by John Stevenson
(published September 2015)
The actress Julianne Moore is tired of apologizing for the name of the school she attended: J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, Virginia. She felt compelled to apologize because of the “history of racism it represents.”
Moore wrote: “We name our buildings, monuments, and parks after exalted and heroic individuals…It is reprehensible to me that…a school should carry the name of a person who fought for the enslavement of other human beings…” and so on. She is petitioning to have the school renamed Thurgood Marshall High School.
It might surprise Ms. Moore to learn that J.E.B. Stuart was not a slaveholder. Although born into a slaveholding family, Stuart left home young and obtained an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at age 17. Stuart served with distinction in the Union Army until secession.
In the mid-19th century, many Americans placed allegiance to their State above allegiance to the Union. So it was with Robert E. Lee (another non-slaveholder), and so it was with Stuart. They could have remained in the Union Army but chose instead to serve Virginia. We can’t examine their hearts, but since slavery played no significant part in their lives it is likely they were motivated by allegiance to Virginia, not to the institution of slavery. In fact, Stuart said “…right or wrong, alone or otherwise, I go with Virginia.”
Both Lee and Stuart fought famously and nobly for their cause. Therefore they would seem to qualify under Moore’s criteria of “exalted and heroic individuals.” Just right for having public buildings named after them, particularly in Virginia.
But the movement to rid our culture of all traces of the Confederacy, and of those who fought for it, marches on. This is an effort to remake history as the revisionists wish it was rather than as it really was. The creation of a past more to their liking.
How have they overlooked Washington and Lee University? With Washington being a slaveholder and Lee being a Confederate, it seems that the revisionists could score a two-fer by forcing that university to change its name.
On a personal note, my high school’s sports teams were the “Padres,” named for Father Junipero Serra, who established the California missions. Some contend that Serra enslaved the California Indians in the process of converting them to Christianity. So, sooner or later, my Padres will likely be targeted for renaming. Might as well demolish the nearby statue of Serra, too.
But back to J.E.B. Stuart High School. The actress will likely get her way. People will sign her petition, the school board will cave in, and (voila!) Thurgood Marshall High School.
Another victory in the fight to erase the incorrectness of the past and replace it with a new, more palatable history. Another government-sanctioned scrubbing of history. Another achievement for the Ministry of Truth.
