Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Now They’re Gunning for Patrick Henry

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by

James A. Bacon
in ,

Patrick Henry

by James A. Bacon

The State Board for Community Colleges has told Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) to change its name. The issue: Henry owned slaves.

Best known for his oratory — “Give me liberty, or give me death!” — Henry served as the first and sixth post-colonial governor of Virginia. A stalwart defender of individual liberties, he was a major advocate of the Bill of Rights. He believed slavery was wrong and hoped for its abolition, although he continued to own slaves himself.  “I am the master of slaves of my own purchase,” he wrote in 1773. “I am drawn along by the general inconvenience of living here without them. I will not, I cannot justify it.”

The Patrick Henry Community College Foundation board has resisted the name change on numerous grounds. It has estimated the cost at more than $1 million, and has pledged to dedicate an equal sum to fund a “diversity and equity program.” The name change would have a “reputation cost,” the PHCC Foundation has said, and enrollment could suffer. Furthermore, the board says, there is minimal support in the community for changing the name.

As a compromise the PHCC has proposed adding a hyphen — Patrick-Henry Community College — to reflect the the fact that the college serves both Patrick County and Henry County (both of which were named after Patrick Henry).

Bacon’s bottom line: Virginia has gone way past taking down statues of Civil War generals. The Northam administration’s attack on Patrick Henry represents an escalation in the campaign to de-legitimize and de-memorialize the founding fathers. The state Community College board had earlier targeted lesser known figures of the colonial and Revolutionary eras such as Thomas Nelson, John Tyler and Lord Fairfax.

Like the other founding fathers, Henry did not live up to modern ideals, or even his own, in every way. But he is nationally, indeed internationally, celebrated for advancing the cause of liberty. De-memorializing him is a travesty.

Once Henry topples, there is no logical demarcation to prevent our modern-day iconoclasts from toppling the other dominoes. George Mason, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and even George Washington. Of all of our traditional heroes, who will remain? This is madness. Virginia has succumbed to rule by a secular Taliban, and Governor Ralph Northam is our very own Mullah Omar.

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45 responses to “Now They’re Gunning for Patrick Henry”

  1. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    “As a compromise the PHCC has proposed adding a hyphen — Patrick-Henry Community College — to reflect the the fact that the college serves both Patrick County and Henry County (both of which were named after Patrick Henry).”

    That’s all well and good until the counties are required to rename themselves.

    1. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      Ah presentism, like Twitter a bane to society.

  2. tmtfairfax Avatar
    tmtfairfax

    And yet Ralph Northam remains untouched. There is racism and their is let’s-close-our-eyes racism. The latter is practiced by the MSM.

  3. Eric the half a troll Avatar
    Eric the half a troll

    ‘He believed slavery was wrong and hoped for its abolition, although he continued to own slaves himself. “I am the master of slaves of my own purchase,” he wrote in 1773. “I am drawn along by the general inconvenience of living here without them. I will not, I cannot justify it.”’

    Well, alrighty then… “Give me liberty, or give me death…. unless I face some kind of general inconvenience, that is… no need to get crazy about it!!”

    1. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      When are you liquidating your alleged “wealth”? Using your own definitions you didn’t earn it, so either put up or shut up troll.

      1. Eric the half a troll Avatar
        Eric the half a troll

        As usual, your comment makes absolutely no sense…. alas…

        1. Matt Adams Avatar
          Matt Adams

          There is a common denominator in that statement, it’s you. It just illustrates that you aren’t as intelligent as you seem to think you are, it’s indicative of individuals suffering from Dunning-Kruger.

          1. Eric the half a troll Avatar
            Eric the half a troll

            You are projecting again, Sparky. Tell me on Monday how wrong I am, why don’t cha.

          2. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            Clearly you don’t understand the concept of projection either. You should ask your therapist why you feel the need to project your feelings onto others.

            Maybe why you’re at it, ask them why you feel the need to inflate yourself on the internet while posting as anonymous troll.

          3. Eric the half a troll Avatar
            Eric the half a troll

            Hey, Slick!! Working weekends now…?! That’s dedication!!

          4. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            Cool story, troll.

          5. Nancy Naive Avatar
            Nancy Naive

            Boss caught him effing off and made him come in and clean the grill.

    2. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
      James Wyatt Whitehead

      You better hope this fight stays a fight of ideas in the halls of politicians. Coming after Patrick Henry is an escalation. You won’t win the fight on a real battlefield.

      1. Eric the half a troll Avatar
        Eric the half a troll

        Ah… the old Conservative, “we will pursue armed insurrection if we don’t get our way” threat. So scary…😬

        1. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
          James Wyatt Whitehead

          Take that flag off of your avatar and return your liberty to Independence Hall.

          1. Eric the half a troll Avatar
            Eric the half a troll

            That Union flag is my heritage! How dare you attack it?! Once a Reb, always a Reb!

          2. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
            James Wyatt Whitehead

            A real Union man stands by his flag with his real name Big Daddy Dog half troll.

          3. Eric the half a troll Avatar
            Eric the half a troll

            Oh I’ve never claimed to possess even a fraction of the honor, integrity, bravery, or fortitude of my ancestors. They saved this country from the traitors, they owned that flag and it will fly high in their honor as it should.

          4. Nancy Naive Avatar
            Nancy Naive

            “Shoot, if you must, this old gray head…”. Gettysburg? Old Babs was quite the girl.

  4. kls Avatar
    kls

    i suggested NNCC – No Name Community College

    1. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
      James Wyatt Whitehead

      We sort of have that name already. Northern Virginia Community College.

    2. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      Faber?

  5. Publius Avatar
    Publius

    For me it is the hypocrisy, the hubris, the claiming of virtue without possessing any. Virtue signaling is easy; virtue is hard.
    Every single thing pulled down and renamed needs to be returned. The slippery slope of re-writing history is not going to end. The critics aren’t qualified to sniff Lee’s or Jefferson’s jocks. They were giants and imperfect, but at least they were giants, unlike their Lilliputian critics.
    Somewhere…somebody had a couple of sayings…something like removing a beam…forgive as forgiven…the measure you give will be the measure you get…
    When I was a kid, we would run around under the bleachers while the softball games were going on…little altercations would happen – and we lived through physical and verbal “violence.” “Sticks and stones” “takes one to know one” “it’s a free country”
    How did people become such pampered wimps and why haven’t we suggested to the moral preeners to attempt a solo reproductive act?

  6. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    I reiterate that Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, was among the founders of the slave trade. Given that the Commonwealth of Virgina was named after her it seems obvious that we need a new state name. There are also numerous states named after Native American terms. That is cultural appropriation. All those states need new names as well. Perhaps we should just give the states numbers corresponding to when they became states. For the original 13 we can use the date that they signed the Declaration of Independence.

    Liberalism truly is a mental disorder.

    1. Bubba1855 Avatar
      Bubba1855

      In 1963 I had to decide whether to attend VPI, UVA or HSC (Hampden Sydney College). All had the same tuition, room and board back then. My high school friends in Fairfax chose UVA and VPI…I chose HSC and went on for a Wharton MBA. Best decision (at 17 years old) that I ever made in my life…except for Kathy Smith (not her real name)…but that’s another story…
      Bubba…not really…

      1. Nancy Naive Avatar
        Nancy Naive

        Was Ms. Smith a Longwood girl?
        If you attended HSC when Longwood was an all women college, then yes, yes you made a good choice.

    2. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      Don, you forget that even numbers were culturally appropriated from the Arabs, who culturally appropriated them from the Indians.

      1. Stephen Haner Avatar
        Stephen Haner

        Asians and math even then!!

  7. emjak Avatar
    emjak

    America is experiencing a serious wave of iconoclasm. It started with Confederate statues and memorials, but did not end there.

    To get some perspective on current American iconoclasm, it would be useful to consider the long history of iconoclasm. By considering the long and varied history of iconoclasm, Americans could better understand the phenomenon and avoid thinking we face a novel, unprecedented phenomenon. By considering the history of iconoclasm Americans might be able to better appreciate the pros and cons of proposed iconoclasm, as well as the anticipated and unanticipated consequences of any proposed iconoclasm.

    Iconoclasm was practiced in Ancient Rome, usually motivated by the disgrace of once prominent political rulers and figures. See, e.g., Harriet I. Flower, The Art of Forgetting: Disgrace and Oblivion in Roman Political Culture (University of North Carolina Press, 2006).

    Iconoclasm was practiced at various times by Christians and Muslims for religiously-motivated reasons. See, e.g., James Noyes, The Politics of Iconoclasm (I.B. Taurus & Co., 2013, 2016); Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Reformation: A History (Viking Penguin, 2003);

    Iconoclasm was practiced as a weapon of warfare at various times in history, motivated by a variety of reasons. See, e.g., Robert Bevan, The Destruction of Memory: Architecture at War, Second Expanded Edition (Reaktion Books, 2016).

    Iconoclasm was practiced during the French Revolution and at various times in various countries since then. Dario Gamboni, The Destruction of Art: Iconoclasm and Vandalism Since the French Revolution (Reaktion Books, 2007).

    Iconoclasm was practiced in Stalinist Russia for political and ideological reasons. See, e.g., David King, The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin’s Russia, New Edition (Tate Publishing, 2014).

    Studying history may not provide clear or definitive lessons. But why not consider historical examples to help us think more clearly in deciding our current controversies.

  8. Stephen Haner Avatar
    Stephen Haner

    Now, now — no less a leading light than Larry The Gross assured us in this very space, over and over, that it would ONLY be the Confederates. When Orangeman Bad predicted all this, and some of us shared the expectation, we were hooted at. This is how the “America Sucks Party” wins and keeps the votes it needs to stay in power. Once awakened, Moloch needs to be constantly fed. This, and trillions of dollars in Free Stuff.

    As the Loudoun County School Board hearing broke up early, the disappointed crowd apparently broke into the National Anthem. On Twitter, that sparked a lecture from Delegate Hudson, D-UVa, about how much of a racist Francis Scott Key was, in her opinion. So you know what’s next with that song….

    1. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      Presentism there will be no end and it will undo everything. Understanding History in it’s context is out, it hurts peoples feelings.

    2. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
      James Wyatt Whitehead

      You ready to fight for Virginia yet Steve? I told you they were coming up past the low hanging fruit. Is Patrick Henry Hill worth fighting for or do we cede this ground too? I am so m^%&^* sick of this.

    3. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      “…Larry The G—- assured us in this very space, over and over, that it would ONLY be the Confederates. When Orangeman Bad predicted all this, and some of us shared the expectation, we were hooted at.”

      I remember that. I also think I remember him saying that if it did go beyond Confederates he would not support it.

  9. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    The hypocrisy exhibited by many of the Founding Fathers over slavery presents a real dilemma. These people created a new model of government for the world, based on individual liberty and consent of the governed. Yet they deprived many people of their freedom and individual dignity, working them as slaves, even buying and selling them. Many of them, including Jefferson and Madison, acknowledged the immorality of the system, but continued enjoying the benefits of the labor of their slaves. At least Henry was honest; he agreed it was immoral, but he said that he benefited from the system and was not willing to give it up.

    What to do? Not only did the Founding Fathers devise an enduring governmental framework based on freedom, they did so at great risk. We do not talk about it much, but, if the British had prevailed, the leaders of the American Revolution could have had their lands confiscated or even been executed. For that they deserve to be honored by us. At the same time, there is a massive blot on the character and actions of many of them–they owned slaves. Although there is a public tendency toward all or nothing, it might be possible, perhaps even healthy, to honor these people while, at the same time, pointing out they had a large moral failing.

    I am conflicted. I can understand how it could be argued that, by honoring Patrick Henry (James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) for all the good things he did in developing the United States, we are, in effect, overlooking or diminishing his moral failure as a slave owner.

    As far as Confederate monuments and naming of streets, schools, etc after Confederates, I am not conflicted. Those people went to war with the United States government and would have torn the nation into two parts in order to preserve the system of slavery. There is no excuse for that and they do not deserve to be honored.

    1. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      Jefferson was a complex man as all men are. I don’t think we can boil his views down to he abhorred it, but didn’t do anything about it.

      He has numerous writings on the matter and lots of communication with John and Abigail Adams on it.

    2. Stephen Haner Avatar
      Stephen Haner

      Everybody of means in the entire world was a slaveholder or reaped rewards from the slaveholding economic system starting with cave tribes who conquered the tribe next door until the Age of the Enlightenment. It just WAS, a world wide thing forever before that — such as in Biblical times, or feudal Europe or imperial China and Japan. So I have no problem recognizing the greatness of those who advanced society in some way while living in the world as it was. This is not a moral dilemma it is a political sham. The Patrick Henrys and Thomas Jeffersons and George Washingtons recognized the contradiction and some took concrete steps. We got there.

      And Whitehead, I thought I just did stand up for Patrick Henry…what would you have me do, shoot somebody over this? A while back I was defending Andrew Lewis, who most of the readers didn’t even know about…

      1. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
        James Wyatt Whitehead

        Good to know we can count on you. We are going to need it.

    3. Packer Fan Avatar
      Packer Fan

      But, as far as the Founding Fathers go, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. MLK, RFK, JFK, LBJ, FDR and on and on, all have things in their history that are far from honorable. How about not naming anything after human beings? Someone’s going to dig up the dirt sooner or later and based on the new standards, that statue is going to have to come down. OR we get back to a more rational world where flaws can be acknowledged, along with recognition of the capacity to change. BTW anybody who knows American history knows that the Founding knew slavery needed to end. The also knew that independence from England could not be won or maintained in the near term if the 13 colonies were divided over slavery, so they agreed to a “devil’s bargain” in the Constitution. NONE of them believed slavery would last indefinitely and the price was paid for it in 1861 – 1865, with 600,000 lives on the Union lost fighting to end it, and make no mistake, it would not have ended anytime soon otherwise.

    4. Eric the half a troll Avatar
      Eric the half a troll

      It would have been far better had they not recognized the immorality of themselves owning slaves rather than acknowledging it and then shrugging it off, imo.

  10. Bubba1855 Avatar
    Bubba1855

    For the record…I have been disappointed that HSC has not gone coed…
    Bubba

    1. Stephen Haner Avatar
      Stephen Haner

      My choice almost a decade later was totally driven by the fact that W&M had such a high percentage of females, and what do I do? Get entangled with and marry one I met ten days into freshman year…..

      So a few years ago, people who fought to save the Confederate statues, especially in locations where the local population clearly wanted them gone, tended to lose elections. And personally I’m comfortable with local control. As I’ve noted ad nauseum, in doing so I was following Lee’s own wishes. Smart guy. Foresaw this divisiveness. But standing up for Henry, Jefferson, Washington and others who clearly were Great Americans might stir a different public response. I was never inclined to apologize but admit I was inclined to stay disengaged. Perhaps time to reverse that course.

  11. William Cover Avatar
    William Cover

    “The good people of this county will never fail to approve and support him, to the utmost of their power, in every action derived from so rich a source of LOVE of his COUNTRY.” Purdie’s Virginia Gazette, 07 July 1775. This is a quote about Patrick Henry by a fellow Patriot during the time I believe Patrick Henry confiscated the gun powder from the colonial magazine. Governor Dunmore was not happy nor was the KING. I believe someone should remind Gov. Northam that the colonist were not free themselves until they won the Revolutionary War and that the Europeans brought slavery to the Americas not the indentured servants.

  12. William O'Keefe Avatar
    William O’Keefe

    There is no good that comes from wokism and cancel culture. Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and all those who now are being stigmatized should be viewed in the context of the culture that they lived in. Cardinal Timothy Dolan in an article “Even the Bible is Gull of Flawed Characters” made the point that all of our historical personalities had flaws but defacing, tearing down, etc. is today’s version of Puritan book burning. He also cautioned to beware of those who want to purify memories and present a tidy and inaccurate history. History is good and bad and today’s revisionists will not be better for the effort. They will only justify their own victimization. We are what we make ourselves; not the product of the distant past.

  13. sallie daiger Avatar
    sallie daiger

    This is terrible. Henry was a great man. We’re tearing down our giants and replacing them with midgets.

  14. sallie daiger Avatar
    sallie daiger

    This is terrible. Henry was a great man. We’re tearing down our giants and replacing them with midgets.

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