Good Mornin’! Good Mornin’!
I’m sure I’ve done something, said something, written something or there’s a recording of me that can misinterpreted.
So, please. Don’t ever put my name on a building, a road, a street, a driveway, an alley or even a chicken coop, pasture or lake.
Generations ago, men did things in the light that were honored and their names were held in high esteem but their beliefs molded by the times and fathers who raised them pushed them on a path where things were said and possible actions were done in the dark. Perhaps they just said things they didn’t really believe or adhere to and certainly didn’t act upon.
Or maybe they did.
John Wayne died in 1979, more than 40 years ago.
In the early 70s he was interviewed by Playboy Magazine. The story is more than 12,000 words but the focus is on 400-plus words where he explained his thoughts on “blacks.” Here’s the link, https://pages.shanti.virginia.edu/Wild_Wild_Cold_War/files/2011/11/John_..., take a look and make up your own mind.
The interview has tons of other interesting information as well about that time period.
But now, California Democrats want to take down the statue of John Wayne at the Newport Beach Airport in South Orange County where the Duke spent most of his years on earth.
The airport authority says they won’t take it down and requests like this happen quite often.
Should they take it down? My answer is no. What’s yours?
If we start taking names and statues down everywhere, what will we be left with? No history for one.
When children or tourists ask, “Hey, who is that?” or “Why is this city named Jackson?” There’s a history lesson to live and learn.
If we only name streets and buildings after the squeaky clean, then we’re going to give directions like this.
“Well, take a left on Jesus Lane till you hit the two-lane Jesus Highway. Then, make sure you don’t miss the Jesus Interstate on ramp. Go another hour or so and you’ll hit Jesus Town and take a left on Jesus Street till you hit a dead end. You’re almost there…”
As an Ole Miss grad, I spent plenty of time in Farley Hall. I never knew it was named after a lawyer because it used to be the law school building.
It was just a name of someone once honored but I had a great time learning in that building. Powerful men can make powerful choices and they don’t always have to be what those in power want. It takes a strong man to follow his own convictions and fight inequality.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German citizen, a Lutheran pastor, theologian and an anti-Nazi dissident.
He is looked upon highly in the Christian community.
He was put in a concentration camp and was later hung for his being associated with a plot to kill Hitler. He could have looked the other way, lived out his life and had streets and statues named after him. But he didn’t. His writings and teachings still help shape Christianity today.
I’ll stand up for what’s right but please don’t put my name on anything. It takes the focus off the fight, off the cause and takes the focus out of focus. And don’t forget to turn right on Jesus Road and just stay on it for a while…
