The Great Leftist Purge continues.
Remember when it was only radical leftists pushing for the selective erasure of American history? Now, a congressional committee is calling on the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to remove the name of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from the academy, along with that of two other noted Civil War leaders.
As reported by College Fix, the Naming Commission, consisting of four retired U.S. military veterans and four civilians, submitted the second part of its final report to Congress on August 29. The commission unanimously agreed that seven Department of Defense “assets” dedicated to Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, P.G.T. Beauregard, and William Hardee be renamed.
Beauregard, the first Confederate general of prominence, has historically been “credited” with starting the Civil War, leading the attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Hardee was a career U.S. Army and Confederate States Army officer. He served in U.S. Army in the Mexican–American War, where he was captured and exchanged. In the American Civil War, he sided with the South and became a general.
Lee Barracks, noted College Fix, Lee Housing Area, Lee Area Child Development Center, Lee Road, and Lee Gate should all be renamed, according to the commission. There’s more — per the report.
The Commission unanimously agrees the following paraphernalia should be relocated or removed: the portrait of Robert E. Lee in Confederate uniform with the rank of general indicated on the plaque, currently displayed in Jefferson Hall.
In addition, the commission called for “Reconciliation Plaza,” which honors soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War, to be stripped of all mention of the Confederacy, including a bust of Lee next to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. (Somewhere, George Orwell and Ray Bradbury are saying “We told you so.”)
Stephen Baker, spokesman for the group, told College Fix:
The Naming Commission has met regularly since its formation in early 2021 to meet its remit to Congress. Its final report to Congress is due no later than Oct. 1, 2022. The Commission decided to submit its report in three parts.
The first two parts have already been submitted and contain a significant amount of details regarding the Commission’s recommendations and activities. Shortly after the submission of its final report is complete, the Commission will cease to exist.
For how long? Until what?
Historian Mary Grabar criticized the conclusions of the commission, telling College Fix:
Lee did not fight to protect the institution of slavery. He fought for his state, as was the case with many Southerners who were neither slave owners nor advocates of slavery. Contrary to the claims of the Lee-haters, monuments to him actually represent reconciliation and healing. It is the statue topplers who are attempting to stir up bitter feelings that have long receded in the national memory.
Of course, it’s the “statue topplers” and cancel culture left-wing radicals who continue to rewrite and erase American history to suit their narrative, which includes a new narrative — replete with pitting Americans against Americans along racial lines, acceptable moral standards, gender self-identification, and a ridiculous growing list of pronouns.
Personally, I’ll take General Robert E. Lee over wokeism — every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Related on RedState:
Monticello, the Home of Thomas Jefferson, Is the Latest Victim of ‘Wokeism’
Teddy Roosevelt Statue Gets Canceled From in Front of the Museum of Natural History in NYC
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