Alexandria — The recent controversy over Confederate memories has really made me to start thinking about our memories that are preserved. Then I realized that here in the USA, especially the East we have so many reminders of an old regime of which we are no longer apart. Then I started asking myself, why do we continue to use these names for things that represents a king to which we no longer give allegiance? It is a form of repression from which we fought to free ourselves.
Now we should all know that it was some four-score and seven years before the War Between the States that the revolution freeing us from this terrible regime was fought. Therefore if we are to be removing all reminders of the Confederacy, then we first need to catch up and change all the names there are reminding us of this awful repressive king. We could start right here in Alexandria with changing the name of King Street, (including the station) then Queen, Prince, Princess, and Duke. Was not even Charleston named for King Charles? Then there are several counties such as King and Queen; and how about the town of Williamsburg? Then while we are there, what must be addressed is the name of The College of William and Mary, which is site of the famous Christopher Wren building, which I believe is the only one of his design on this side of the Atlantic, But since Mister Wren was a “sir” and employed by the crown his name should be removed from this building as well.
Then the following states Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland will have to change their names as well. Now New Jersey and New York are named after places in the British Isles, but will be allowed to retain their names since it is quite obvious they wanted to be different and set apart from the motherland. Also in Virginia the names of Cape Charles, Cape Henry and the Elizabeth River also need to be changed.
Now the name of Virginia is perhaps the one which is the most important as far as being changed after the source of this name has been considered. Virginia comes from Queen Elizabeth I since she was said to be “The Virgin Queen” — being not married. Well just in case someone is not aware but her father was Henry VIII, the last of the King Henry’s, because he was such a beast. Being that he was so wicked, both murderous and polygamous why would we want to have any association with such a character? Even having a name from someone in that family is too close for comfort. Now another contemporary of this evil king was Thomas More, but since he did stand up to the king saying that he was “God’s servant first,” this is another one which will be allowed to remain.
There are some others such as Richmond and Fairfax, but space does not allow for all to be listed here. Now in my hometown of Savannah, Ga. the residents were smart enough after the Revolution to change the names on their streets, such as from King to President. This may be the best place for us to start with this movement here in Virginia.
Jerry Foley
Old Town, Alexandria