The following guest op-ed piece was sent to the News-Press and The Banner papers in SW Florida at the time of the birthdays of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and Robert E. Lee. To our knowledge, it was not printed in the paper. “Why Robert E. Lee REMAINS a Great American”
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Each January Americans are reminded of the achievements of two great Americans--Dr. Martin L. King and Robert E. Lee. They have much in common and are celebrated by national and state holidays. Devout Christians, both are widely admired, faced immense hatred yet served as role models for others, and attained international fame. Both are also accused of personal failings. Lee is accused of treason and supporting slavery. King often drank to excess and engaged in sleazy extramarital affairs.
One problem with this is that the charges against Lee are false. He resigned his U.S. army commission before accepting a Confederate one. He fought to defend his home. Lee freed his wife’s slaves before Grant freed those in his own family. When Lee was indicted for treason in 1865, Grant threatened to resign. Lee prevented a guerilla war. He did more to unite the nation than anyone. He always opposed slavery and, when pushed, endorsed Black men voting after the war. Why his memorial, dedicated to the citizens of Ft. Myers and Lee County, was removed in the middle of the night by Ft. Myers remains a mystery to many.
It’s time to restore the local memorial to this great American.
[words 200]
Jack Bovee
Fort Myers, FL
The writer has been a social studies educator, founder of Rho Kappa--the National Social Studies Honor Society--past president of the Florida Council for the Social Studies, and a former Elementary School Principal of the Year in Lee County, Florida. He may be reached at: jsbovee@aol.com.
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