YOUR VIEW: Throughout Human History Every Group of People Has Been Oppressed, Has Oppressed Others

Your ancestors were not perfect, no matter where they came from

By Thomas Gunn

“Spanish colonialism is an inseparable part of Florida’s history. Seminole history is Floridian history. Confederate history is Floridian history. Florida’s history is complex and fascinating.”

In November, State Representative Dean Black filed HB 395: Protection of Historical Monuments and Memorials. But why? 

Earlier this month, in a political act of desperation, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan removed a monument commemorating the women of the Confederacy, telling her supporters that “By removing the Confederate monument from Springfield Park, we signal a belief in our shared humanity. That we are all created equal. The same flesh and bones. The same blood running through our veins. The same heart and soul.”

Let’s talk about equality. We begin with Juan Ponce De Leon, his bust is located in Jacksonville’s south bank area on the side of Friendship Fountain. Ask yourself a question, does that statue intimidate you? No? Well, it should, especially if you’re native American. Ponce De Leon colonized Florida and Bimini without the consent of the local population. Spanish conquistadors enslaved the local populations of several nations across the Americas, forcing them to convert to Christianity (Ponce de León Britannica). Let us ask ourselves, do statues of Spanish conquistadors represent equality? 

Let us now direct our attention to the Mayans. Did they believe in equality and humanitarianism? It’s hard to tell you what every Mayan believed in before the arrival of the Spanish, philosophically speaking, but we can easily conclude that equality and humanism, by today’s standards, were not a major part of their daily lives. The Mayans sacrificed human beings, some by removing the heart, others with arrows. They believed that, when a royal is sacrificed, their blood is worth more than a common person.

Let’s talk about the Aztecs. Tenochtitlan undoubtedly became an imperial power in it’s own right (Smith and Montiel). Imperialistic civilizations existed in the Andes as well. The Inca Empire was an imperial power in South America that conquered territory, divided that territory into provinces, and forced inhabitants to adopt it’s culture and religion (Fibiger Bang, Peter 692-718). Now, what does this have to do with those pesky Confederate war memorials? Everything.

If you have Inca, Aztec, or Mayan ancestry, you should be proud where you come from, never apologize for that. If you are Hispanic, you should be proud where you come from, never apologize for that. If you have Confederate ancestors, you should be proud where you come from, never apologize for that. When I refer to “equality,” this is what I am talking about.

Spanish colonialism is an inseparable part of Florida’s history. Seminole history is Floridian history. Confederate history is Floridian history. Florida’s history is complex and fascinating. Our culture is unique and beautiful, you should be proud to be Floridian, I know I am. Florida is where gator Po’boys meet Cuban sandwiches. Florida is where creek Indians came to separate themselves from their compatriots that embraced slavery. Florida is where Cubans fled communism looking for freedom. Florida seceded from the Union in 1861.

These are historical facts, and I am unashamed of the people who helped build our great state. Florida would never be where it is today without the people who built this state. Some were Spanish conquistadors, some were native Americans, and some fought for the Confederate States of America (Florida State Dept. State Flag) (Florida State Dept. Francis Fleming). 

Throughout the course of human history, every group of people has been oppressed, has oppressed others, and has engaged in imperial conquest. Your ancestors were not perfect, no matter where they came from, and that’s okay! Your ancestors survived, and you are the byproduct of their grit and determination, no matter who you are. I lived in the Middle East during the heigh of the Arab spring.

On television in Abu Dhabi, I watched in horror as ISIS (Terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) engulfed the levant and terrorized it’s people. They destroyed precious artifacts at Palmyra in the fall of 2015. This was done because they did not believe that those historical symbols conformed to their radial religious doctrine. ISIS was responsible for the destruction of historical sites and artifacts upon multiple occasions during the ongoing Syrian Civil War (Curry, Andrew Sites ISIS Damaged or Destroyed).

This is not who we are as Americans. We do not erase, or “whitewash” history, even if some do not prefer certain monuments. We do not accuse Americans of racism because they disagree with us, we can accuse individuals of racism when they say something that is truly bigoted.

The way in which some fringe groups in the Florida political sphere have accused HB395 Sponsors(which include black Floridians) of “whitewashing” history is disingenuous and the claim is unfounded. The use of such a term is offensive given the context in which these groups have chosen to use this word, it is nothing more than a dog whistle.

Such criticisms of the bill exist in stark contrast with the actual text of the bill, which protects all monuments equally. Florida has come a long way and is now a shining example for all states to follow.

Florida is arguably the envy of the western hemisphere, with a rich culture, booming economy, and growing population. If you love Florida, supporting our monuments and memorials is a great place to start, by calling or emailing your state representative and making your feelings clear. The LGBTQ community will appreciate this legislation as well when someone attempts to scrub a rainbow off the road in the future. We do not behave like extremists.

The act of destroying or otherwise removing monuments/war memorials is immoral, and it is un-American. We cannot preserve Florida’s rich history and culture selectively. Donna Deegan’s actions in Jacksonville in recent weeks were wrong, her comments on the matter were offensive, and they do not represent the view most patriotic Floridians hold about our history and symbols.

House Bill 395 will ensure that historical monuments are not only protected, but that they will be put back up if removed recently. This legislation is long overdue, and Floridian voters want this. (Gancarski, A.G Monuments Poll) We can save our shared history, together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Thomas Gunn lives in Satellite Beach, Florida.

Sources:
Britannica Editors. “Juan Ponce de León.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 20 July 1998, www.britannica.com/biography/Juan-Ponce-de-Leon.
Smith, Michael E, and Lisa Montiel. “The Archaeological Study of Empires and Imperialism in Pre-Hispanic Central Mexico.” Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, Academic Press, 25 May 2002, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278416500903726?via%3Dihub.
Fibiger Bang, Peter. “The Inca Empire.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 3 Mar. 2021, academic.oup.com/book/39071/chapter-abstract/338395590?redirectedFrom=fulltext.
“State Flag.” Florida Department of State, dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-flag/#:~:text=Between%201868%20and%201900%2C%20Florida%27s%20state%20flag%20consisted,or%20surrender%20when%20hanging%20still%20on%20a%20flagpole. Accessed 13 Jan. 2024.
“Francis Philip Fleming.” Florida Department of State, dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-history/florida-governors/francis-philip-fleming/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2024.
Curry, Andrew. “Here Are the Ancient Sites Isis Has Damaged and Destroyed.” History, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/150901-isis-destruction-looting-ancient-sites-iraq-syria-archaeology.
Gancarski, A.G. “New Polling Shows Floridians Want Law Protecting Confederate Monuments.” Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government., 20 Nov. 2023, floridapolitics.com/archives/645433-new-polling-shows-floridians-want-law-protecting-confederate-monuments/.

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