WI Removal of List of POW Dead from Cemetery

would be like the removal of any stone on a European graveyard reading: here our captured enemies rest

we have a lot of these stones. Even the idea (regardles who these enemies were) is appalling
 
“You don’t have discussion in a cemetery. You have reflection, and you have memories, and this (monument) brings up memories that are not so pleasant in our history,” said Council Vice President Sheri Carter (Madison, WI).

With Legends in their own minds" like this, we are in serious need of real historians!

Yeah, I'm sure many in Madison have painful memories of the Civil War.

And I beg to differ about not having discussion in a cemetery. We do all the time and even put on educational programs designed, in part, to generate discussion of our history. Just last week we had two high school classes come and learn how to clean stones and learn about the cemetery and the history of the town; lots of discussion.
 
Thank You John for your efforts (other than posting on this web site). You are very correct and not only schools but often tour guides do this as well a Confederate Veterans (Sons and Daughters of) do this as well as the Union counterparts. Texas Rangers and a wide variety of other historical groups all do this.
 
Ellen Hebron of Vicksburg, Mississippi, was very much a Southern girl, and a stalwart supporter of the Confederacy, but she did show sympathy for the Federal soldiers who fought and died in the Vicksburg Campaign. In the December 28, 1877, edition of the Vicksburg Weekly Herald there was a poem by Hebron entitled “Our Federal Dead,” and she prefaced the verses with a brief statement: “While walking through the cemetery at Jackson, Miss, my attention was arrested by many rude, low headboards in a group; and upon inquiry I was told they were ‘soldiers graves.’ Running eagerly up the mound I began to read when my informant added ‘they are Yankee soldiers.’ Being pressed for time, and also considerably disappointed, I turned away; yet could but reflect, while slowly retracing my steps, how bitterly sad it must be to ‘sleep the last sleep’ in a land where one is scarcely welcome to a grave.”

Our Federal Dead

Ye came in the strength of martial might to a far-off goodly land, with costly armor burnished bright, ye were a valiant band! Your reveille so quick and glad awoke each glistening glade, while your sunset-drum more sweetly sad was Southland’s serenade.

Your warriors walked amid our homes In all the pomp and pride that ever with the victor comes, his loved ones by his side; while our poor starving heroes wept for country and for home, or wrapped in honor’s colors slept where sad defeats ne’er come.

Great battles raged, brave warriors waged their strength in deadly blows, while earth’s deep wounds somewhat assuaged grew pure ‘neath Winter’s snows – Spring came; and o’er each soldier’s grave, the Southron’s, Northman’s too, her fairest flowers began to wave beneath her skies so blue.

While ‘mid them all the songster’s plaint came nestling low and sad as though he feared ‘neath such restraint to echo notes so glad – Peace sounded o’er a prostrate land, and armies passed afar – But ye left the noblest of your band Beneath our evening star!

And shall we pass them coldly by while nestling at our feet? Shall we refuse a heart-felt sigh for lives so grand, so fleet? O God! Thou know’st all things; what parts man from his fellow-men; But earth, and Heav’n and human hearts all plead for love again.
 
...
And shall we pass them coldly by while nestling at our feet? Shall we refuse a heart-felt sigh for lives so grand, so fleet? O God! Thou know’st all things; what parts man from his fellow-men; But earth, and Heav’n and human hearts all plead for love again.

It#s even worth for those who lay as "loosers" i enemy soil

I personally do not want to be preserved in a grave, if life is to go on a far better place (imho) would be a dung heap

we came from dust and goto dust - yes should be a dung heap.

Those who died are dead and shall be treated as our own dead

nothing short nothing added

if it is Comanche style -rodding on a scaffold - no proplen

just hounour them, and don't preserve them (us) for centuries

YOU will run out of fertile land

hugh
 

I disagree with the decision though I agree with the process. A city council vote 16 - 2, guess people should get out and vote more if they disagree with their city council's decisions and if this reflects the local views on a local decision then again I support the decision even if I disagree with it.

Welcome to a Democratic Republic. I disagree with plenty of things representatives and the people choose.
 
You would be correct.

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/...cle_8ea3be1b-04d6-5cd1-87af-2e31eb41fa36.html

A majority of speakers at a joint meeting of three Madison commissions expressed some support for keeping the memorials at the Confederate Rest section of the public cemetery, while others advocated for putting the monuments, the Civil War and the decades that followed in better context for visitors by adding signage.

Several people supported leaving a larger, stone cenotaph installed in 1906 that lists the names of the 140 soldiers buried at the cemetery at 1 Speedway Road, while a theme among those speakers was that the city should “respect the dead.”

“I worry what we’re using these Confederate dead for is to make a statement about our present values,” said Madison resident Paul Sherman.​

Maybe so though their City Council voted 16 - 2. So people can speak with their vote like any other process. A lot of people like to talk but do nothing in the actual Democratic Republican processes we and our localities have set up. I have no sympathies for those people whether I agree with them or not (which I agree this shouldn't be removed). Often they are lazy until something they don't like happens, say a few words in complaint, then do nothing so more.

We are not a "direct" or "pure" democracy run by popular votes choosing everything. Many decisions would either never happen or be completely different if we were (and likely would be an unrealistic process to even get as much as is pushed to a vote to that). Localities have the power to set up their own processes, I'm not sure on Madison but usually Councils are elected by the people. If so they can vote someone else in, push for a special election, or follow some other bi-law that might exist. Likewise if they want a more direct democratic process they can push for that like other States and localities have (like California, though even then it's both a direct democracy and a representative democracy). Which of course is a mixed bag itself with pros and cons.

Either way the people have spoke in one way or another. Some may choose not to use the voice they are given.

In this case I hope they do, if indeed it is a majority that are against it (which I'm skeptical with since it was an overwhelming 16 vs. 2), since I'd like to see it stay if not expanded upon.
 
Yeah, I'm sure many in Madison have painful memories of the Civil War.

And I beg to differ about not having discussion in a cemetery. We do all the time and even put on educational programs designed, in part, to generate discussion of our history. Just last week we had two high school classes come and learn how to clean stones and learn about the cemetery and the history of the town; lots of discussion.

I can imagine a cemetery can be a great educational tool. The sober reality of such a place certainly adds a weight. Also like you say learning how to take care of them and respecting the dead that came before.
 
I can imagine a cemetery can be a great educational tool. The sober reality of such a place certainly adds a weight. Also like you say learning how to take care of them and respecting the dead that came before.

Cemeteries can, indeed, be educational. In the case of 'my' cemetery what happens or doesn't happen is determined by a Commission (i.e. not the city council) and, because it is designated as a state historic cemetery (by the Legislature) there are rules about what may and may not be done. I'm a bit surprised that policy at the Madison cemetery in question is just a matter of a council vote. Republican democracy and all that aside, I think there's some things that need a little more shielding from governmental bodies that can change overnight. In a way, that's why we appoint supreme court justices for life.

As always with these kinds of things, in the end the citizens of the town can and may do what they will with their assets but it doesn't mean we have to agree and it is a shame when these types of decisions are made. The masses can be scary sometimes and I think some assets need to perhaps be protected from what I consider knee-jerk politics. So I'm not content to just say "well, that's the system so it's fine whatever they decide to do." It's not fine.
 
Back
Top