LETTER TO THE EDITOR– A tree with a decayed root or core will not produce good fruit. The tree can survive with a branch here or a branch there going bad, but not the root. Dixie State College appears to have a diseased core. The causes may include Progressivism, historical revisionism or political correctness. Or it may be another disease entirely.
As a graduate of Dixie State College in 2006, I was saddened to see the college divorce itself from the Rebel mascot. Now, in 2012, we see the college caving to pressure from a small minority to remove the statue on campus of the Confederate soldiers. This decision to pull the statue was made under the radar of the community.
What is next? Will they begin disciplining students who speak out against it? Will they set up sensitivity training for students who do not see that statue as offensive? Should we whitewash Sugar Loaf like some people want to whitewash history?
There is no shortage of universities on the planet where I can send my child to be indoctrinated by tenured professors. My hard earned money should not pay for my son or daughter to be taught capitalism is evil, that America is not a noble nation, and the founders of this nation were rich, white, slave owners.
I’ve always held Dixie to a higher level. I appreciated that the school was rooted in pioneer heritage and not poisoned by professors and administrators eager to inflict the same disease already inflicted upon other institutions of higher learning.
The school administrators’ decision to remove the statue has proven to us, yet again, that a disease has taken root in the community. Individuals of this community need to come together and restore the heritage of Dixie State College to what it once was. I no longer recognize my school. I don’t know what they stand for.
The college can dedicate as many fancy, technologically advanced buildings named after apostles or alumni as it wants to. Its branches may look good but they will never produce good fruit if the core is bad.
If the school wants to remove the statue they should articulate their reason for wanting its dismissal. Reasons that are not valid would include catering to a group of people that chooses to be offended by it, or giving in to worries about vandalism.
Are the college’s principles so flexible as to be meaningless?
If the college inherited the statue in good faith, then they should stand behind said statue when the heat is on.
Did the pioneers give up when called to settle this barren land? Did they fold when the rivers flooded over and over again? No, they built a temple on lava rock for heaven’s sake. This community’s core is solid and above reproach. It should not be afraid to stand up for its heritage.
Submitted by Ryan Schudde, a graduate of Dixie State College of Utah and resident of St. George.
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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.
Ryan,
I’m sorry that you can’t except change, in a dynamic, evolving universe. Why don’t you go praise the skeletons of your Gods. Go dress us in your suit and tie and pray about it.
Lol 😛 nice!
Nice?
He said, “Go dress US in your suit and tie and pray about it.”
And I assume he meant ‘accept’ change. You are both morons.
While the name Dixie has some good historical precident and an associated positive history attached, the Rebel mascot celebrates a culture that is corrupt and disgusting. Let it go.
In light of the associat that is made between “Dixie” and the evils of confederacy, maybe it is time to let it all go away. This graduate’s strong opinions on the matter shows the connection between the rebel and the word Dixie is real, so let’s cut the decayed core out- the rebel and the name- and move on
Well written. Very appropriate way to voice your opinion. As for joey appalachian, clearly you’re less than mediocre in conveying your thoughts. And that sentence structure, impeccable! Your DSC English professor must be proud.
Oh god, another comment generator!
I’m sorry, the community is above reproach? That’s a scary thought. So, the majority is never wrong, and we should never question its stances? I’m sorry, but if our Founding Fathers whom you love so much (and some of them did own slaves. Don’t try to say they did it because that’s insulting my intelligence and eduation) thought the same way about their communities, we’d call Queen Elizabeth our head of state. Furthermore, the college doesn’t belong to the Mormon church, so it really shouldn’t concern itself with upholding Mormon virtues and ideals, but rather encouraging progressive thought, and oh, I don’t know, change for the better. You might call it a disease, but people like you who promote an ignorant and insular way of thinking are the real disease. This school belongs to its students, faculty, and staff, and they are the ones who should have the largest say in what goes on at it.
I like you. :3
Maybe it should belong to the mormons. It would be ran correctly if it did.
That’s what we need, a university with a ban on sideburns and coffee!
Oh, wait.
“It would be ran correctly if it did.”
Where did you go to school? Did they teach grammar?
Uh oh! Another grammar and possible spelling Nazi. Hope you don’t cheq mi spelin fer koreknus too.
An emotional appeal, but I still don’t understand how cutting ties with a legacy of vague racism is so terrible. If protecting those things is protecting the community, this isn’t a community I want to be a part of.
The inferences about university professors is insulting. Reality may have a liberal bias but if your professors are saying “capitalism is evil” then you report them, because injecting that type of opinion in a house of learning is not appropriate. Know what else isn’t appropriate? When my teachers make anti-atheist statements. When my teachers make anti-gay statements. When my teachers make a thinly-veiled endorsement of religion. This is Utah, these views are not going away just because of a name change. We’re pleeenty conservative. Will the name change help eradicate racism? Well, the racism in the name at least… But apparently that’s somehow destroying our heroic, blameless heritage and we’re all at fault because we care about the implications. And we wonder why we have such a lack of diversity?
The idea that some of the founding fathers owned slaves is a fact, and I think it’s safe to say things were pretty biased in the favor of white people at the time. Public universities are not supposed to protect a racist legacy, their job is to teach. If you want mythology and a moral code go to BYU.
This has nothing to do with racism and do you need help packing? You want to leave this community then please by all means leave don’t just talk bunk on here, just leave! You won’t because you came here in the first place knowing this was Dixie so get over yourself. Our community is Dixie and we aren’t going to left a few overly sensitive people change that.
Change is good, so they say. But who is it that says, society has to change or they will never prosper?
Are we talking about possible further funding here? Or what the ACLU might think of the community? If that is the case, What new, political correct name should we push for that evil BYU school up the road?
I for one, suggest that the Current Student Body of the school vote for the name of their school. And all politicians and folks who have their fingers in the pie, go find yourself a different mud puddle to sit in.
The Statue? if not to remain on campus, I recommend finding a new home in the Heart of Dixie. Maybe St. George downtown city park. next to the carousal?
I always thought that statue was of two brothers, one a Confederate soldier, the fallen one, a Union soldier. And the statue sent the message that although we may be on opposite sides, we are all Americans and when things get to the point of life or death, we will do what it takes to help each other. The quote a comment attributed to Jan Brooks, “History doesn’t change just because someone doesn’t like it. While the statue may be of confederate soldiers, it is still a part of history… and history always has two sides. Instead of being offended by history, maybe, just maybe, we can learn from it.”
If you are interested in the history of the statue and confirmation about what that particular one represented, I have a picture of the plaque next to where the statue used to stand. I made it public so there should be no problems with viewing the picture.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4596599926521&set=pb.1637911091.-2207520000.1355739155&type=3&theater
I don’t understand the back-biting on both sides. Why do we have to change history and the love of this community to one another? Should Dixie High change their name? Should everyone named Dixie change their name to John or Mary? Conforming to a small minority is pretty sad. I agree that we should all convey our opinions, but do not hurt others in the process.
I am a very strong advocate of allowing “history to speak for itself.” And truth will always remain truth. Just like those progressives who would like to erase The Holocaust from history, it does not alter the truth. And the truth is there were courageous settlers who worked to tame this part of Utah so that those who followed could enjoy a better way. They saw the fruit of their labors when this desolate land floroushed and bloomed like a rose. With love and pride they called this land “Dixie” and there were NO negative connotations what so ever. This is why the name is engrained so deeply in the red sands, in the black rock and in the hearts of their ancestors. I believe if any of them were here today, they would gladly concede to the name change because they were peaceful people. And for that same reason many of us are pasionate about preserving this name that is sweet to our ears. This is a free country. We have the freedom to choose where we live, where we work and where we find education. There are town names throughout this great country with questionable names but because we are free, we don’t expect change where it is not wanted. What is history here will never change. And our desire to take pride and preserve that is our freedom. A rose by any other name is still a rose.
I have never heard of a progressive plot to remove the Holocaust from history.
I never heard of a school named after the Holocaust or the school body celebrating school week with Death Camp events, either.
Why not name the school Mountain Meadow Massacre College? It’s more in line with the area’s true history and heritage instead of the false, made-up Confederate heritage of which the school and city were no part.
Imagine, Mountain Meadow Massacre school heritage days… the last day could be a student body firing squad shooting a mock John Lee. This sounds just as evil as those slave auction events people seem to be so proud of and calling their heritage.
Ryan,
The Article was excellent. Very nicely developed.
Most of the comments are shocking. When people don’t have a religious heritage they can relate too, they become vicious and intolerant. Obviously.
They don’t understand history or the lessons of history and help to grind out any spark of life and light among them. What do they have to put in its place? Sarcasm and hatred. Destroying as they go and building nothing.
Our government today builds nothing, it is consuming. It can’t build-only the people can build. They build as they work. What happens when there is nothing left to consume and everyone is waiting for the government to provide for them; and more and more people are not working but looking for government handouts.
What our schools teach our children of the past and the future will be our future. Especially if no other voices are being heard. For those will be the leaders of tomorrow.
What generation was perfect and not above reproach if if that is what we are looking for. What generation going forward will be perfect? And what did this world do to the one perfect man who came to it?
History is the only vindication of a righteous cause. It tells us what ideologies work and which destroy, and which provided the most freedom and which provided the most misery and destruction. History tells the truth if you have not tainted it and attempted to revise it into a lie. Most of the Founders did not choose slavery. They could not end it at the time and looked to future generations to correct that problem. They did what was within their power at the time.
The truth is… what is!
Words no matter how clever or witty, are not truth! This nation made its mistakes and it has its scars and ugliness just as any other that has faulted humanity living in it. And which civilization isn’t made up of humanity? The very words they can stand and speak; ugly, witty, or sarcastic, are spoken because of our history and heritage of freedom. Soon they will have destroyed what is left of the good, and will see the results of their destruction. And no one will care if they are witty or clever any more.
Their new dictators are already making their plans to rule over them, and are grateful for their temporary assistance as they finish taking their last freedoms. Soon their wit will perish with them. Look to History to see what their future will soon be.
And those who love and understand freedom will be fighting for it again. And will one day again prevail. So they can be free to be witty again if they have managed to survive.