26 Thoughts to “Osbourn City Highschool KKK Display?”

  1. Moon-howler
    April 15, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    And it should not be taken down. Why should we brush shameful moments in our history under the rug? Do we just forget that the KKK existed? Is this the new political correctness? We now rewrite history so it is sanitized and clean?

    I seriously would doubt that the blacks would want Americans to forget that the Klan existed. It should be a painful reminder of what happens when we allow hate to reign supreme.

  2. alza
    April 16, 2009 at 12:29 am

    the guy on the video said “it’s part of history” and can’t denie history , ok if that’s the case I’ll bring el Che Guevara, Emiliano zapata or Hugo chavez pictures then see their reactions.

  3. Moon-howler
    April 16, 2009 at 2:18 am

    And what is your point, alza? It sounds to me like you want to be confrontational rather than informative. Am I correct?

  4. Second-Alamo
    April 16, 2009 at 6:24 am

    Alza, I’m not up on those people, but were they part of American history? I think the assignment was to depict moments in American history. If we were discussing world history, then bring your photos in by all means, but remember this is for a temporary display, then they come down.

  5. Second-Alamo
    April 16, 2009 at 6:27 am

    By the way Alza, you left out Castro I’m sure he’s in your photo album. Have a nice day!

  6. Gainesville Resident
    April 16, 2009 at 7:40 am

    So some people want the schools to paint a sanitized version (or like a Disney version) of American history? Seems to me as long as the kkk is being depicted as something bad that shouldn’t happen again than it is OK.

  7. Alanna
    April 16, 2009 at 8:11 am

    The piece said that nobody had complained so it hadn’t been removed, it sounds like someone’s complaining now so will it be removed?

  8. Censored bybvbl
    April 16, 2009 at 8:23 am

    At first I thought it looked like a bunch of peeps in dunce caps. Maybe its creator meant for us to see this double meaning.

    I agree that it -the Klan – is a part of this country’s history. The peep tableau has run up against a problem common to art critics – whether to judge a work formally on its own or whether to include social/historical elements in the criticism. Do you consider the intent of the maker? Is he/she criticizing the Klan or sympathizing? That’s the sticking point I think. The parents who are upset probably question the intent- perhaps of both the maker of the display and the school for allowing it.

  9. boo hoo
    April 16, 2009 at 8:39 am

    reply to #1 comment by MH –
    I CANNOT believe that I’m actually going to agree with most of you comment. Hell should be freezing over right about now.

  10. Marie
    April 16, 2009 at 8:50 am

    Some history leaves a nasty legacy but it is history all the same.

  11. silver fox
    April 16, 2009 at 8:52 am

    @boo hoo
    There’s always common ground somewhere. People just need to be willing to listen and consider others views.

  12. Elena
    April 16, 2009 at 9:39 am

    I am not sure why there are complaints to take it down, it is a part of our history, one we absolutely should remember. Furthermore, there is a resurgence of KKK membership within the last several years so the presence of this desplay is relevant in today’s world.

  13. Posting As Pinko
    April 16, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Yes, this is part of history, but as Censored says, what was the intent?

    There is NO context for this piece–no placard, no essay, no film, nothing.

    All we have is a group of KKK’ers marching on the Capital.

    So what is that supposed to say? What are we supposed to have learned? This isn’t some abstract art class. It’s a HISTORY class. Without the HISTORY there is no academic value in this project. There is only shock value and a perceived endorsement of hatred and racism.

    I absolutely can see why people are complaining.

    Let’s turn it around.

    Say this wasn’t an American history class, but a world history class. Say someone put up a display of Jesus being spit at–no paper, no explanation, nothing but the display. How do you think THAT would go over? Think the school might do something about it THEN?

    This isn’t just about racism or free speech. It’s about academic value and what we are allowing our kids to be taught.

  14. Red Dawn
    April 16, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    I think there is smoke but no fire.

  15. Moon-howler
    April 16, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    Moon-howler hands Boo-Hoo a sweater. Stranger things have happened. We probably agree on more than we realize.

    Pinko, I believe that the assignment is to depict an American history event. Perhaps if someone doesn’t know, they should ask. I don’t like sanitized history. It may not be pretty but it is ours. We have to live with it. Academic value? Would it be better to write a paper about it rather than peep it? How about a picture? I thought it was creative. We can’t judge what’s in people’s hearts.

  16. Moon-howler
    April 16, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    Red Dawn, I am so glad to see you! Welcome back. You have been missed.

  17. You Wish
    April 16, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    Posting As Pinko :
    Yes, this is part of history, but as Censored says, what was the intent?
    There is NO context for this piece–no placard, no essay, no film, nothing.

    We don’t know that. We don’t know the context of what was being asked of the students to do, other than to create a diarama. For all we know (unless someone has been to OHS and can clarify), there was a writing assignment that went along with this – we don’t know.

    The Virginia Standard of Learning for Social Studies include the civil rights movements in it – this, unfortunately, is a part of that history. We can’t only teach the “feel good” parts of history. In order to create well educated students, we have to address all areas of history.

    Remember the words of George Santanya – “Those
    who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

  18. Chris
    April 16, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Red Dawn?!!? Is that really you? Where the heck have you been hiding? 🙂

    We’ve had several “ugly” things in our history. The fact is this is a part of American history, albeit “ugly”. It sounds to me like the student was doing the assignment given to the class. To ignore the ugly parts of our history is foolish. It is what is…history. Choosing to ignore these parts of history is an inaccurate depiction, and I for one do not think that these sorts of things should be forgotten. I really think the Peeps in the projects is a very creative idea, and one that the students could have fun with this project. I sure wish we’d had a teacher with that kind of assignment when I was at SJSHS. Had this been peeps on the Battlefield at Manassas, that too would upset some.

  19. Moon-howler
    April 16, 2009 at 10:26 pm

    Chris, I was just thinking the same thing about what fun it would have been to do a project like this one with peeps. I have some green peeps. I think I would have done Roswell, NM.

    You are right, some people would have been upset by peeps on the battlefield. All sorts of things that could upset people in history. The Trail of Tears, Wounded Knee and Sand Creek Massacre pop into my head.

  20. You Wish
    April 16, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Moon-howler :
    I have some green peeps. I think I would have done Roswell, NM.

    Funny!

  21. Chris
    April 16, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    It seems as though the Washington Post had it’s Third Peep Diarama Contest. You can see the top 40 diaramas. There are some very creative ones there. Enjoy!!
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/04/10/GA2009041001969.html

  22. Red Dawn
    April 17, 2009 at 11:14 am

    Miss you guys too! 🙂

  23. Poor Richard
    April 17, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
    George Santayna

    “When the wolves of hate are let loose – none of us are safe.”
    Ralph McGill

  24. Moon-howler
    April 17, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    Poor Richard, Great contributions for this topic. Thanks!

  25. Bill
    April 21, 2009 at 11:11 am

    What if someone did a Holocaust peeps display? would that be any different. Or a display of how the Native Americans who lived in the southeast were killed off simply because they couldn’t provide gold for Europeans? It’s all history. I think the KKK is totally hateful and ridiculous “organization” but it is part of history…a terrible and embarrassing part…but part none the less.

  26. Moon-howler
    April 21, 2009 at 11:03 pm

    Bill, I think if the peeps display had shown the KKK lynching someone, then there might be reason for complaint. The violence involved would have probably been inappropriate in a school setting.

    How do we display history without sanitizing it? It truly is a delicate balancing act.

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