Stealthy removal on UT (Austin: purchasing, tax, safety)

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Perhaps. But, then, I had a friend who was a research librarian at the Perry Castaneda Library who used to share the kinds of questions she would get from students (and not just freshmen). One of them was: "There was a war. I don't know where it was or when it was, but the slaves were freed. Do you know anything about that?"

Then a statue of Lee is just more likely to confuse them more .

[Mrs.JT]

Originally Posted by Uconndoit

And most black people I know, including myself, think the statues are disgusting and should be taken down.

I second this. I'm a hybrid composed of black and Japanese, and even my Japanese side thinks the statues should come down. No question.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Perhaps. But, then, I had a friend who was a research librarian at the Perry Castaneda Library who used to share the kinds of questions she would get from students (and not just freshmen). One of them was: "There was a war. I don't know where it was or when it was, but the slaves were freed. Do you know anything about that?"

I had students who were confused by the Capitol at 11th & Congress and the one in DC.

[mudbug]

Darrell Royal resisted black athletes as a coach at UT and other universities.
Lets change the name of the stadium.
Only makes sense and his issues are from the 1960's not the 1860's

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Yes, I graduated with a chemical engineering degree. It was cheap back then, so I was also getting a teaching certification. Not sure whether I graduated or not matters, though? I suppose if I was so deviant as to wander by the liberal arts area of campus I must not be able to graduate? Do I need your educational background to determine if your opinion is worth?

But anyway, this is not a hot button topic for me. You are apparently as wound-up as 'the other side', though, so I am not sure where you get the right to 'cast shade' (not sure I used that right, but I will keep practicing ). Hogg auditorium is named after a governor of Texas (I think his claim-to-fame was he was the first governor of Texas born in Texas?). I have no idea what else he did of importance or whether he was involved in nefarious activities or had deep-dark secrets. The building is named after him as the governor of Texas which, it seems to me, is rather non-objectionable at the very least.

If Robert E. Lee was a governor of Texas, or fought in the Texas Revolution, put a statue up and keep it up - but not in CW attire. Despite whatever else he did in his life, REL is really known for one thing and one thing only (at least in Texas) - a failed war against the United States of America. That is not worth of honoring in a public space.

Robert E Lee did fight in the Mexican/American war which did involve Texas.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by mudbug

Robert E Lee did fight in the Mexican/American war which did involve Texas.

Yes, yes, and THAT must be why there is a statue of him in confederate uniform .

Seriously, though, I know he has some ties to Texas, but none of those are what made him 'famous' nor what the statue is honoring.

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Yes, yes, and THAT must be why there is a statue of him in confederate uniform .

Seriously, though, I know he has some ties to Texas, but none of those are what made him 'famous' nor what the statue is honoring.

So you where involved in the original statue discussion? How do you know that REL's heroic action in the Mexican/American war were not mentioned? He is very famous at West Point for his actions in the Mexican/American war. Which benefited Texas.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by mudbug

So you where involved in the original statue discussion? How do you know that REL's heroic action in the Mexican/American war were not mentioned? He is very famous at West Point for his actions in the Mexican/American war. Which benefited Texas.

Well, then, put up a statue at WP. I really don't personally care if there is a statue or not, but the convoluted 'justification' of the statues is pretty humorous.

By the way, I read all the plaques associated with those statues some 30+ years ago, and although I don't recall exactly what they said, I would have remembered if they mentioned heroic actions in the M/A war.

[je4xff]

I don't really get the "removing history" argument. I guess I'm in the camp where I see little historical value of the statues. UT has several libraries on campus with literally thousands of books containing all the history around these subjects. No one wants to pull the books from the shelves and burn them.

Way back when I was at U.T. taking an art history class, I seem to remember a lecture about statues and sculpture and their uses and purpose throughout history. The intentions of statues are both about telling a story, but also and more importantly about paying tribute to the subject matter. The Greeks and Romans primarily created statues of those they considered heroes (or actual gods).

Now as an example of something maybe we can all relate to, think about the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue. Is it there because of some great historical significance, or because it invokes tribute to a legend? Or both? If the SRV statue was removed, I'd be quite pissed. But not because of destroying history, but precisely because it is intended as a relic of honor. I'm perfectly content to see the confederate statues gone. Anyways, I think there's something about incarnate sculpturing that goes above and beyond the purpose of simple history telling (as opposed to books and other forms).

And on the flip-side, how many here offended by the "removing of history" mindset would be ok erecting a statue of Osama Bin Ladin on campus?

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by je4xff

I don't really get the "removing history" argument. I guess I'm in the camp where I see little historical value of the statues. UT has several libraries on campus with literally thousands of books containing all the history around these subjects. No one wants to pull the books from the shelves and burn them.

That will probably be next on the agenda.

Originally Posted by je4xff

Way back when I was at U.T. taking an art history class, I seem to remember a lecture about statues and sculpture and their uses and purpose throughout history. The intentions of statues are both about telling a story, but also and more importantly about paying tribute to the subject matter. The Greeks and Romans primarily created statues of those they considered heroes (or actual gods).

We are not Greek.

Originally Posted by je4xff

Now as an example of something maybe we can all relate to, think about the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue. Is it there because of some great historical significance, or because it invokes tribute to a legend? Or both? If the SRV statue was removed, I'd be quite pissed. But not because of destroying history, but precisely because it is intended as a relic of honor. I'm perfectly content to see the confederate statues gone. Anyways, I think there's something about incarnate sculpturing that goes above and beyond the purpose of simple history telling (as opposed to books and other forms).

Sure...we can all relate to this because it is Stevie Ray Vaughn...right?

Originally Posted by je4xff

And on the flip-side, how many here offended by the "removing of history" mindset would be ok erecting a statue of Osama Bin Ladin on campus?

Strawman argument. Enough said.