Dick Dalton
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
Hello, friends. I'm still concerned about the Moreau Marker and about Jefferson City. I attended, listened and spoke during public comments at the City Council meeting Monday and I read every Facebook comment posted under Tyler Woods' informal survey. Folks at the meeting and in the survey were pretty evenly divided.
The Rosetta Stone, discovered over 200 years ago, was truly educational, solved mysteries and brought people together to better understand history. The red granite stone on Moreau Drive says nothing, but its plaque has become an education to some and a rallying cry to others. Unfortunately, its 32 words and numbers have publicly divided our community that has been privately divided forever.
It is a racial division. It is the same division that caused the Civil War. Southern states - and many Missourians - wanted to maintain the despicable practice of owning Black men, women and children. They were willing to kill and die to keep their "property" because their "property" did the work that brought them wealth, comfort, respect, culture, purpose and meaning. Their "property" was that important to them.
The individualism that subjugated the American Indians who lived here first found a new home in being a "Rebel for the Cause." Southern sentiments, fear of Black people and white supremacy lived long beyond the South's military defeat. Through the efforts of white politicians, businessmen and everyday people, the Black population learned that emancipation didn't mean much in the South.
The Moreau Marker is painful to many in our Black community. Does that matter to you? Does Black pain matter? If you are defending the Moreau Marker, maybe you still idolize the Confederate Cause. It is painful to accept defeat. The marker is not painful to me, but I do understand why it is painful to my Black brothers and sisters, and therefore, I stand with them for the marker's removal.
When a boil is lanced, that too is very painful but necessary for the healing process. Jefferson City suffers from an infection. Some of you may jump and make a political conclusion: "Just get rid of the liberals and anyone who doesn't like the marker." That's not healing. Look deeper.
If I or any of my family or any of my ancestors have harmed you or any of your family or any of your ancestors, I'm sorry. Forgive me. I love you. Thank you.