MEMPHIS, Tenn. — To everyone who believes state officials have spent too much time dealing with a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest at the state capitol – you might be surprised to know that I agree. Too much time and anguish have been devoted to the question of moving the bust from the capitol rotunda. It should have been done long ago. And all the back and forth about it now, shows just how out of touch some people are.
Thursday, the state Capitol Commission finally began the process of relocating the Forrest bust to the state museum. But in a last-minute amendment, the commission agreed to also move two other monuments of U. S. Admirals. The skeptic in me says this was designed to give the state Historical Commission an opening to reject all of the moves on the grounds they go too far.
The fact that there has been so much hand wringing over the Forrest bust is mindboggling. Forrest was a traitor to the United States, and a slave trader. He was a ruthless Confederate general who led the massacre of surrendering black union soldiers at Fort Pillow during the Civil War. He is no hero, despite attempts by some to rewrite history.
And yet, I am still not convinced the bust will be moved. But further debates are useless. Either this state government will stop honoring slavery and racism – or not. And that’s my point of view.