From Brownsville Herald "My Turn"
Editor:
All this kerfuffle swirling around today regarding Civil War statues and buildings with Confederate names brought to my memory the wonderful dance hall that is right there in my own hometown, the Robert E. Lee Youth/Women’s Center.
The hall has been there for at least 60 years, and I think in light of the recent awakening in this country of not continuing to honor folks who sought to destroy our Union, we instead should start renaming buildings and things with Confederate names with those of true American patriots and heroes, those heroes who fought for our country and tried to preserve our Constitution.
We should stop honoring those who were intent on destroying our Union and our Constitution by organizing armies against it, seditionist traitors like Robert E. Lee. I think it is way past time that we rename this hall in Brownsville.
I have three suggestions for the renaming of the Robert E. Lee Youth Center Hall. My first suggestion: How about renaming this hall in honor of Brownsville’s own Medal of Honor winner in World War II, Jose Mendoza Lopez?
How does that grab you? Mr. Lopez was a true American hero, a true patriot who fought the Nazis at the Battle of the Bulge in Europe and won the Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds. Why not rename this hall the Jose Mendoza Lopez Youth Center? Mr. Lopez deserves the honor.
My second suggestion: How about renaming it after Judge Oscar Cromwell Dancy? Now this man is a local hero. Judge Dancy was Cameron County judge for more than 50 years and dedicated his entire life to serving others. His was a wonderful life story of a very frugal, simple, unselfish and dedicated human being who was always in service to the needs of the people of Cameron County.
Both JFK and LBJ dropped the ball when they failed to name Judge Dancy to a federal judgeship back in the day. He certainly deserved it. Why not honor him today by naming the hall the Judge Oscar Dancy Youth Center and take away that Confederate name?
My last suggestion is Audie Murphy, another Texas hero, another Medal of Honor recipient and another great patriot who served so valiantly during World War II in the European theater.
Even though Mr. Murphy was not a Brownsville native he also, I feel, has not been honored the way he should be. Why not rename this Robert E. Lee Youth/Women’s Center after him, The Audie Murphy Youth Center? Name the Hall after this very real American hero, a real patriot who fought a real and dangerous enemy, the Nazis that were intent on destroying us, and not one who also was intent on destroying our Union, Gen. Robert E. Lee.
There are so many other American heroes in our history who have fought for this nation and deserve to be recognized more. Names like FDR, JFK, Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, Nimitz easily come to mind. Why must we continue to honor Confederate generals?
All this kerfuffle swirling around today regarding Civil War statues and buildings with Confederate names brought to my memory the wonderful dance hall that is right there in my own hometown, the Robert E. Lee Youth/Women’s Center.
The hall has been there for at least 60 years, and I think in light of the recent awakening in this country of not continuing to honor folks who sought to destroy our Union, we instead should start renaming buildings and things with Confederate names with those of true American patriots and heroes, those heroes who fought for our country and tried to preserve our Constitution.
We should stop honoring those who were intent on destroying our Union and our Constitution by organizing armies against it, seditionist traitors like Robert E. Lee. I think it is way past time that we rename this hall in Brownsville.
I have three suggestions for the renaming of the Robert E. Lee Youth Center Hall. My first suggestion: How about renaming this hall in honor of Brownsville’s own Medal of Honor winner in World War II, Jose Mendoza Lopez?
How does that grab you? Mr. Lopez was a true American hero, a true patriot who fought the Nazis at the Battle of the Bulge in Europe and won the Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds. Why not rename this hall the Jose Mendoza Lopez Youth Center? Mr. Lopez deserves the honor.
My second suggestion: How about renaming it after Judge Oscar Cromwell Dancy? Now this man is a local hero. Judge Dancy was Cameron County judge for more than 50 years and dedicated his entire life to serving others. His was a wonderful life story of a very frugal, simple, unselfish and dedicated human being who was always in service to the needs of the people of Cameron County.
Both JFK and LBJ dropped the ball when they failed to name Judge Dancy to a federal judgeship back in the day. He certainly deserved it. Why not honor him today by naming the hall the Judge Oscar Dancy Youth Center and take away that Confederate name?
My last suggestion is Audie Murphy, another Texas hero, another Medal of Honor recipient and another great patriot who served so valiantly during World War II in the European theater.
Even though Mr. Murphy was not a Brownsville native he also, I feel, has not been honored the way he should be. Why not rename this Robert E. Lee Youth/Women’s Center after him, The Audie Murphy Youth Center? Name the Hall after this very real American hero, a real patriot who fought a real and dangerous enemy, the Nazis that were intent on destroying us, and not one who also was intent on destroying our Union, Gen. Robert E. Lee.
There are so many other American heroes in our history who have fought for this nation and deserve to be recognized more. Names like FDR, JFK, Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, Nimitz easily come to mind. Why must we continue to honor Confederate generals?