The Spy asked for readers views on whether statues and monuments meant to honor Confederate soldiers should remain in place or be removed. And, we pointed out that the debate in Talbot County about one such statue, The Talbot Boys, is very much alive once again.
The Chestertown Spy results overall indicate a majority favor retaining these statues with just under 40% indicating a desire to see them removed. But, this is not the whole story. It is a bit more complicated when you look at how long respondents have lived on the Eastern Shore. Readers who have lived here over 20 years believe more strongly in keeping the statues in place with only 29% suggesting they should be removed. And, for those residing on the Shore 20 or fewer years, over half support removing the statues.
Perhaps this is what makes shaping public policy around the statues and monuments so challenging. Many readers who favored removal of the statues did comment that they should go to a museum or historical location and not be on official government grounds.
And, we remind you, our survey represents the views of readers who choose to participate and may not match the views of the entire community. We do appreciate the active participation in this survey by our readers.
Chestertown Spy Survey #13 Results
Bill Arrowood says
# of votes in your survey?
percentages can be misleading without complete data.
if only 20 people responded, 12 out of 20 is hardly a resounding majority.
Editor says
Our response for this Chestertown Spy survey poll was 272.
Kenneth G Samson says
that just means there’s at least 160 racist readers of the spy. bravo, racists, bravo.
Cheryl Hoopes says
As a white, 67 year old Kent County native, I’m just plain angry. There’s simply no good reason for a statue of a good ‘ole boy to stand in such a place of dominant, arrogant prominence. I don’t know why I expected the old, white people to vote differently. I should’ve known better, since I’ve lived here almost my whole life. But I guess I did.
People, when are we going to start to really care???
Deirdre LaMotte says
I agree. This is not about “history” but about our
collective values. A statue is an object of great honor.
When an evolving society rejects honoring those
who committed treason and the slavery of people,
the symbol should be removed. Put these in
a confederate cemetery; this is where they should have been all along. If at all.
James Hawthorne says
When you stop having PE in school you start to get fat kids.
When you stop teaching history in school you get kids ignorant to the past.
When you have kids that are ignorant to history you get what you have going on now.
When you erase history lightning strikes twice.
The only people that will be hurt by erasing history will be the children of the ones erasing history.
Ann Miller says
Oh dear, you’ve gone and made a lot of good points Mr. Hawthorne. Folks aren’t going to like that….it messes up their screaming and yelling at each other if they have to stop and think about what you said.
Karensomerville says
Thank you for clarifying that the results of this poll reflect the opinions of readers of the Spy and the community -at large. I believe a broader and more inclusive survey would yield a different result.
Bolton says
Knowing the liberal leanings of C-Town the statues are history.
My opinion would not make a difference
Mark mumford says
History should not be destroyed.