Wal Mart vs. Civil War
Ben Holmes
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Opinions
The Overland Campaign, a major thrust by General Ulysses Grant to defeat the Confederate forces during May and June 1864, was one of the most horrific confrontations of the Civil War. One event in particular, the Battle of the Wilderness, was a panorama of immense bloodshed, leaving 26,000 soldiers dead or wounded in two days. Now, Wal-Mart wants to erect a SuperCenter next door to the battlefield.
Situated in Orange County, Virginia, the proposed SuperCenter would pave over 55 acres of green land. The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) is leading the primary campaign against this sprawl, but several other organizations are involved. Even the Vermont Legislature is officially on board! As a disclosure, I am a member of the CWPT; several of my direct ancestors fought in the war, and I try to honor their memory by supporting programs that conserve and restore America's battlefields. Whether or not you can trace your heritage back to this volatile era, all who call themselves Americans should hold these places in high esteem. Valley Forge and Gettysburg, Yorktown and Appomattox Courthouse: these are the crucibles from which the modern United States was forged. The final sacrifice of 600,000 American soldiers lead to the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the Union. Their resting places should be given absolute respect.
Some might say, "Well, the Wal-Mart would not actually be on the battlefield, so why is it harmful?" Firstly, this SuperCenter will be 141,000 square feet. Secondly, large tracts of pristine acres will be converted into parking lots. Many people just love to shop at Wal-Mart, so you need substantial space to accommodate those eager customers. This will escalate traffic, urban sprawl and pollution. Other chain store franchises like to situate their facilities near a SuperCenter, as that would mean more "foot traffic" for their businesses. Eventually, this beautiful historic area will be choked full of cars and overdevelopment. The peace and solemnity of that battlefield will be forever lost. Would we tolerate this if Wal-Mart attempted to build on land adjacent to Grandfather Mountain? Imagine if a Taco Bell was placed in the middle of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The essence, the "otherness" of such areas would disappear.
Situated in Orange County, Virginia, the proposed SuperCenter would pave over 55 acres of green land. The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) is leading the primary campaign against this sprawl, but several other organizations are involved. Even the Vermont Legislature is officially on board! As a disclosure, I am a member of the CWPT; several of my direct ancestors fought in the war, and I try to honor their memory by supporting programs that conserve and restore America's battlefields. Whether or not you can trace your heritage back to this volatile era, all who call themselves Americans should hold these places in high esteem. Valley Forge and Gettysburg, Yorktown and Appomattox Courthouse: these are the crucibles from which the modern United States was forged. The final sacrifice of 600,000 American soldiers lead to the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the Union. Their resting places should be given absolute respect.
Some might say, "Well, the Wal-Mart would not actually be on the battlefield, so why is it harmful?" Firstly, this SuperCenter will be 141,000 square feet. Secondly, large tracts of pristine acres will be converted into parking lots. Many people just love to shop at Wal-Mart, so you need substantial space to accommodate those eager customers. This will escalate traffic, urban sprawl and pollution. Other chain store franchises like to situate their facilities near a SuperCenter, as that would mean more "foot traffic" for their businesses. Eventually, this beautiful historic area will be choked full of cars and overdevelopment. The peace and solemnity of that battlefield will be forever lost. Would we tolerate this if Wal-Mart attempted to build on land adjacent to Grandfather Mountain? Imagine if a Taco Bell was placed in the middle of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The essence, the "otherness" of such areas would disappear.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Daniel Foster
posted 2/25/09 @ 3:37 PM EST
Leave it to Wal-Mart to find something else to destroy in the name of capitalism. Thanks for the article.
Ben Campbell
posted 2/25/09 @ 11:45 PM EST
Wal-Mart came to my home area of Fayetteville, West Virginia and built a store right on top of a sacred Confederate burial site. Most of the locals opposed the store being built, but the town council sold us out for a few meager tax dollars (and perhaps a few pennies in their own pockets). (Continued…)
Ben Holmes
posted 2/26/09 @ 6:35 AM EST
Ben,
That really is a tragedy, but it has been a scene repeated over and over again throughout this country. We are throwing history to the wayside for this odd comfort of cultureless homogenization. (Continued…)
bodybuilding
posted 4/20/09 @ 5:38 PM EST
Leave it to Wal-Mart to find something else to destroy in the name of capitalism. Thanks for the article.
-Terry
bodybuilding
dog owners forum
posted 4/20/09 @ 6:09 PM EST
Wal-Mart came to my home area of Fayetteville, West Virginia and built a store right on top of a sacred Confederate burial site. Most of the locals opposed the store being built, but the town council sold us out for a few meager tax dollars (and perhaps a few pennies in their own pockets)
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