It took almost 150 years, but Virginia has finally surrendered at the Battle for the Wilderness — without firing a shot. In a terrible blow to historians and preservationists, the Orange County Board of Supervisors caved into pressure from Walmart and business groups to allow the construction of a huge Walmart store next to the historic Wilderness battlefield where 145,000 Union and Confederate soldiers fought and close to 30,000 were killed or wounded. Despite international objections to the damage to this historic area, the pro-development board voted 4-1 to side put a big box store ahead of its own proud legacy.
I will admit to being a military history nut, but this is a story that should outrage every American.
One of the most intriguing things about these historic areas is how locals will often show away such legacies to developers, even for a big box store. It is a sharp contrast to the courage shown by thousands of men who gave their lives in the area. Rather than protect the sacred ground around this site, they selected a Superstore.
The Wilderness battlefield is where generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee first met in battle. It turns out that if General Grant had simply offered retail opportunities, he would have been welcomed with open arms.
We are now approaching the 150th anniversary of the battle — just in time to coincide with the opening of the Superstore. No doubt many of these board members will be present to espouse pride in their legacy at those celebrations after selling out to a big box store. It will also not likely stop some citizens from denouncing the lack of patriotism of other citizens and waiving the flag when they just sold out part of our history for cheap Superstore.
For historians, that is not even thirty pieces of silver, it is more like selling out for a slurpie and a discount card.
Only one-fourth of the Wilderness area is protected. Supervisor Chairman Lee Frame insists that “the current proposal … is the best way to protect the battlefield.” That is much like the theory that you must destroy a village to save it.
Barbara Wigger insisted in one article that “I know we’ve been referred to as ignorant shoppers. I feel bad about that but I’ll live with it. Let us have our Walmart and let us stop the battle.”
Locals ignored one of the most impressive collections of world leaders and historians ever assembled. They included authors David McCullough and James M. McPherson, filmmaker Ken Burns, actor Robert Duvall, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, and congressmen from Vermont and Texas. However, Wal-Mart and its lobbyists were on the other side with a promise of jobs and tax revenue. That was an easy choice for the board.
It is quite a legacy for these four board members who voted to sell out to Wal-Mart: Supervisors R. Mark Johnson, Zack Burkett, Teel Goodwin and Lee Frame.
Only Teri L. Pace stood with the area’s proud history and legacy.
A disgrace and the only one that stood her ground maybe knew something about birthin a baby.
I suppose the American Flags that they sell at Wal-Mart will be made in the North? I am sure, North Korea.
Clearly another job well done by Stephen Colbert.
Imagine that? Middle class, middle-aged white guys putting money over history, or courage, or just about anything else. Looks like a Bush rally.
Can’t blame the North on this one. Southern company invading Southern land. Pretty sad actually. If this time of economic gloom does not make people re-evaluate the excessive worship of profit and materialism, then I don’t know what will.
We ‘Mainahs’ and the local wildlife population had better luck with one particular wetland area. Wal-Mart was forced to build elsewhere!
http://www.newenglandforestry.org/projects/a4a/bdn.htm
Wal-Mart commits to habitat
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 – Bangor Daily News Email This Article To A Friend Print This Article Go Back
“…In battles like that over Bangor’s Penjajawoc Marsh, Wal-Mart’s massive stores have become symbolic of the fight between environmentalists and developers. Now, the company aims to transform its reputation by committing $35 million over the next 10 years to protect more than 138,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the United States. A Washington County conservation project will get $6.1 million from Wal-Mart in the first round of funding.
In partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the company intends to buy, or protect by easement, at least 1 acre of wildlife habitat for every acre nationwide covered by Wal-Mart stores, parking lots and distribution centers, company executives announced Tuesday in Washington, D.C.”
Read on…
“international objections”? who specifically outside the USA?
I hate everything about Wal-Mart. This situation is just one more time where they have bought their way into a location that should have been spared.
we took the grand tour of civil war battle sites about a decade ago from fredricksberg to gettysberg. there are things that help connect us to our history and one of them is standing in the places where ordinary americans made extraordinary history.
my family did not arrive in this country until the early/mid 20th century. its not easy to find connection to how americans feel about being american unless you look for it in places like The Wilderness or Antietam, another disgraceful encroachment on hallowed ground. I never felt truly American until my first visit to DC and that was cemented by our visits to these sites. quite possibly this trip had much to do with my kid’s choice of schools and ultimately her choice to make DC her home.
GWLSM: “…I never felt truly American until my first visit to DC…”
But was that the first time you really felt PROUD of your country?
Joking aside, I agree about visiting DC, it’s a pilgrimage all Americans should make. I’d have liked to have made the trip later in my life than I did, it would be so much more relevant and spiritual now than it was when I was much younger.
lotta writes: But was that the first time you really felt PROUD of your country?
Joking aside, I agree about visiting DC, it’s a pilgrimage all Americans should make. I’d have liked to have made the trip later in my life than I did, it would be so much more relevant and spiritual now than it was when I was much younger.
me: hmmm. proud of my country…. let me think.
I was what? 32 when I first visited DC and 18 during the height of the Viet Nam war and 22 during the Watergate hearings. 11 when JFK was assassinated. So that is a disconnect. I just don’t think I have that USA First thing. I’m not a nationalist in any real way. Sure I like it when we get gold at the olympics. Maybe there is a disadvantage to feeling like a guest in a foreign country. I was reared in the shadow of the holocaust. for better or worse, the idea that it could happen here has always been slightly at the center of my being. we jews are only as safe as our host nation allows us safety. so far this country has been willing to accept up side by side, as long as we don’t talk too loud or walk too proud.
anyway, your second home is where your kids live so my second home is DC for the foreseeable future.
not for nothing, everywhere you go there are like 5 kinds of cops and cameras recording every step you take.
GWMom,
Your comment about the feelings within your center made me sad.
I hope someday soon you’ll feel completely at ease.
I’ve never seen you walk, but I like the way you talk just fine. You can do it louder too if you’d like, I don’t mind
By this logic every battlefield in the world should be preserved. Wal-Mart is a shining example of capitalism and what it can produce. Had I died on a battlefield of the Civil War I can think of no more fitting monument, except possibly a 20 story skyscraper and a prosperous society living in freedom. To bad it hasn’t turned out that way.
The average citizen has it right, Robert Duvall should stick to acting and if he wants to preserve land he should use some of his considerable fortune to buy land. To much land belongs to government and more should be put into production-timber, coal, oil, and various other natural resources. This will put people to work as will Wal-Mart. Environmentalists have eliminated the good paying jobs such as oil and mining, all we have left is Wal-Mart.
“Wal-Mart is a shining example of capitalism and what it can produce.”
Yeah, they are a buncha swell guys.
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2002/1102reuss.html
And that’s not even mentioning how they treat employees. Did you catch that post about me stopping someone from giving Wal-Mart their SSN for the “convenience” of cashing a check?
And how about this blast from Wally World’s past . . .
http://jonathanturley.org/2008/04/02/wal-mart-backs-down-in-its-litigation-against-brain-damaged-former-employee/
They only stopped after the public found out what they were doing a raised all kind of Hell. You mean THAT Wal-Mart?
Yeah.
Wal-Mart is an example of capitalism alright.
Capitalism at its ugly stupid worst.
Every business has it’s bad supervisors, that dose not mean the entire company is corrupt. Hopefully those supervisors will be fired or demoted.
All pit bulls are dogs, some pit bulls attack and kill children therefore all dogs kill children.
IS,
So the best monument to a war that was fought for a variety of reasons, none of which were “protect capitalism” is Wal-mart or a Sky-scraper, both of which are often used as symbols of capitalism?
Really?
I suppose you think we should build a giant library at Waterloo, because that makes just about as much sense.
I’m confused. Are they building the WalMart on the National Park land, the land that the (national) “public” has decided to designate as a battlefield monument? If not, are they perhaps building the WalMart on (local) public land, land that the local citizens have decided to remove from the tax roles and, at public expense, tax themselves so they might purchase the land?
If not, then the remaining option is that they are building the WalMart on private land that is available for the sort of gradual development that has occurred on most private land over the past two centuries. If it’s private land, the owners of the property have quite extensive rights to do ordinary things that one does with land, including farm it, or build houses, or build commercial buildings. Moreover, the Constitution says that those rights may not be taken away by the government without just compensation.
So the entire political fracas is a red herring. If you want to do something else with the land, BUY THE LAND, by some legitimate and ethical means. Otherwise, your attempt to “take” it via political means is as unjust as if six of the neighbors in a ten-neighbor block voted to prevent you and three of your (unlucky) neighbors from building, living in, and enjoying houses on your private property lots. If it would be coercive and immoral to do it on your block, it is just as immoral when done by a political force, sanctioned by a “government,” of a majority discriminating against a minority.
DayLabor,
You’re misrepresenting what happened. The vote wasn’t “should we stop a land owner from building on his land?,” it was “should we permit a land owner a special exemption from the existing laws?” The community had decided in the 70s that the land should be zoned for business, but that there should be a size limit on individual buildings. Unless the land owner bought the land before the area was zoned that way, they bought the land with the understanding that there was a size limitation on what could be built there.
Permitting special treatment solely based on an increase tax income? I’d call that selling out.
Gyges:
then what do you call Kelo v. City of New London?
DayLabor:
you got that right. where I live the local supervisors controll private property through over arching/reaching environmental laws. If I was a lawyer I would have them in court claiming they were “taking” my land (by my inability to build) without just compensation.
IS,
Because an abuse of the eminent domain power is the exact same thing as zoning regulations?
I have no idea why you think people should be allowed to do what ever they want with their property. Especially when the actions have a long term effect on others’ property. Mis-use of land has a much greater impact on your neighbor than playing your music to loudly, but I bet you’d call the cops on your neighbor if they were blasting music at 2:00 AM and wouldn’t turn it down.
Gyges:
because it is their property and short of setting off an atomic bomb (i.e. doing something that would be physically destructive) you should be allowed to do what you want with your property.
And no I would not call the cops, I would ask them nicely at least twice, the third time I would go away until early on Saturday morning and then I would start cutting my lawn or some other noisy job.
Why do you want to go straight to the cops?
We conservatives believe in taking care of things ourselves at least as far as we can prior to involving authorities. Appeal to decency that sort of thing.
IS,
First, as an aside: I framed the example in a way that assumed calling the cops wasn’t your first action (Hint: Wouldn’t isn’t the same word as Didn’t).
I could make an argument that loud music at 2:00 AM does cause actual physical harm, but I was mainly using the example to highlight that we both agree that owning property doesn’t allow you to do whatever you want on it. This is a shades of gray discussion.
It’s unreasonable for you to class all actions of governments regulating use of property that don’t fit into your definition of appropriate regulation as clear abuses of power, or even as the same type of (supposed) abuse. Kelo v. City of New London has nothing to do with zoning. That was all.
IS writes: And no I would not call the cops, I would ask them nicely at least twice, the third time I would go away until early on Saturday morning and then I would start cutting my lawn or some other noisy job.
Why do you want to go straight to the cops?
We conservatives believe in taking care of things ourselves at least as far as we can prior to involving authorities. Appeal to decency that sort of thing.
me: what you mean is that you conservatives believe in ramping up a situation that doesn’t have to become a problem. where yo had a neighbor who played loud music you now have an enemy who will not think of your lawn mower at 6 am a sign of decency.
it isn’t
it is a sign of immaturity.
Gyges:
some zoning laws are useful, you wouldn’t want to build a house in a commercial zone or vice versa but those sorts of zoning tend to actually be considerate of the land use and owner. The sorts of zoning I am complaining about are the ones that are done for environmental reasons, such as limiting lots to 5 acres in “sensitive” watersheds or limiting density because you want more trees or wildlife habitat. Or limiting construction because of flood plains that are not really flood plains. That type of thing.
Those “take” land out of production and can increase land cost. Thomas Sowell has a good oped on his reasons for increased land cost in California.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-1_5_06_TS.html
Where I live they do these types of things with zoning.
gwlsm:
6 am is way to early on a saturday I was thinking 8 am, much more civilized.
IS,
Yeah, I know that you don’t like those kind of zoning laws. I may or may not depending on the specific details of the individual laws (I know, my refusal to make decisions based on sweeping ideals annoys you).
This instance, however has nothing to do with that. The case you cited doesn’t have anything to do with this instance or environmental regulation.
I’ll say it again: You’re talking about unrelated issues, and it’s unreasonable of you to equate the three. That’s really all I wanted to say. So I’m done.
Indentured Servant 1, August 31, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Gyges:
some zoning laws are useful, you wouldn’t want to build a house in a commercial zone or vice versa but those sorts of zoning tend to actually be considerate of the land use and owner. The sorts of zoning I am complaining about are the ones that are done for environmental reasons, such as limiting lots to 5 acres in “sensitive” watersheds or limiting density because you want more trees or wildlife habitat. Or limiting construction because of flood plains that are not really flood plains. That type of thing.
***********************
Wanna see a need for Zoning laws go to Houston. I kid you not at one time they had an Emergency Room of a hospital, a Mexican Restaurant, a Chapel and Funeral Home all in the same shopping center. Across the street was a Grave yard. Proper Land Use. Or you could have a bar next door unless a deed restriction is in place. That happened in the Heights area.
IS writes: 6 am is way to early on a saturday I was thinking 8 am, much more civilized.
me: 6am, 8 am…. neither is very civilized because your passive/aggressive BS is just that….and meant to do one thing… escalate a situation that might have been handled in a truly civilized, and intelligent way.
now how was that? After asking nicely 3 times I should call the cops? I think an 8 am mowing might get the point across without involving the local constabulary.
go back to nagging your husband. Although I suppose it is therapeutic for you to bash me and keeps you off his back.
I bet he says a couple of hail Mary’s for me each night.
IS,
That post was not nice. It would serve you well not to irate this one. She does not make it personal but will slice you and dice you with all her might.
AY:
I must say she started this entire thing by calling me passive aggressive. So I dont see any reason not to take a shot across her bow.
IS writes: now how was that? After asking nicely 3 times I should call the cops? I think an 8 am mowing might get the point across without involving the local constabulary.
go back to nagging your husband. Although I suppose it is therapeutic for you to bash me and keeps you off his back.
I bet he says a couple of hail Mary’s for me each night.
me: these are your only two choices?
see, this is why the conservative agenda is such a failure. no one teaches you to think independently and creatively.
as for me and my husband, this is exactly my point. you can’t think of anything else, so you insult me and with something you know absolutely nothing about. sticks and stone, IS, sticks and stones.
IS writes: I must say she started this entire thing by calling me passive aggressive. So I dont see any reason not to take a shot across her bow.
i called your method of dealing with this rather stupid little analogy of yours passive/aggressive because it is.
it is the very definition of passive aggressive behavior after the noisy lawn mover comes what? dog poop on your neighbor’s porch? funny phone calls at 3 AN? better hops after your little harassments your neighbor isn’t a gun person.
and of course making it personal, your imagining my squeeze is hilarious. it doesn’t harm me or affect me in any way, but just the time yo spent crafting that zinger. wow. no wonder you can’t think of bette ways to deal with a noisy neighbor.
Walmart has bought preserve land all over this country. Around 3 years ago when their campaign to open Walmart banks in America was denied Walmart decided to buy land and “preserve” it for x amount of years. I do believe when land becomes scarce or when more people move into the areas surrounding Walmart’s “protected” land they will just open stores on their previously untaxed, unregulated plots… forgoing their original idealistic goal (ie: lies).
Walmart has opened stores in Mexico on top of and adjacent to Indigenous ruins and burial grounds.
If they have no respect for culture 1000s of years old, what makes anyone think Walmart gives a $#@@$# about some measly Civil War dirt?
Let’s sell this whole country and its beautiful protections piece by piece until we have no freedoms left whatsoever! Who’s with me?
GWLSM:
What country are you from? you said somewhere that your family came from another country in the mid part of the 20th century.
IS writes: What country are you from? you said somewhere that your family came from another country in the mid part of the 20th century.
my family is from the Old Country. There is only one Old Country.
There is no going back.
you can call it eastern europe if you want. I went there two years ago just to see. i cried everyday.
I am american. born in chicago. this is my country.
Just in case anyone thought Wal-Mart was only screwing up our country . . .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32730103/ns/world_news-asiapacific/
Greatings everyone,
First apologise if this will not be the right category. Please move it if necessary. I’d like to ask all of you Folks if you ever tried expired domain search equipment and if yes could you provide some very good resources to search out expiring domains and backorder it.
The best software program would get the job done like that: seeking domains by PR Page Rank, Alexa, traffic values and date to expire. It could fetch results from google or other search engine.
At the moment I’m utilizing Expire Domain Name tools and it operates very great but I need more sources like that. Please post in this thread or drop me a private message if you use any application but don’t want to share in public.