Good morning, Newdists.
What a week! I really don’t have much at all today. I’ll have a diary up centered on Australia next Saturday. Today, well, some pics from twitter and instagram. I know we don’t diary politically in this group. And yet, there are some amazing photos out and I thought to bring them to the diary.
However, before that, please grab a cuppa and something to eat, and then lets look at some photos before we meet in the thread.
.
.
Some Photos Of The Day
.
.
.
More photos at RVA Mag
from @statuehistorian
Robert E. Lee Monument
▪️
Erected: May 29, 1890
▪️
The Lee monument was the first Confederate monument placed on what is now Monument Avenue and was funded by the Ladies' Lee Monument Association. The governor, Lee's nephew, chose this location due to it's potential for development.
▪️
Many will claim that Robert E. Lee didn't own slaves or was some sort of abolitionist. These claims are false. Lee was a brutal slave owner and believed that slavery was more painful for white oppressors than the enslaved.
▪️
Lee inherited slaves from his father in law, George Washington Parke Custis, in 1829. Many of the slaves on that estate were set to be freed five years after Lee's inheritance. However, the estate held some debt and Lee feared getting out of that debt would take more than five years.
[snip]
▪️
Lee is often quoted for describing slavery as “a moral & political evil,” but this is only a small part of the quote. He goes on to say, "I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race".
.
.
From @statuehistorian
Jefferson Davis Memorial
Erected: June 3, 1907
▪️
Richmond's monument for the only president of the Confederacy was initially funded by the United Confederate Veterans but the final push was completed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
▪️
It features not only a statue of Jefferson Davis but a statue of Vindicatrix also know as "Miss Confederacy." This was meant to symbolize vindication and support of the efforts of the Confederacy.
▪️
There are many quotes inscribed in this memorial including "CRESCIT OCCULTO VELUT ARBOR AEVO FAMA" which translates to "May it grow as a tree through the ages." In other words, may the cause that the Confederate states fought for thrive throughout American history. Unfortunately, it has. It's our time to stop that growth.
▪️
As for Jefferson himself, he was born in Kentucky and raised in Mississippi. The main time he lived in Virginia was during his time as president of the Confederacy.
▪️
His beliefs were clear from his speeches, to the Confederate constitution, to the voices and actions of those around him. The following quote is from a speech he gave in March of 1861: "We recognize the negro as God and God's Book and God's Laws, in nature, tell us to recognize him. Our inferior, fitted expressly for servitude."
.
Lt Gov. Justin Fairfax and Rev. Rob Lee, great great grandnephew of Confed. General Robert E. Lee.
.
More photos at reuters
.
.
New Day Cafe is an open thread.
What do you want to talk about today?
.