Confederate statue to be moved from downtown Gainesville

[thelakelander]

Jennifer Tintner

Old Joe is set to have a new home in Gainesville.

The Alachua County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Sept. 22 to move the 111-year-old Confederate soldier statue, known as "Old Joe," to the Matheson Museum.

The decision comes after months of debate about the fate of the statue following the Charleston shootings in June. The statue is currently located in downtown Gainesville on Main Street.

Residents spoke for nearly two hours during the commission meeting about whether to keep the statue in place, relocate it or add a plaque that would explain the history behind it.

For Lizzie Jenkins, an Alachua County resident, speaking at the meeting was another way of demonstrating her civil activism.

"I really don't care about Old Joe's statue. It's not about the statue," said Jenkins. "It's about who you are and how you feel about people."

Full article: http://www.wuft.org/news/2015/09/23/confederate-statue-to-be-moved-to-matheson-museum/

[UNFurbanist]

Anyone think this could ever happen in hemming?

[The_Choose_1]

Anyone think this could ever happen in hemming?

Once again things that piss some off is going to be moved to please others. THIS IS THE SOUTH PEOPLE we lost the civil war. But removing a statue doesn't really change shit in the eyes of a true Southern Gentleman. 

[thelakelander]

Gainesville is a pretty liberal place. Jax isn't. I doubt the statue in Hemming goes anywhere.

[RattlerGator]

And the vote in Gainesville was 3-2, correct? Seems pretty controversial to me. IMHO, the solution isn't taking down or moving these statues. Where possible, make them more inclusive by adding appropriate language honoring Union soldiers. Add a statute or other appropriate markers honoring United States Colored Troops, etc.

However, changing the name of downtown's Confederate Park back to its original name or some other non-Confederate designation? That has to be done and the sooner the better.

[I-10east]

IMO it's much more easier to move some vague statue with no past personal identity (like this G-ville statue) than say the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue in that park up in Memphis.

[Adam White]

Where possible, make them more inclusive by adding appropriate language honoring Union soldiers. Add a statute or other appropriate markers honoring United States Colored Troops, etc.

However, changing the name of downtown's Confederate Park back to its original name or some other non-Confederate designation? That has to be done and the sooner the better.

I agree. I've no issue with a confederate memorial if it solely is there to remember the dead - and assuming the language is appropriate. And I think we need to undo all the pro-confederate changes that were made (especially those made in response to Brown v Board of Education).

[Tacachale]

The Hemming monument isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It's a much bigger and more elaborate piece than even "Ol' Joe" and it would be hard to find another appropriate space for it. It was donated within living memory of the war to commemorate all the Confederate servicemen of Florida. It was, however, part of the pro-Confederate attempt to downplay the strong Unionist current in the state and specifically in Jacksonville.

I've always thought the solution there is not to change the monument, but to add a second one commemorating Union servicemen. Jacksonville also has what is probably the oldest Union monument in Florida, a beautiful 1891 statue in Evergreen Cemetery:

http://www.flpublicarchaeology.org/civilwar/monuments/jacksonville-evergreen-cemetery/evergreen-cemetery/

If I had a lot of money to donate for public monuments, third in line behind James Weldon Johnson and Chief Saturiwa would be refurbishing this piece and relocating it to Hemming Park, along with commemorations for the 54th Massachusetts and the 35th United States Colored Troops, who occupied (or liberated) Jacksonville from Confederate hands.

[Spitfire]

I love the idea of adding a Union monument to Hemming, Tacachale. I think that's quite the viable solution. The only question would be where.

I never knew about that Evergreen monument. I may have to go check it out. 

The biggest issue with the removal of memorials to Confederate fallen or Confederate Veterans is that Confederate soldiers and sailors are considered to be American Veterans under law. So while I support the removal of any and all Confederate flags off government and city lands, I'm rather torn on how Confederate Veteran memorials should be treated. I believe, at least in the realm of service, that they should be treated with the utmost respect. However, I also understand how their display can bring about negativity. It's just a very fine line.

[blizz01]

Wonder if there are similar threads in Atlanta trying to figure out what to do with Stone Mountain......can't haul that off to a museum.

[Adam White]

Wonder if there are similar threads in Atlanta trying to figure out what to do with Stone Mountain......can't haul that off to a museum.

They should just blow the face off that sucker. Not because it's racist, but because it's ugly and stupid.

[The_Choose_1]

Wonder if there are similar threads in Atlanta trying to figure out what to do with Stone Mountain......can't haul that off to a museum.

They should just blow the face off that sucker. Not because it's racist, but because it's ugly and stupid.

Like ISIS is doing? Why is it ugly & stupid to you? I bet you will not answer me which is fine with me. Crap don't stop here go to Mount Rushmore and remove these faces. Then go to Washington and remove the statue of MLK and lets call it a draw.

[The_Choose_1]

The Hemming monument isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It's a much bigger and more elaborate piece than even "Ol' Joe" and it would be hard to find another appropriate space for it. It was donated within living memory of the war to commemorate all the Confederate servicemen of Florida. It was, however, part of the pro-Confederate attempt to downplay the strong Unionist current in the state and specifically in Jacksonville.

I've always thought the solution there is not to change the monument, but to add a second one commemorating Union servicemen. Jacksonville also has what is probably the oldest Union monument in Florida, a beautiful 1891 statue in Evergreen Cemetery:

http://www.flpublicarchaeology.org/civilwar/monuments/jacksonville-evergreen-cemetery/evergreen-cemetery/

If I had a lot of money to donate for public monuments, third in line behind James Weldon Johnson and Chief Saturiwa would be refurbishing this piece and relocating it to Hemming Park, along with commemorations for the 54th Massachusetts and the 35th United States Colored Troops, who occupied (or liberated) Jacksonville from Confederate hands.

Taca lets all join the Historical Society together and get this done!

dumb

[thelakelander]

Jacksonville also has what is probably the oldest Union monument in Florida, a beautiful 1891 statue in Evergreen Cemetery:

http://www.flpublicarchaeology.org/civilwar/monuments/jacksonville-evergreen-cemetery/evergreen-cemetery/

Wow, I never knew this. Thanks for sharing.

[Adam White]

Wonder if there are similar threads in Atlanta trying to figure out what to do with Stone Mountain......can't haul that off to a museum.

They should just blow the face off that sucker. Not because it's racist, but because it's ugly and stupid.

Like ISIS is doing? Why is it ugly & stupid to you? I bet you will not answer me which is fine with me. Crap don't stop here go to Mount Rushmore and remove these faces. Then go to Washington and remove the statue of MLK and lets call it a draw.

Why don't you just ask me out and get it over with? No need to keep stalking me on this forum.