Who was Nathan Bedford Forrest?

[thelakelander]

Students want the school to be renamed Westside High...

http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-01-06/story/students-want-jacksonvilles-forrest-high-be-called-westside-high

[Tacachale]

Good. I'm about ready to have this behind us.

[standalone]

Does anyone remember the Westside Posse or Westside Mafia?  They were based out of the English Estates neighborhood which I think is Forrest territory.  They were first called English Estates Posse and were involved with the shootings and throwing concrete blocks on I-295.  So we are removing the name of a Confederate General and naming the school after a gang?  That's an improvement?  The best you could come up with?  Here, keep tradition of the Confederate General and the education level:  Lost Cause High.

[thelakelander]

Forrest being a community dividing white supremacist is a pretty clear fact. Yet, it's a stretch to equate the name the students want to a neighborhood gang that was around 20 years ago. I mean, how long have natives been calling the Westside....Westside? A century?

[I-10east]

I don't like that name 'Westside' at all. IMO the Firestone name was only slightly better; I guess that first thought of Firestone Tires kinda did that name in. It seems to me that High School has changed from a controversial Confederate name, to a weird very vague, and boring one, which is damn near a lateral move IMO. If that's 'Westside High', then what in the hell does that make Ed White? They removed a controversial figure from Jax history, I guess it's a 'success story' whatever...

[Tacachale]

He's not from "Jax history", he had nothing to do with the city.

[I-10east]

^^^I understand that's a hot button topic on here that's been run through with a fine-toothed comb. I was referring to the years that Forrest High has been in Jax since 1959; Not the personal accounts of Nathan Bedford Forrest.

[thelakelander]

It's a success simply for the city not being a national laughing stock of backwardness. There's an economic benefit to working to improve a community's overall image to the outside world.

[I-10east]

^^^Blah blah blah, stirring up confusion is your classic shtick... Misconstruing phrases by highlighting them, followed by your vintage passion-filled babble. Stay consistent my friend....

[carpnter]

I think Westside High School is a pretty dull name.  It's a shame they couldn't come up with something better.  That being said it doesn't affect me at all and I'll never have kids going to that school since I don't live on that side of town and have no desire to move there.  If they want to have a dull name for their school, so be it. 

[I-10east]

I think Westside High School is a pretty dull name.  It's a shame they couldn't come up with something better.

Bingo! That's exactly what I was getting at. You mean to tell me that Forrest never had a notable principal? Too bad the name choices sucked from the beginning.  I'm not against a democratic progress, but many HS kids would be cool with naming a school "Swag Valley High" or "Flying Spaghetti Monster High".

[CityLife]

Scott Speicher High please.

[BridgeTroll]

Skynyrd High would have got us back in the news...

[I-10east]

^^^Man, you're desperate for attention....

[I-10east]

^^^Yup, whatever....They changed a controversial HS name to a very stupid one just like I said. I been upfront about that ever since I've known the name...Keep on insisting to bring up the old racial crap that I don't even care about....Pull up something from the Huffington Post Stephen, than maybe you'll calm down and relax...