Why not George?

As America attempts to move into a higher version of itself, with the confederate monuments coming down, should George Washington's statue come down too? It's a valid question I've asked myself the last two years and I think it's one worth talking about. If we're going to take down confederate statues that represent the ugliness, treasonous, bigoted past of Former America, then why don't we atone for all of our sins? Why not George? George must go along with TJ and the rest if we're to continue down the path of respect for those afflicted by this nation's ugly history. It's not a matter of if, but when at this point.

The reason why the confederate monuments are coming down is because they represent treason, bigotry and are offensive to marginally oppressed communities in America. They are relics that deserved to be kept in a museum only meant to serve as a reminder of how far we've come, yet how far we need to go to carry out the true experiment called, America. Yet why stop there? Let's not sugarcoat this. Our founding fathers were White Supremacists hell bent on breeding Melanin as cattle to create the ultimate stock to work the land and build the country (which my ancestors did). As far as I'm concerned, our founding fathers would have aligned themselves with the Confederacy, and that if we want to continue to move forward as a country, (albeit experiment) it's time we begin rejecting glorifications of those who did not implement, nor practice their own beliefs of ‘equality for all’ and begin to give praise to those that did. These men were not ascended masters, yet were men of their time, unable to adhere to egalitarian principles that they themselves created, that we in this land blindly follow thinking applies to us.

The concept of America with respect to the American dream, is perception based and perhaps one of the greatest branding case studies in the history of the western world. So much so, that the American dream (success and wealth) achieved by the ‘individual’, is able to cloak the founding fathers true intent of who this land was initially designed for; to the point where the successful individual (who does not fit the intended demo) thinks they belong here. Blinding and incredible. That’s why I can’t help but laugh at minorities in the current Republican Party and find solace in Iowa Republican representative Steve King’s lucid tweet, “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” At least he doesn’t hide it and let’s me know where I stand and is transparent about what I’m up against. A White (of European descent), Heterosexual Patriarchal system hell bent on maintaining Former America’s true design.

I recently found out that I'm related to a family called the Torberts in Alabama. My great-great grandmother was a slave of the Torberts, raped by the owner of the plantation. That is how my great grandfather came to be. He made my grandfather who made my dad who made me. You must understand what this does to me psychologically. I don't feel worthy. I feel disrespected and of little to no worth to know that my 'family' never had an identity. My last name is not even my own and to know that in the founding father's eyes, I come from a lineage of cattle is powerful. I was created by a system that treated me as such, a system designed by our founding fathers who have become symbols of America’s civil religion; a religion from an Old World that I am rejecting.

It is horrific to think that our bodies were merely used for work and pleasure, and used without consent. To know that that is how part of my family was created is sickening. To know that some of my features, tone and blood is mixed as a result of barbaric acts is horrifying. My family’s tale (which is all too common amongst Melanin of African descent within this country) is a story eerily similar to Thomas Jefferson's affair with Sally Hemmings. These men who viewed my family as cattle made sure that this was possible (putting it in writing as 3/5ths in the Constitution) and for this country to glorify them and their lives and expect me to obey and place my hand over my heart, is a slap in the face to my family. While you may conjure up feelings of amazement and grandeur at the bust of George and TJ, I see men who willingly promoted an egregious lie of equality for all by still viewing human beings as less than, and also wanting their cake and eating it too. To know that we give praise to this culture of rapists, slaveowners, etc. (which include some of our founding fathers), I find it hard to believe people wonder how a bigoted, sexist reality television star became president. You say fascism, I say White Supremacy. George Washington kept slaves and even went so far as to track one down for years when the slave fled. The man is a disgrace, and I cringe when I view his bust because he is as low vibrating as the souls who elected the reality television star and fought for the confederacy. No empathy in sight.

America cannot move forward and form into its ‘higher self’ unless it is willing to come clean and reject and own its past. That means acknowledging those affected by this nations ugly history. That means listening to people like me. That means rejecting symbols, monuments and relics that are disrespectful towards humanity and the evolution of this experiment known as America. If all lives matter, then you need to show me respect. If you're not willing to show me respect by not even considering to take down the monuments, and understand my grievances, then all lives do not matter. And to be frank, if you take offense to any of this, albeit a complete rejection of human empathy and rights, the fear you have of losing power is so tangible and blinding that you have not accepted what this nation is becoming. Consequently, you still hold onto the perception based branding technique put forth by our founding fathers or perhaps you knew of their true intent and are doing your best to carry it out. 

So I say again, if we are willing to take down the Confederate statues that represent human oppression and rejection of 'equality for all' (and were also treasonous) then why not George? It's a question worth considering, but one who's answer I strongly feel will be answered in the coming months and years as this nation goes through its growing pains.