Town of Southern Pines, NC finds celebrating America’s 250th to be TOO divisive

Congrats, gang.  I didn’t think ANYONE could top the elected kooks in the Village of Pinehurst.  But you guys now have a, um,  *healthy* lead in that department.

But when you resort to playing the race card with The Daughters of The American Revolution, you’ve hit rock bottom.

I’m old enough to remember The Bicentennial.  Everybody was happy about that.  And why not?  The world’s grandest experiment in freedom had made it 200 years. How could you complain about that? 

Thanks to the Obama crowd, America’s Marxists are louder and more obnoxious than ever.  There’s been talk that they might take the opportunity of America’s 250th to really beat up on the good ol’ US of A.  It seems we’re getting a preview of what to expect in July:

The Southern Pines Town Council has taken a deliberative approach when considering two plaques to display at the new Town Hall, ultimately denying the two markers following individual concerns and ones raised by community members. 

On Tuesday, the Ccouncil was asked to decide on two items proposed by the Alfred Moore Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution: 

* authorization of a letter of support for an American 250 Patriots marker on the new Town Hall property at the corner of Southwest Broad Street and Massachusetts Avenue; and 

* acceptance of a flag donation with an associated plaque for the same site. 

A majority of the council ultimately rejected each request, with the prevailing sentiment concerned about setting a precedent for markers on community buildings from private entities. The decision to not accept the flag and associated plaque was unanimous;. The council had a more in-depth conversation about the America 250 marker, which resulted in a 3-2 vote. The majority agreed the Town Hall was not the right location for such a plaque.

“I am, with tremendous respect for what you do and who you are, I am a hard ‘no’ as far as having a plaque on a community governmental building that infers that I think everyone who I represent — clearly that is not true — should adopt the policies that either are currently part of the DAR or may have been in the past,” Councilwoman Ann Petersen said. […]

[…] The local DAR presented the offers with chapter regent Marsha Jacobs and member Cathy Carpenter talking about the history of the DAR and why they thought Town Hall was a good location. 

The local chapter was established in 1924. Jacobs spoke about the outreach and community work the organization participates in, from providing scholarships to helping with historic preservation and promoting patriotism. 

“When it comes to this particular marker that we want to present as a gift to the town of Southern Pines, that recognizes the efforts of everybody who participated in the founding of our country. That’s what this marker represents,” Jacobs said. 

The America 250 Patriots marker, designed by the national DAR, would sayread, “Revolutionary War Patriots: This maker commemorates the men and women who achieved American independence. These Patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to found a new nation.”

It would include a note that it was presented by the local DAR chapter in honor of the 250th anniversary of the nation.

Carpenter said the marker is intended to “give people pause to think about the sacrifices made by so many during that time period.”

The DAR considered several areas around Moore County before settling on the Southern Pines Town Hall, saying it’s located off what used to be called Peed Dee Road — now Broad Street. PeedDee Road was a buffalo trail that became a wagon road for immigrants moving into the western part of the state.

Two community leaders, Tessie Taylor and Dot Brower, spoke against displaying the America 250 marker at Town Hall.[…]

[…] “I am in favor of all parts of American history being recognized in their respective places,” Taylor said. “I do not think our Town Hall necessarily needs to start a precedent of having focused organizations being represented within the Town Hall because those spaces are for all of us as community members.”

Taylor suggested the marker be located at the Kenneth Black cemetery off Carolina Green Parkway instead. Black was a Loyalist in the war.

 She also spoke briefly about the history of the DAR, noting someone can only join if they can prove an ancestral connection to the Revolutionary War. While the DAR has made efforts in the last few decades to be more inclusive, Taylor said people of color did not contribute to the freedom of the nation by choice. 

“It’s interesting to note that that organization is beginning to recognize African Americans and Native Americans and other minority Ppatriots who contributed to the fight for American independence from England,” Taylor said. “However, the majority of the people of color, including the Native Americans, were not freed people. They were in servitude, not by choice but by ownership.” […]

[…] Brower echoed the points raised by Taylor.

“It’s the message. Our freedom was not achieved in the Revolutionary War,” Brower said. “I would not be proud or want anyone that I know and love to come to my town and see this on public property that our freedom was achieved in the Revolutionary War. No. That is not the case. And it is not history. It is not real history, and it’s not true history.”

Petersen was the first to voice her hesitation with the offers, noting her family has ties to different DAR chapters and that she won a scholarship from the DAR in high school, writing an essay about what the Constitution means. 

“I thought back over the last couple of weeks about what the Constitution means today,” Petersen said. “And one of the most important things to me about the Constitution is the right to free speech. And I appreciate very much hearing from all of my constituents.

“Most importantly, I appreciate hearing from the ones with whom I do not agree, or think I don’t agree, and talking it out and not getting into a status where we are polarized. I appreciate very much that folks from the community have appeared tonight to express their reservations, and I will be honest with you, I share some of their reservations.”

Councilman Bob Curtin, who retired after more than two decades serving in the Army, said he would bleed “red, white and blue” if he fell off a bike and skinned his knee.

“I thought this was going to be a slam dunk for me,” Curtin said, before explaining his reflections about the DAR, the complex history of the nation and community feelings. […]

[…] “My view is that the Daughters of the American Revolution is a very patriotic organization,” Curtin said. “It really comes down to what the mayor said, and how I see it — is Town Hall an appropriate location and does it represent all the people?”

He said Town Hall did not seem like the best place for this marker, suggesting it could maybe go somewhere else in town. Council members Bill Pate and Debra Gray agreed. 

Pate added, “I do think the 250th anniversary is a neat thing that is worth some celebration,.” Pate said.

He also raised a misunderstanding about the signage location, which would not be on the building but freestanding somewhere on the property. It was later suggested near a courtyard that would face Southwest Broad Street.

Petersen, Curtin and Gray voted to reject the marker on Town Hall property. Pate and Mayor Taylor Clement opposed the decision. Pate clarified he is okayOK with the marker but not at Town Hall.

Clement said she wanted to support the council and community members who voiced their opinions on the matter, but added it’s a shame “we can’t all get behind the fact that we are a country.”

“When we were founded, it was not as the perfect nation that we are striving to be, but I don’t think that means we don’t recognize the history,” Clement said.