Even more ot from jmu but still relevant to this thread, if you haven't seen the MLK memorial in DC yet, you must. It's pretty awesome.
It was very crowded still, but it is a new memorial so that is to be expected.

(08-14-2013 08:38 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 07:51 AM)JMU Wrote:  I feel sorry for the Cantrell family.

Oh please. There is no "Cantrell family"....the history of the street's name was shown to be a historical misnomer and didn't "honor" anything or anyone.

At least its MLK Way and not Boulevard.

Go to 1:25 in the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwSy6N6ScHU

With the 50th anniversary of the "I have a Dream Speech" coming later this month. It is good timing and I am for it. I get chills every time I hear it. His "MountainTop" speech the night before his Assassination was inspiring. He had a premonition his life was about to be cut short.

(08-14-2013 09:59 AM)5000DOLLARBILL Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:38 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 07:51 AM)JMU Wrote:  I feel sorry for the Cantrell family.

Oh please. There is no "Cantrell family"....the history of the street's name was shown to be a historical misnomer and didn't "honor" anything or anyone.

At least its MLK Way and not Boulevard.

Go to 1:25 in the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwSy6N6ScHU

Would it be funny if it was Cantrell Avenue Chris Rock mentions? Just asking.

FTA:

A committee will recommend a name change of Cantrell Avenue or Stonespring Road to honor the late civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (Michael Reilly/Daily News-Record)

So doesn't look like it will necessarily be Cantrell Ave.

This happened where I live in DE. They wanted to change the name of a major road to MLK Boulevard. The city went pretty much up in arms and I didn't initially understand why. But when you change the name of a street all those businesses and people who live on it have to change their address for all things tied to it (Insurance, banks, bills, license,etc,etc), which would be a MAJOR headache. So they ended up renaming another less populated street to commemorate MLK.[/align]

(08-14-2013 08:36 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  Unbelievable.

This wasn't a "just for the sake of it" decision made by "any political, religious, or cultural group" ...this was a legit petition brought by a wide range of Harrisonburg residents

How many was that. A hundred? A few hundred? A thousand? In a city of closed to 50k....

Doesn't VA allow for the referendum? Seems like that would have been a more appropriate venue..

(08-14-2013 08:36 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  the message of tolerance, equality and justice this new street name will now send

And political correctness.....

I will also say that it is done and don't take it back. The last thing we need is to stop the renaming and have it become a state or national story of how hburg refused to name a street after MLK.

Sucks for the businesses along Cantrell. If you've got signage, stationary, literature, website, advertisements etc, etc, that is going to cost some $$ to change.

Also going to cause some confusion for a few decades. Almost all alums who went to JMU 2013 and prior and come back for games will still refer to it as Cantrell. Heck, most won't even know about the name change unless are driving up Cantrell and see MLK sign. Also I imagine most Harrisonburg residents will still refer to it as Cantrell for a long time...

Would have made more sense to name a new road or a school after MLK. Isn't Harrisonburg opening a new elementary school soon? Or was it they recently opened one? You'd think someone would have suggested that. Yeah, there are tons of schools named after after MLK. But there are also tons of streets too...

(08-14-2013 08:36 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 07:25 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  But I don't like renaming a major road like this just for the sake of it. By this precedent, any political, religious, or cultural group should be able to petition the name change of a road of their choosing just because they want to honor someone they admire.

At the end of the day, its not a big deal, but I don't see the reason they needed to rename a street after MLK in Harrisonburg. Just my opinion.

Unbelievable.

This wasn't a "just for the sake of it" decision made by "any political, religious, or cultural group" ...this was a legit petition brought by a wide range of Harrisonburg residents to the duly elected governing body of the City of Harrisonburg. After a long, and open, and thorough review process the H'Burg City Council voted 4-1 in favor of the name change, representing a community decision enacted according to the established rules of law. In essence, this process and vote and subsequent action to be is a perfect example of how democracy works.

So, I don't get it Dolly...exactly what is it about that "precedent" of democracy in action that you don't like?

I'd also differ with the expression that this action isn't anything special...at the end of the day, it is a big deal. And IMO it is an action long overdue.

As for the "need" to rename a street after Dr. King in Harrisonburg, the county seat of a region that has its own bit of civil rights history, it makes perfect sense...and alot more sense than the label "Cantrell"...which after research was found not to honor any particular person nor mean a darn thing.

I wasn't part of the large group of people that brought this matter before City Council, but I personally endorse the message of tolerance, equality and justice this new street name will now send to those coming to H'Burg for the first time, especially those prospective new students of color who might just think JMU is a welcoming place. You only have one chance at making a good first impression.

In the FWIW category...Austin, Texas changed a major street that runs next to the University of Texas to "MLK Blvd" nearly 40 years ago. That change (just a few years after MLK's murder) was also controversial...but in hindsight now looks brilliant for it's bravery and progressivness, and is perhaps just a small reflection of why Austin is such a great city.

I'd remind opponents of the MLK renaming (or those who think this was an unnecessary "symbolic" act) that while the street bears the name of MLK, what this action really honors are the principals for which he stood. For those interested in learning a bit more about this issue (renaming American streets in honor of MLK) you might be interested in reading this bit of scholarship:

http://web.utk.edu/~dalderma/mlkstreet/a...hapter.pdf

Longhorn, there are a lot of great movements and great men that led great movements. By your logic, and I will repeat what I said in my first post, a handful of people can collect some signatures and name a road after any one they admire because of what they contributed to society.

This has nothing to do with belittling what MLK did. This has to do with the fact that MLK had no connection to Harrisonburg.

It's not a big deal and at the end of the day I don't care what they do or do not call a road. But don't act as if it is a crime against humanity because someone doesn't see the rational behind renaming Cantrell Ave.

Anytime I drive on, see a map of, or reference to Cantrell Ave., this song comes to mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMOKlXfXn50

And it stays in my head all day. Thanks.

(08-14-2013 08:40 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 07:47 AM)Potomac Wrote:  They were saying there is no historical proof that MLK ever set foot in the city of Harrisonburg. Rename a new road, sure, but not one of the most used roads in town.

You're missing the point...completely. MLK's ideals for which committed his life certainly "set foot" in Harrisonburg...although apparently they have yet to reach some people.

Agree with Horn 3:16 on this one. It means a lot to many people of all colors and backgrounds.

Has there been any talk of renaming Jackson and Ashby Halls to more politically correct names?

(08-14-2013 10:41 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  Sucks for the businesses along Cantrell. If you've got signage, stationary, literature, website, advertisements etc, etc, that is going to cost some $$ to change.

Also going to cause some confusion for a few decades. Almost all alums who went to JMU 2013 and prior and come back for games will still refer to it as Cantrell. Heck, most won't even know about the name change unless are driving up Cantrell and see MLK sign. Also I imagine most Harrisonburg residents will still refer to it as Cantrell for a long time...

I agree that it has a definite economic impact on the businesses and residents with Cantrell adresses. Still a proper thing to do, but perhaps there should be a reimbursement package to those affected. I am going through and address change right now due to a move. It is not fun.

Chris Rock chimes in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwSy6N6Sc...lpage&t=81

(08-14-2013 10:41 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  Sucks for the businesses along Cantrell. If you've got signage, stationary, literature, website, advertisements etc, etc, that is going to cost some $$ to change.

Also going to cause some confusion for a few decades. Almost all alums who went to JMU 2013 and prior and come back for games will still refer to it as Cantrell. Heck, most won't even know about the name change unless are driving up Cantrell and see MLK sign. Also I imagine most Harrisonburg residents will still refer to it as Cantrell for a long time...

The City Council has made plans to help any business' located along Cantrell to make the change to stationary or whatever should it prove to be a hardship, and I seriously doubt the change will take "a few decades" to work its way into the collective consciousness...but so what? Eventually it will take hold.

(08-14-2013 11:32 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  I agree that it has a definite economic impact on the businesses and residents with Cantrell adresses. Still a proper thing to do, but perhaps there should be a reimbursement package to those affected. I am going through and address change right now due to a move. It is not fun.

A wise and thoughtful suggestion, and one that has already been included in the renaming ordinance.

(08-14-2013 10:53 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:36 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 07:25 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  But I don't like renaming a major road like this just for the sake of it. By this precedent, any political, religious, or cultural group should be able to petition the name change of a road of their choosing just because they want to honor someone they admire.

At the end of the day, its not a big deal, but I don't see the reason they needed to rename a street after MLK in Harrisonburg. Just my opinion.

Unbelievable.

This wasn't a "just for the sake of it" decision made by "any political, religious, or cultural group" ...this was a legit petition brought by a wide range of Harrisonburg residents to the duly elected governing body of the City of Harrisonburg. After a long, and open, and thorough review process the H'Burg City Council voted 4-1 in favor of the name change, representing a community decision enacted according to the established rules of law. In essence, this process and vote and subsequent action to be is a perfect example of how democracy works.

So, I don't get it Dolly...exactly what is it about that "precedent" of democracy in action that you don't like?

I'd also differ with the expression that this action isn't anything special...at the end of the day, it is a big deal. And IMO it is an action long overdue.

As for the "need" to rename a street after Dr. King in Harrisonburg, the county seat of a region that has its own bit of civil rights history, it makes perfect sense...and alot more sense than the label "Cantrell"...which after research was found not to honor any particular person nor mean a darn thing.

I wasn't part of the large group of people that brought this matter before City Council, but I personally endorse the message of tolerance, equality and justice this new street name will now send to those coming to H'Burg for the first time, especially those prospective new students of color who might just think JMU is a welcoming place. You only have one chance at making a good first impression.

In the FWIW category...Austin, Texas changed a major street that runs next to the University of Texas to "MLK Blvd" nearly 40 years ago. That change (just a few years after MLK's murder) was also controversial...but in hindsight now looks brilliant for it's bravery and progressivness, and is perhaps just a small reflection of why Austin is such a great city.

I'd remind opponents of the MLK renaming (or those who think this was an unnecessary "symbolic" act) that while the street bears the name of MLK, what this action really honors are the principals for which he stood. For those interested in learning a bit more about this issue (renaming American streets in honor of MLK) you might be interested in reading this bit of scholarship:

http://web.utk.edu/~dalderma/mlkstreet/a...hapter.pdf

Longhorn, there are a lot of great movements and great men that led great movements. By your logic, and I will repeat what I said in my first post, a handful of people can collect some signatures and name a road after any one they admire because of what they contributed to society.

This has nothing to do with belittling what MLK did. This has to do with the fact that MLK had no connection to Harrisonburg.

It's not a big deal and at the end of the day I don't care what they do or do not call a road. But don't act as if it is a crime against humanity because someone doesn't see the rational behind renaming Cantrell Ave.

It was not a "handful of people" that brought about this change Dolly...your objection on that point is thin, thin, thin gruel.

And as pointed out, it's what MLK represented that has its connection to Harrisonburg. Heck, we have a street in H'Burg named "Washington"...is there any evidence that George ever came through town? And what about the naming of JMU? Heck...there too there is "no connection" to the actual university that bears his name or H'Burg.

It's all about the principle of honoring what these individuals stood for and contributed to the American way of life. Apparently Dolly you don't think MLK deserves the honor of being recognized in H'Burg. That's your right, but I'm glad you're in the minority.