Envision Opelika

I know that when I supported the establishment of the third Historic District in Opelika, I did find that not everyone agreed with my position.  Now I find myself on the Opelika Historic Commission, which has its fans and foes.  When you discuss history, whether is the preservation of an old house that some may think would be better gone, or parts of our past that you feel the same about, then you’ll draw some additional attention.

Recently, Frank White, the Executive Director of the Alabama Historic Commission spoke to members of the Opelika Historic Preservation Society open meeting.  After the meeting I had some additional thoughts.

I got the impression that while Alabama is rich is history, that history that doesn’t always please the entire population.  One group supports the history of the Civil Rights movement and another, the history of the Civil War. Add to that, the past month celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,  the swearing in of President Barack Obama, the anniversary of events in Selma and Black History Month.  That’s a lot of history and a lot of emotion on both sides of the discussion.   Probably for someone reading this, you have your favorites from this list and your least favorite. And I’m okay with that.

As the Azalea Trail Maids passed the reviewing stand during inauguration day activities, the Obama family waved and smiled, while Alabama’s NAACP President Edward Vaughn, had complained earlier that the costumes worn by the girls reminded him of the days of “Gone with the Wind” and slavery. He later apologized for the comments.  On the other side of the coin, I suspect there are some confederate historians, that find the historic events of Selma and the Edmund Pettus Bridge offensive or at the least, events not on their historic calendar. And while the birthday of General Robert E Lee was celebrated on the King Observance Day, remember that Lee said this after the war, “I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South”. Maybe we can just use one of the words common to both groups and just try and be “Civil”.

So, where am I going with this?  I think we should honor all history.  Remember all of it, whether it was painful or not for your particular group. There are many lessons in those hard fought years. Life is pretty complicated, and we should learn to live in a group that doesn’t have to be Red or Blue or Black or White.  Or is it Red & White and Black & Blue. 

In past weekends, I found myself glued to the History Channel and series on the war in the Pacific.  You could get emotional watching the events as they unfolded. Many died on both sides.  But when it is all said and done, I’ll still go to my neighbor of Japanese descent Hiro Fukai’s house, cook some chili and watch TV on Wednesday Nights. We can just all get along!

Jerry Katz is a supporter of Envision Opelika and writes a monthly column for the OA News as part of Envisions contibution to the newspaper.  

Jerry Race Relations