​More concerns about Kincardine council’s decision to destroy the Secord Monument

To the Editor:
RE: “Municipality agrees to destroy Secord Monument that stood in downtown Kincardine”

It gives me indigestion when younger people seek to erase history because they label certain people as racist or intolerant based on a brief period of their lives.

If the same people were held to the standards they judge others by, I’m certain they too would not be without some form of indiscretion in their past.

Here was a man, Dr. Solomon Secord, who served the community of Kincardine for well over 50 years and sometimes offered his services free of charge. Now, the sanctimonious (woke) movement wants to erase history of his service by removing a monument. One might ask what these people ever accomplished in their ‘perfect’ lives?

If we viewed NASA with the same lens this doctor is being viewed, we would be forced to label the United States space program as having a ‘Nazi’ in its midst. After all, it was a Dr. Von Braun who was instrumental in developing the Saturn V rocket that landed men on the moon in 1969. The very same scientist who worked on the V2 rocket program for Germany during the Second World War.

Can’t we just tell the whole story and not hide our collective heads in the sand?

With all seriousness,
R. Adams
Kitchener
 

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To the Editor:
RE: “Readers urge Kincardine council not to destroy piece of local history”

I agree with the opinions of Dave Cuyler and Cate and Terry O’Brien.

There is no way that the Secord Monument should be destroyed. This man was so respected by his community that the people raised the money for a memorial. How many citizens in this day and age would receive the same acknowledgement?

Councillors, read your history. The Walker House has displays of the relevant letters and documentation.

The same people who decry Dr. Secord’s history will likely try to shame “Doctors without Borders” next, because they practise medicine without regard to the patient’s political views.

An outraged taxpayer,
Jackie Rosart
Municipality of Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

Kudos to Dave Cuyler. He has my respect and as a former councillor with a voice, should not be judged for his opinion.

Unlike the others in this town who judged Dr. Secord for decisions he made.

Leigh Christian
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I think it is absolutely disgusting that the Secord Monument is lying out across from the town shop, in three pieces. There really is room for it where it has stood proudly for many years!

This monument was paid for by the citizens of Kincardine and area, so, therefore, does not belong to the town, and council does not have the right to dispose of it.

Too many do not like the wording on it, well, get over it!

Apparently, it has been offered to the Walker House, Bruce County Museum and the Kincardine Hospital, but no one wants it; the controversy, alone, takes care of that.

This letter will, undoubtedly, upset some people; however, that is life and I feel we all are entitled to our opinions.

The fact that a facilitator had to be hired, and paid for with taxpayers’ money, tells me that council did not want to make the decision and be held responsible for the removal of said statue and NO return.

This monument has never posed a threat to any of our citizens, ever!

The mayor should have been last to speak about the monument.

Dr. Solomon Secord was a prominent citizen in Kincardine. He went south for his own health, and how many lives did he save? On both sides of the war. He was a surgeon and doctor and swore to the Hippocratic Oath. He treated everyone who needed treatment, white, black, whatever, it was his job.

Council did not want people to present their views on the subject.

People who move to Kincardine should learn the history of the town, and not ask for everything to be changed to their way.

Dr. Secord was a well-respected doctor in Kincardine when he came back from the South, saved many lives, brought many babies into the world, helped those who suffered.

Thank you, Dave Cuyler and Cate and Terry O’Brien, for your letters to the editor.

So, how is this monument going to be decommissioned? WAS it ever commissioned? What does commissioning/decommissioning even mean; AND how is it going to be destroyed?

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Sincerely,
Joan Hartwick
Kincardine