Heroes or villains?
What an irony that Martin Luther King’s and Robert E. Lee’s birthdays are celebrated on the same day. Each is a hero to many and a villain to many. Why does it have to be so? Has our “tribalism” prevented us from appreciating people’s admirable qualities if they are not of our tribe?
I grew up with a picture of Gen. Lee over my bed. I loved reading about his military genius and campaigns. I mostly admired his character and tried to model myself on him. His traits of self-discipline, hard work, integrity, intelligence, willingness to take the blame for failures, and his acceptance of defeat without hatred, but with an effort toward reconciliation. I didn’t always live up, but it gave me a path to follow.
I believe Rev. King was a true prophet. Like the prophets of Israel he called his country to justice for all, care for the poor and oppressed, to speak truth to power, and to respect every human being. He showed tremendous courage, commitment, and devotion. This ultimately cost him his life. He has been an inspiration for me to try and support an America with those values.
These good, not perfect men, show the danger of judging them strictly from our own personal perspective and where we are in our culture at the moment. Both were men of their time and of their society. Today we all admit that slavery was a cruel and unjust system. In the society that Robert E. Lee lived it was legal and the economy was built on it. He defended that society out of a sense of duty to his state. Does that make him a villain?
In the wake of the Me Too Movement you could view Martin Luther King as another powerful male who reportedly used his position to take advantage of women. Does that make him a villain?
Do we disown our founding father George Washington because he owned slaves? Do we take Andrew Jackson, who broadened democracy, off the twenty dollar bill because he was a duelist and drove Native Americans from their homes on the Trail of Tears? Do we take down statues of the Buffalo Soldiers because they participated in the genocide of Native Americans? What about Lyndon Johnson who pushed through the Civil Rights Bill and programs to help the poor because he presided over an unpopular war and was a womanizer. Where does it stop?
Most of us have made mistakes or poor decisions in our lives. Does that negate the good we have done? We would like to have those errors put in perspective and not define who we are. Should we not adapt that same attitude toward our public figures? I believe we do a disservice to them and to ourselves if we lose our heroes. We don’t have to white wash their short comings, but we don’t have to demand perfection. I have counseled people for over thirty years and know that we all have our struggles. Let’s accept that this is part of the human condition. Bible scholars have said that two thirds of Jesus’ teachings are about forgiveness and compassion. Should we not follow that example as a higher model no matter what tribe we identify with?
Raymond Overstreet
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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