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In
2007, America and the world will mark the 400th
anniversary of the settlement at Jamestown, an epic
event in human history. I urge Virginia's elected
officials to make sure that the celebration
doesn't become the cause of a huge embarrassment for
the Commonwealth and its citizens.
The
state capitol grounds will be the center of
attention for hundreds of thousands of tourists and
the world's media. Unfortunately, state bureaucrats
appear to only see this event in terms of the money,
estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, it
will cost to repair and refurbish the State Capitol
Square grounds and facilities. Admittedly,
Jefferson's Capitol, home to the oldest Legislature
in the New World and the Governor's office, needs
fixing up. Whether the politicians in Richmond
should have agreed to spend $100 million on the
Capitol when they were reneging on promises to our
schools and their students is legitimate question.
Regardless
of the answer, all the new construction materials
will not hide the obvious: There is not a single
statute on the Capitol Square featuring an
African-American or a female Virginian. The last new
statute erected on the grounds was the likeness of
former Governor and Senator Harry F. Byrd, the
foremost segregationist in Virginia's political
history.
Truth
was, the Byrd Machine tried to keep Virginia for
"their kind," and those of us who know our
history also know this never included most
Virginians. Harry and his henchman ruled with an
iron grip for half a century.
He
got his statute. Let it stand, for it serves as a
reminder of many things, all which we need to
remember, not forget. But now, it seems to me, the
time has come to put some balance in the scales of
political justice. We can no longer turn our heads
and pretend that we don't see.
Imagine: Four centuries since Jamestown, the whole
world watching and not a single statute on our
Capitol Grounds showing we get it. There is no
reason for our elected officials to allow us to be
held up to such international ridicule.
To me, the idea of finally erecting a statute in
Capitol Square to honor the women and
African-American heroes who built Virginia hardly
seems controversial at all. But here we are, and
nothing has yet been done, at least as best as the
average citizen can determine. Given the normal
governmental process required to change this
unacceptable condition by 2007, there isn't time to
waste.
Green stuff alone will not restore our state capitol
square to its proper glory. The tourists and media
due to arrive in 2007 are coming to see how far we
have come since the first harsh winter at
Jamestown. This is not measured in
bricks and mortar and the convenience of a new
parking garage. The New World gave birth to an
individual freedom which electrified the minds of
people everywhere.
It started in Virginia. It is our revolution. Let's
make sure the whole world knows how much pride we
take in it.
--
April 21, 2003
(c) Copyright. All rights reserved. Paul Goldman.
2003.
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