As of January 1st, Cantrell avenue is being renamed Martin Luther King Way to honor the late civil rights activist.
I'm personally not in favor of changing the name of a major road in town.

(08-14-2013 06:55 AM)Potomac Wrote:  As of January 1st, Cantrell avenue is being renamed Martin Luther King Way to honor the late civil rights activist.
I'm personally not in favor of changing the name of a major road in town.

Agreed. MLK was a great man and his impact on our country is immeasurable. 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.

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.

I feel sorry for the Cantrell family.

(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

(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.

(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.

thanks for the backstory longhorn - you could have been a little nicer when you laid out that information?

its hump day baby!

(08-14-2013 08:41 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  thanks for the backstory longhorn - you could have been a little nicer when you laid out that information?

its hump day baby!

Nicer? Who me?

(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.

Lighten up Longhorn. This was simply a smart ass comment. Nothing more. With that said I am sure, somewhere back in time, the Cantrell's were honored to have a street named after them as would most people. Otherwise, why use a common name for the street. They could have just called it "first" avenue or "back" street. I am also sure that they would not like to be refered to as a "misnomer".

I'm not attempting to diminish the importance of MLK, his life and his message. I just have mixed feelings about renaming a prominent road.
However, it could send a positive message to African American students and I think that's the best part of the renaming.

(08-14-2013 08:46 AM)JMU 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.

Lighten up Longhorn. This was simply a smart ass comment. Nothing more. With that said I am sure, somewhere back in time, the Cantrell's were honored to have a street named after them as would most people. Otherwise, why use a common name for the street. They could have just called it "first" avenue or "back" street. I am also sure that they would not like to be refered to as a "misnomer".

Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

(08-14-2013 08:55 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:46 AM)JMU 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.

Lighten up Longhorn. This was simply a smart ass comment. Nothing more. With that said I am sure, somewhere back in time, the Cantrell's were honored to have a street named after them as would most people. Otherwise, why use a common name for the street. They could have just called it "first" avenue or "back" street. I am also sure that they would not like to be refered to as a "misnomer".

Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

I don't mind the name change. I remember my first visit to JMU and coming up 81 from Martinsville VA and seeing the sign Blacks Run as you enter Harrisonburg. I knew it was the name of a river, but my Mom and Dad were both worried for me when they saw the sign. They asked me if I was sure I still wanted to go to JMU, but I just laughed it off. Maybe if MLK Boulevard had been in the H'burg then I could have pointed out to my parents that there was no need to worry.

I still laugh about that with my parents today. I always wondered if anybody else's parents said that when they saw the Blacks Run sign.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4

(08-14-2013 09:03 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:55 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:46 AM)JMU 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.

Lighten up Longhorn. This was simply a smart ass comment. Nothing more. With that said I am sure, somewhere back in time, the Cantrell's were honored to have a street named after them as would most people. Otherwise, why use a common name for the street. They could have just called it "first" avenue or "back" street. I am also sure that they would not like to be refered to as a "misnomer".

Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

Oh lord...wallowing in prideful ignorance is no way to go through life son.

(08-14-2013 09:07 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:03 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:55 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:46 AM)JMU Wrote:  

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

Lighten up Longhorn. This was simply a smart ass comment. Nothing more. With that said I am sure, somewhere back in time, the Cantrell's were honored to have a street named after them as would most people. Otherwise, why use a common name for the street. They could have just called it "first" avenue or "back" street. I am also sure that they would not like to be refered to as a "misnomer".

Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

Oh lord...wallowing in prideful ignorance is no way to go through life son.

You are an easy mark. Just messing with you my friend.

(08-14-2013 09:11 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:07 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:03 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:55 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:46 AM)JMU Wrote:  Lighten up Longhorn. This was simply a smart ass comment. Nothing more. With that said I am sure, somewhere back in time, the Cantrell's were honored to have a street named after them as would most people. Otherwise, why use a common name for the street. They could have just called it "first" avenue or "back" street. I am also sure that they would not like to be refered to as a "misnomer".

Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

Oh lord...wallowing in prideful ignorance is no way to go through life son.

You are an easy mark. Just messing with you my friend.

My friend, if you stick around long enough you'll find out what kind of "mark" I really am...and easy ain't it.

(08-14-2013 09:16 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:11 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:07 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:03 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:55 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

Oh lord...wallowing in prideful ignorance is no way to go through life son.

You are an easy mark. Just messing with you my friend.

My friend, if you stick around long enough you'll find out what kind of "mark" I really am...and easy ain't it.

Geez. Oh, Geez Internet

(08-14-2013 09:22 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:16 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:11 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:07 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:03 AM)JMU Wrote:  That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

Oh lord...wallowing in prideful ignorance is no way to go through life son.

You are an easy mark. Just messing with you my friend.

My friend, if you stick around long enough you'll find out what kind of "mark" I really am...and easy ain't it.

Geez. Oh, Geez Internet

The problem is, if you feed the animals, they just keep coming back for more.

(08-14-2013 09:16 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:11 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:07 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 09:03 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(08-14-2013 08:55 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  Smart ass or not, you're continuing to argue the info I've shared.

Again, for the record, there was no "back in time" Cantrell family...the name is/was a complete misnomer...its name was a historical accident, twisted and changed over time by those making maps of early H'Burg, until it settled in as "Cantrell"...but there was no family or individual named Cantrell.

That is what the government/city planners want you to think in order to justify a name change. A street in Harrisonburg doesn't just happen to become named Cantrell. You can believe what you want.

Oh lord...wallowing in prideful ignorance is no way to go through life son.

You are an easy mark. Just messing with you my friend.

My friend, if you stick around long enough you'll find out what kind of "mark" I really am...and easy ain't it.

A lot of adjectives just came to mind for me when reading this, but I'll keep them to myself.