It's time to Rename US Army Bases; Remove Confederate "Heroes"

It's about time. There are Ten US Army Bases named after Confederate "heroes." Camp Beauregard, named after the general who shelled Fort Sumpter, launching the Civil War. Little known fact: Abner Doubleday, who is (wrongly) credited with founding modern baseball served there. Fort Benning, named after a secessionist who suggested the southern states form a "slaveocracy." Fort Bragg, who clumsily commanded his men with frontal assaults, and a lack of post-battle follow-through that turned battlefield successes into post-battle disappointments. Fort Gordon, who was generally recognized as the face of the KKK in Georgia and was elected to the US Senate in 1872. Fort A.P. Hill, named after a man who contracted gonorrhea contracted while on leave from West Point.Fort Hood was a general who lost use of his left arm and his right leg in battles against Union forces. Fort Lee, probably the only capable man whose name is bestowed on a base. He led troops in causing tens of thousands of Union casualties. Fort Pickett, whose charge is remembered mostly as suffering a horrible defeat in Gettysburg, losing thousands of men. Fort Polk, named after a man who foolishly sent troops into Kentucky causing the governor to call on Union troops to get them out, ending their desire to remain neutral. Rounding out the ten is Fort Rucker, another traitor who fought and led many battles against Union troops.

The bases were built at a time when the reassertion of white supremacy and the "Lost cause" was honored, and hundreds of statutes and memorials were also erected. Make no mistake; this is not about it's about white supremacy, a yearning for the days of "Gone with the wind" and romantic ideals of a bucolic life, supported by slavery and a warning to blacks that they must not get too uppity. They were built well after the war, and there's no good reason for the US Army to honor traitors who defied the concept of "One Nation, under God." None of them wore the uniform of the Republic when they performed the acts for which they were presumably honored

These are Federal property, where soldiers take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. These 10 men did not, and were mostly people who considered salves as less than human.

The Marines have already taken steps to ban the display of any Confederate flags on all bases, including offices.the Navy has already taken a position. Admiral Michael M. Gilday said in a statement on Tuesday that he directed his staff to begin crafting an order that bans the flag from "all public spaces and work areas aboard Navy installations, ships, aircraft and submarines."

"The order is meant to ensure unit cohesion, preserve good order and discipline, and uphold the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment," Gilday said.

It's time to rid the country of symbols of oppression and hate, and move forward with a national reconciliation. In God we trust.