Poll question stirs debate, criticism
A poll question posted online by the Gonzales Inquirer last week generate strong feelings about having a Confederate monument and public square in downtown Gonzales – as well as with the timing, wording, answers and reasons for the poll question – even being asked.
The question posed by the Inquirer was: “In light of social changes occurring after the death of George Floyd, should Gonzales consider renaming Confederate Square and relocating the monument?”
The options offered were: “Yes, we need to respect all people;” “No, we need to respect our history,” and “No opinion.”
The majority – 76% of respondents – voted “no,” while 23% voted “yes” and 1% had no opinion.
“This is a tombstone to those who didn’t come back and never had a tombstone,” said Allen Gescheidle. “My great-great-grandfather was one of the first to die in Virginia. His widow was one of the first in the county to receive a widow’s pension for her and her six young children. This is his tombstone as well as many others.”
But among those wishing to see changes to the square and monument, the undercurrent of the Confederates’ supporting slavery and the actions of some in the years after the Civil War, are an issue.
“Thank you for bringing up this discussion on your platform. It is such an important one to have,” Theodore Moers said. “I have a lot of feelings around this, and I’m not even the one most affected by it. I can only imagine what the black folks in my town must feel about Gonzales hosting such a statue in the area. If it were truly remembering history, it would be in a museum, and photographed in history books. We do not need to look at it on a literal pedestal in the middle of our hometown to remember that racism and slavery are bad.”
Others favored leaving the square and statue alone and using it as a teaching tool.
“For many years, as I was coaching, I would stop and do history lessons with my athletes there in Gonzales and a variety of places,” said Darla Iley Howard. “Talking about history, and dialogue is what our kids need. Discussion on segregation, to slaves is important. I remember stopping outside of Seguin, and many kids had never seen cotton or corn in a field. I pulled the bus over as we all got off the bus and picked some. And some fingers got cut. Later on, I brought a cotton sack, and showed them that you had to pick until your bag was full, showing them pictures that both white, brown and black picked cotton and corn.
“We talked about a lot of things, tough dialogue. Growing up in the ’70s, end of segregation was still fresh, but I think Gonzales or maybe my mom and dad did a good job in teaching me that character counts. Leave the statues alone. I remember dressing up in elementary grades as a pioneer with a bonnet and hoop skirt and bringing history alive,” Howard said.
Another respondent suggested moving the statue to another location.
“I’ve been thinking this since I moved to this town. I’m saddened to see so many confused by the representation of its history,” said Stacy L. Palm. “It should be in a place where we can mourn and reflect in the wrong choices made. It doesn’t belong in a place of celebration. Also, many of these were erected long afterwards as a symbol that black Americans were still not to be treated as equals. I know the heart of this community is love and faith. We should be open to being educated truthfully. No matter how painful it is to look at ourselves.”
Several respondents took issue with the Inquirer even raising the matter, and with the wording of the poll.
“Way to word this liberal Gonzales Inquirer. You can respect all people and respect our history,” posted Felicia Winegeart Cantu.
Louis Wolting wrote: “What left-wing, afraid of history, unenlightened, non-patriot would ask such a stupid question? Trying to create a problem that does not exist here.”
Deana Niemann Malatek added: “Shame on y’all for even thinking about this. What is wrong with this world? Removing will NOT change history. Should of never asked this!!!”
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