It's time to compromise on Silent Sam

Published April 12, 2020

By Joe Mavretic

As I understand this mess, some want a statue (Confederate Memorial/Soldiers Monument/"Silent Sam") at McCorkle Place on the UNC-CH campus to go away, some want it to stay. Most could care less except for the press and a few whose sensibilities have been terribly offended. There’s a statute that says "Don’t move it" yet both statue parts were removed under cover of darkness, warehoused, and have been ordered by a court returned to the university.

Over decades the statue has been revered, ridiculed, repaired and reviled. So, the question is, "What to do now?" Good compromises leave both sides a wee bit happy and a wee bit sad-much like a game that ends in a tie. Here is a proposal:
      Since the SIGHT of the Confederate Memorial is offensive to some-make it invisible. 
      Since a law prohibits the removal of the Soldiers Monument-RETURN it to its original place.
      Since we are so proud of anything made in North Carolina- use a North Carolina PRODUCT.
      Since we are so concerned with the cost of this mess-don’t SPEND much on a solution.
      Since we are so concerned with students’ feelings-create a place for EXPRESSION.

The North Carolina Granite Corporation in Mount Airy, N.C. provided the stone for the Wright Brothers’ Monument. Both the bronze statue created by John A. Wilson, and its pedestal by the United Daughters of the Confederacy are intact and can be returned to the original position. A stone triangle, cylinder, cone or pyramid, can be built to completely enclose the statue and pedestal. The surface of the new monument can be used by students for whatever graffiti is contemporary. The cost for the design, for the stone, and for construction of the encapsulating monument will be much less than the cost of a new building (or the buy-out of a football coach). With just a little planning, the entire reconstruction could be completed in one night.

If this is done: the statue will be returned to its original, lawful place; no one will be offended by the sight of it; the state will have spent a pittance to resolve a controversy; a North Carolina company will have provided a few jobs, made a little money and paid a few taxes; the "Entrance" to UNC-CH will be 21st century; both N.C.State (the tunnel) and Carolina will have an approved "graffiti" place; female students at UNC-CH will no longer be harassed by "The sound of silence"; and the Carolina class of 2030 won’t have the foggiest about the history behind the granite graffiti walls on McCorkle Place. By 2031, another cohort of students and faculty will find something else that basically, fundamentally, truly violates their sense of freedom, justice and sensitivity—-and must be rectified immediately—-by a mob!
AND…..the Daily Tar Heel will endorse their rage.

For anyone who questions this prophecy, please recite the controversy over the "bend sinister" in the University Seal. 
      Light and Liberty to all.