We are at a crossroads in our country, city and state. The national turmoil that has erupted across our nation has come to our town. There are forces at play that have the sole objective of dividing us along lines of race and economics for the overall objective of forcing a change in our culture to fit some sick and twisted dream of Utopia-Utopia, for those individuals who at the top.

For almost 50 years our city has made great advances in healing the racial divides that plagued our nation since before 1865. From 1972 to approximately 2016 the students at Robert E. Lee High School studied and competed on athletic teams as one and the name of the school was never a point of insult or terror to our students of African American ethnicity. Since 2016 something diabolical and evil has infected the racial harmony that once was Robert E. Lee High School.

What is that diabolical and evil force that has invaded our town and brought with it the new catch phrase of the day systemic racism, an unhinged and vicious individual who hereafter shall be known as Mr. X, who at last count has 18 aliases; along with his associates have attacked our city through his Facebook Pages; Tyler Loop and Hate and Racism in Tyler, Texas.

This groups first objective has been targeted at the elimination of the name of Robert E. Lee High School, which in their opinion is the cornerstone and symbol of racism in Tyler, Texas. Mr. X is a known race baiter, who is covertly infecting his brand of social justice and instigating a propaganda campaign against the city of Tyler, and spreading division between the white and black population of the city. Mr. X and his associates have used various intimidation tactics against individuals, businesses and churches into silencing their voice in support in keeping the name of Robert E. Lee High School. I have personally had to write a message to an associate of Mr. X, (a person who lives in Colorado) to cease and desist in investigating me with the threat of a lawsuit.

This group has deceitfully mischaracterized their petition responses, when in fact the majority of his numbers were inflated utilizing various communication tools through the internet to garnish responses from out of country and out of state. In an informal poll on the KETK Facebook page, the responses to keep the name of REL were 1900 to 910 for renaming the schools. The out-of-country and out-of-state/area responses to the KETK FB opinion poll at 10:30 am yesterday were 275 out of 800. Thirty-five percent of these responses would be invalid. The same holds true for his overwhelming 15,000 petitions on his change.org poll, where in comparison to the Keep the Name petitions were drawn mostly from local residents; as well as current and former students. Our numbers more accurately reflect the will of the people of the city of Tyler.

The list of countries I found in the KETK opinion poll range from Denmark, Canada, Lichtenstein, Belgium, Israel, Germany, Russia , France, Italy, Holland, Ecuador, Nova Scotia, Australia and Abu Dhabi just to name a few. The out-of-state response patterns line up with the usual culprits of left-wing states such as Illinois, California, New York, New Mexico, Maryland, Washington and several more. Please do not be played by these numbers. They DO NOT reflect the wishes of the residents of the city of Tyler, Texas.

If the names of Robert E. Lee and John Tyler are changed, what will be next on the list? Ladies and gentlemen, there will never be an end. There is no negotiation with the likes of these radicals. There will always be something else until the city lies in ashes. This is the way these elements work.

The cost of capitulation is too great. Not only in terms of financial costs, but also in terms of social costs...and political costs. Tyler, Texas has a unique opportunity to draw the line in the sand and tell the Marxist and the anarchist, This far and no further.

Our city and one flagship high school is named after John Tyler, 10th president of the United States, who was a slave owner and the other high school is named after Robert E. Lee who was a reluctant slave owner and did not believe in the institution of slavery and freed his wifes inherited slaves within the confines of his father-in-laws will, which occurred three days before President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

Its important that our youth are educated to think for themselves, develop critical thinking skills and learn that our history is something to be cherished, respected and protected. History is not always pretty and convenient and does not always reflect our 21st century laws, ideals and customs.

All of our youth need to be taught how special it is to be born an American and how lucky and blessed they truly are.

Every day our service men and women who represent every race, creed and religion in our country are fighting and sometimes laying down their lives in order that they may grow up in a free society, but at the current rate of social burn, they may not get to unless they are given the analytical tools to know they are being manipulated and used as props and tools for someone elses political agenda.

American adolescent youths are NOT supposed to be exposed to the Marxist teachings and philosophies of these so called social justice messiahs. American adolescent youth are supposed to be studying, having fun with their friends, playing sportsnot chanting slogans and carrying signs demanding social justice, when in fact they have never lived in a less oppressed, comfortable and technologically advance period in our nations history!

If for once, our educators and civic leaders could resist the knee-jerk reaction to change the names of the high schools based strictly on emotion, political expediency, personal agenda or possibly fear and stand up to these thugs and bullies who have invaded our city, and just say NO, and prove that our city cannot be beat into submission.

Then maybe our city will survive.

David P. Jones is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and a member of the Robert E. Lee High School class of 1982.

Read this article:

Guest column: National turmoil should not make us change the name of Robert E. Lee and John Tyler - Tyler Morning Telegraph