George Washingtons church to remove his and Robert E. Lees memorial plaques/caption
Why has the Christ Church in Alexandria Virginia embraced political correctness rather than Christian forgiveness and acceptance? Historically havent churches traditionally been sanctuaries from political persecution? Hence how shameful to attack the memory of an original memberand most famous attendee: the George Washington! Undoubtedly his familys pew No. 5 still stands in mute protest of the leaderships plan to remove two memorial plaques framing the altar of his church. Regarding their wrongheaded decision Scripture says They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact the time is coming when anyone who metaphorically kills you will think they are offering a service to God" (John 16:2). Ironically this organization publicly proclaims: All are welcomeno exceptions". Thus in the name of inclusiveness" a Founding Fatherand Americas first presidentwill shortly be excluded.
A statement released to the congregation last week from church officials explains this highly controversial decision:
The plaques of Washington and Lee in our sanctuary make some in our presence feel unsafe or unwelcome. Some visitors and guests who worship with us choose not to return because they receive an unintended message from the prominent presence of the plaques."
As the cherry tree myth tells us that George Washington could not tell a lie one wonders if this narrative would meet that standard. Apparently the witch hunt of symbols of the Confederacy has mutated to now generally include long-dead slaveholders. Speaking of truth-telling presidents Donald Trump predicted this outcome back on August 15 2017:
But many of those people were there to protest the taking down of the statue of Robert E. Lee. So this week it is Robert E. Lee. I noticed that Stonewall Jackson is coming down. I wonder is it George Washington next week? And is it Thomas Jefferson the week after? You know you really do have to ask yourself where does it stop?"
That is the essential question. Another is how can a George Washington plaque reasonably give offense? It cant. Unfortunately zealotry has migrated from tearing down statues in parks to the interior spaces of church walls. For example liberal do-gooders" have doggedly pursued Robert E. Lee wherever hes referenced. As a fellow parishioner of Christ Church Gen. Lees plaque will also be rooted out in a similar manner as the National Cathedrals stain glass window that featured him. Ah these poor beleaguered generals! They survived brutal American wars but are proving no match for the revisionist fervor fouling todays air.
Its unfair to punitively apply 21st century sensibilities to great men from long gone eras. Like the rest of the human race theyre not perfect. They also dont have the benefit of hindsight. Flaws and all their lives shaped our collective cultural heritage. Thus their mistakes" remain valuable because theyre instructive. Indeed the wise study learn from and remember history. Thats precisely why it should be preserved: warts and all.
How is it not a barbaric act to destroy history whatever the excuse? As food for thought across the world there is another more strident group doing a lot more than simply defacing ancient places of worship for jaded political purposes. With similar self-righteousness they rationalize dynamiting churches and wielding sledgehammers against priceless religious iconography. Undoubtedly the decision-makers at Christ Church like the rest of us would see this as wrong. But the difference between the actions of both parties is ultimately only a matter of degree isnt it?
David L. Hunter is an Associate Editor at Capitol Hill Outsider and a Newsmax contributor. Hes on Twitter and blogs at davidlhunter.blogspot.com. He is published in The Washington Post The Washington Times FrontPage Mag and extensively in Patriot Post Canada Free Press and American Thinker.