Editor’s Notes: Learning is not endorsing
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An upcoming event at the Emerson branch of the Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library caught the attention of some on social media last week. History Alive and the library are presenting "An Evening With: Doug Riley as Stonewall Jackson" on May 18. It is supposed to be a look at the life of the Confederate general who was born in what became West Virginia.
But at least one social media commenter clutched pearls and squawked about how we should not be "celebrating" such a man. Who said anything about celebrating? Since when is learning about something celebrating it?
Jackson's family owned slaves. He fought on the side that was desperate to preserve one particular, abhorrent "right" for the southern states. He was a racist of his time who firmly believed God sanctioned slavery; and believed such a thing as a "good Christian slaveholder" was possible.
Learning about his ideology and that of his family (his own sister was such a staunch Unionist that she was relieved when Jackson was killed in battle) could be incredibly useful given our modern tensions and penchant for division.
And while we're on the topic, if social media keyboard warriors are worried about "celebrating" Jackson, what do they have to say about the Hendersons, Tomlinsons or Blennerhassetts? Those families aren't just a part of West Virginia history, they are Wood County history, and it is important to understand the role they played in shaping our communities, too.
No good -- none whatsoever -- can come of refusing to talk about ALL of our history. It doesn't matter if your agenda is to keep from "celebrating" certain parts of it, or to defend it and hope fervently for a return to such repugnant socio-cultural norms.
Whether you think you are on the side of diversity, equity and inclusion or the side of "anti-critical race theory," if your aim is to keep anyone from learning more about the truth of the past, you are wrong. And, to be clear, those who think they are they good guys are serving the will of the bad guys by referring to learning as "celebrating."
Thank goodness for the library and its continued effort to educate ALL of us. That is worth celebrating.
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Caregiver, nurse, artist, chef, baker, seamstress, tutor, therapist, master of discipline through use of the word "disappointed" … the list of roles my mother fills could go on for pages. She's an inspiration because of her own insatiable desire to continue learning and working -- not because she has to, but because she loves it.
She made "doing it all" look easier than I know it was. She is beautiful and a force to be reckoned with. She loves and takes care of her family. She catches us off guard by handing out homemade desserts while casually mentioning the ways in which her academic work is being used to teach people around the world. She encourages everyone to learn, think, ask questions.
She is maybe just a little bit feared. I know this because I was recounting a story from my youth to my niece who looked awed but asked "But what did Grammy say?" Well, Grammy didn't know the whole story now, did she? Let's just keep that between us, kid.
I'm so fortunate she is my mother. But then again, most of us probably think the same of our own mothers. If you haven't already stopped by, called, sent a card or gift or otherwise celebrated your mom today, get to it.
Happy Mother's Day!
Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com