Letter writer: History (and Vance) shouldn’t be subject to current approval

Posted on by Letters
Graphic by Lori Deaton

The opinion expressed by the [letter] writer in your March 30 issue [“Remove Vance’s Name From Downtown Monument,” Xpress] sounds like that of the ISIS gang in the Mideast. She states that Vance’s name should be removed from the Vance Monument because he was typical of many in his time, i.e., he owned slaves.

ISIS has destroyed many precious archaeological sites because they disapprove of anything and anybody who disagrees with them. Your [letter] writer sure sounds like a member of the ISIS cult. Does she want the sculptures of Washington and Jefferson blasted off the face of Mount Rushmore?

History should be left alone to be understood and appreciated. It should not be a matter of current approval. Some of us respect Vance.

— George H. Cooper
Asheville

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5 thoughts on “Letter writer: History (and Vance) shouldn’t be subject to current approval”

  1. The Real World

    Yes George, I agree. It’s so obvious, isn’t it?

    But, we have many, many in this country who believe they have cornered the market on all things “right”. And, in addition to their extreme intolerance of anything other than their way, they believe they are entitled to rewrite history. Which qualifies as the epitome of small-minded arrogance.

    • bsummers

      But, we have many, many in this country who believe they have cornered the market on all things “right”.

      Hey, lay off the authors and supporters of HB2.

      • Peter Robbins

        You changed my mind on this, Barry, when you pointed out that “vance” means bedbugs in Yiddish. Now I say leave the monument alone and let everyone remember the man’s legacy in his own way.

  2. Michael Hopping

    Maybe the answer is to make that monument more inclusive. Why limit the honor to Vance? His intellectual descendants are still with us, preaching state’s rights and shafting minorities at every opportunity. Instead of singling out one practitioner, let’s recognize the impulse that drives them: white conservative domination. Rename the monument the White ConDom and let it stand as a caution to us all.

  3. Jan

    While I agree his name should not be removed, I’ll also find the sort of excuse that others did the same or something similar washes him free of guilt as not correct.
    He did good and he did bad, so both should de addressed.

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