectives.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of George Washington\u200b University, the decision to change the nickname &#8220;Colonials&#8221; \u2062may be seen as a step towards creating a more inclusive and respectful environment for all members of the university community. However, it is essential to continue engaging\u2064 in conversations about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donor-family-sues-college-for-stripping-ancestors-name-from-campus-chapel\/\" title=\"Donor family sues college over ancestor's chapel name removal.\">historical \u2063figures<\/a> and symbols, ensuring that we \u200cdo not erase or oversimplify complex narratives in \u200bour quest for\u2063 progress.<\/p>\n<p>By acknowledging\u200c and understanding the nuances \u2064of \u2064our history, we\u200b can foster a \u200cmore inclusive society that appreciates the contributions of \u200ball individuals, while also learning from\u2063 the mistakes and shortcomings of the past.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New York City may remove statues of notable figures like Christopher Columbus and George Washington. Washington&#8217;s ownership of slaves is the cause for concern, despite reports of his respectful treatment towards them. The debate revolves around his past, raising questions about the removal of his statue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":594,"featured_media":2068417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2068416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/594"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2068416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2068416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2068417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2068416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2068416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2068416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}