Renaming Austin? Where do we stop?

Holy moly! Some people want to rename everything that’s named after anyone associated with slavery? Are we going to rename the nation’s capital? A northwestern state? Tear down the Jefferson Memorial? Where will it end?

Those who forget or deny history, and especially those who want to rewrite it, are doomed to repeat it. Is that what’s happening now? We’re repeating our not-so ancient history of erasing the past?

People may be surprised how many Americans, of multiple generations, have ancestors who owned slaves. I only recently discovered I’m among them. And I now suspect that far more people don’t know either, like I didn’t. Where does that leave me?

I have family roots in Austin that go back more than 100 years. I’m proud to live in Austin, and it’s not Austin by any other name. I’m doing my part to keep Austin weird! And I will fight this! Sharon Lippincott

Austin

I live on Plantation Road, one of the streets being renamed in Austin. Honestly, who wants to live on a street associated with slavery?

Do you really think driving by my street is teaching people a history lesson? Street names and monuments don’t provide historical context, but they can whitewash and glorify the Confederacy in the minds of ignorant people. A plantation wasn’t just a pretty house, “Dixie” wasn’t just a catchy song, and Jefferson Davis wasn’t just another contributor to local history — I’d forgive a visitor for assuming that. Katharine Rovinsky

Austin