Dishonoring The Honorable

By Jeff Paulk, 13 May, 2026

Suppose you were a member of a proud American Indian tribe, say the Cherokee Nation. And suppose that one of the great historical figures of that tribe was not only a chief, but a general in the Confederate States Army. Let’s say this general served with honor and distinction in trying to keep the United States government from doing to his people what it was doing to its own. Then, let’s say that years after the war, in 1921, the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy) erected a 13,000 pound granite statue of this honored chief and general, and a fountain, in, oh, let’s say Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Now, fast forward to June 2020, 99 years after this statue and fountain were placed in honor of this worthy Cherokee chief and Confederate general. Let’s say the current chief of the Cherokee Nation has this statue and fountain removed and placed in storage in some undisclosed location. Let’s just say. Now, what would you think of such an action that took from public view a statue commemorating a noted Cherokee hero? Would that not be about the most disrespectful and dishonorable thing you could think of? Well friends, there is no supposing to it. This is precisely what happened on 13 June, 2020 and it was done by Cherokee Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. His reason? The statue was placed there by a “third party” and “our modern telling of our own history is done by the Cherokee people”.

So, this Cherokee chief removes a statue dedicated to a famous Cherokee chief because it was put up by a “third party”, evidently in his little mind, to make an attempt to tell a story he doesn’t like or agree with. Just like the rest of the liberals and anti-Confederates, he wants to tell “his version” of history. Well, first of all, the UDC was making no attempt to “tell a version of history”. They simply erected a statue in honor of a famous and noble man. One would think that the Cherokee Nation would be proud and grateful for such recognition to one of their historical leaders, and in all fairness, most of them probably were. Secondly, there is no “my version”, “your version”, or “their version” of history. There is the truth, and that is all that should be told. I have been to Tahlequah and seen where the statue of Stand Watie used to be. Two park benches now sit on that spot. There is very little mention of Stand Watie on the property, but there is a fair amount of recognition for John Ross, who fought for the Union, after he was captured while fighting for the Confederacy.

If you recall, 2020 was the year that 168 Confederate symbols were removed. Cultural genocide of all things Southern and Confederate was kicking it up into a higher gear. Cherokee Chief Hoskin has the distinction of being the only one in Oklahoma to commit such a disgraceful act that year. Now, what about the legalities of what he did? Well, he did nothing illegal. The Cherokee Nation acquired the property in 1979 and Chief Hoskin says that the statue and fountain “did not reflect the values of the Cherokee Nation and were placed there during a time when the tribe had no legal control over their own historic capitol grounds”. Really? And just what “values” would those be? Does he speak for all of the Cherokee Nation when he says they do not share the same values as our Confederate ancestors? The values of our Confederate ancestors happen to be the same as those of our Founding Fathers and colonial ancestors who fought a war of independence after seceding from Great Britain. Values such as sound Biblical principles, duty and honor to family and country, and the belief in the right of self-determination. So, since the chief admittedly does not share these values, one can only assume that his values are the opposite of the aforementioned.

What this Chief Hoskin has done is a slap in the face to every honorable member of the Cherokee Nation in particular, and to every descendant of Confederate soldiers in general. It is a shameful thing to dishonor the honorable, especially when they are not alive to defend themselves. As stated before, he had every legal right to do what he did. But just because you have the legal right to do something does not make it the right thing to do. The chief refuses to meet with anyone wanting to discuss the whereabouts of the statue or the possibility of having it reinstalled. Not only has he done a disgraceful thing by removing the statue, but he is a coward as well and is a poor representation of a great and proud people.