FINCASTLE – An informal survey of The Fincastle Herald’s online and Facebook readers discovered the vast majority of respondents did not approve of the Confederate monument being removed from its present location in front of the Botetourt County Courthouse.
Despite the question reading in part, “Where should the monument be moved and why?” the approximately 40 responses sounded off that removing the 100-year-plus-old obelisk is caving to political correctness.
The full question posted on Oct. 25 read: “This we know: The monument in front of the Botetourt County Courthouse is being removed and placed at a to-be-determined site. Where do you think the monument should be placed and why? Results will appear in a future issue of The Fincastle Herald.”
By 7:30 a.m. Monday, our Facebook post had nearly 1,300 people reached, 592 engaged and 73 comments with three shares. Twenty-seven people gave the angry emoji.
It was the second most popular posting last week, behind the pile up on Interstate 81 Thursday.
Mary Tynan Kelly suggested moving it to Godwin Cemetery. She said the “move would be short and it would still be in Fincastle.” Another person who answered the question, Ann Layman, suggested the Botetourt Historical Museum.
However, the vast majority of comments said removal is either ignoring the county’s history and becoming woke, an adjective to informally describe as being alert to social injustices in society, especially racism.
“Fincastle is my hometown,” wrote Jackie Lam Bocook. “I say leave it be, teach our history, learn from our history, but stop trying to erase it.”
Donnie DeGeorgis wrote, “They should leave it right where it is! It’s where it belongs! Come on people! We start to try and change history. What are we doing? Why! Someone will always want something different! Grow up!”
And then there was this: “I can’t remember a time I’ve been so angry at Botetourt County representatives for cowering to woke, leftist hippies from New York,” wrote Zach Wilhelm. “You can push them over with a limp piece of lettuce! Y’all wanna be progressive? Grow a backbone and educate others instead of catering to cancel-culture wannabes.” His response received 23 likes or loves on Facebook.
A number of respondents asked why the voters weren’t asked. Marylou King said, “What the hell who made these decisions? Certainly NOT the voters of Botetourt County! Maybe we ought to protest like other states in front of these liberals’ homes that voted to remove the statues…”
Leigh Ann Roatenberry agreed. “I don’t recall being asked prior to their decision, what my opinion on it was! What a bunch of no backbone cowards.”
Perhaps, Wesley Bush or Ashley Passerini summed up the majority’s opinion is a few simple words: “Don’t move it. Leave it alone,” wrote Bush. “It’s already right where it belongs,” typed Passerini.
