Jamie Moritzky

I whole heartedly agree, Kevin.  Thank you for speaking up.

Nancy Knox (Finney)

Who is the "owner" of the website content?  

Christine Littlejohn (Hale-Hagle)

Terry Sherbert (Nelson/Ladines)

 That has been very generous of Cristy Littlejohn to pay that much money each year. Thank you very much. The website has been helpful keeping up with birthdays and deaths and reconnecting with people.  I understand that it is a private website. I am sorry if any of our classmates were ever offended about our Johnny Reb and our flag.  It is such a strong part of our class history I do not know how we can actually erase it. I was a rebellette and very proud to be.  I think the person who owns the website has a choice since she pays the money. Once again I’m sorry if anyone is offended. But I really think you are over thinking things. 

Russell Snyder

Chrstine, I echo Terry's sentiment. We appreciate the time, effort, and money you put into keeping the site going. I especially enjoyed browsing the recent reunion pictures, even though I was unable to attend. I totally agree that this is not the place for political posturing. That being said, I feel the need to point out that many of us do not agree with Mr. Jackson's position.

Mr Jackson, it appears you joined this community last week (4/11/21), and your first post is to push your political agenda? Not a fan. 

Many of us have been members of this forum for many years and would be hard pressed to find any user posts, or moderator comments, that reflect anything remotely racist, If you have examples to the contrary, please identify them to the rest of us.

If however, your position is that the image of Johnny Reb and the flag is itself racist, then I have to respectfully disagree. I am quite sure that the reason that image is on the home page is to remind us all of our years spent at Westbury HS. Johnny was after all, our mascot, attended every game and pep rally, and was the target of many kidnapping schemes by the Bellaire Cardinals. I point this out because intent and context matter. The image is not there to "fight to maintain the enslavement of Africans and to implement Jim Crow laws and other forms of oppression" as you stated.

The intent of this site is to remind us of our common past, and provide a way for folks to reconnect. Johnny was central to that past. Symbols and icons can have different meanings for different people. I can understand why you may be offended by confederate symbols. Afer all, that is the current political trend and a few folks have already agreed with you. Hopefully you can understand that for others, Johnny is nothing more than a reminder of our past. A past that many look back upon fondly. Judging by the tone of your post, you may not have such fond memories of Westbury. Should all the Cheerleaders, Band Aides, Rebelettes and Rebel Guards also remove their photos because they have images of the Confederate flag? By your own admission, you are not suggesting anyone "destroy yearbooks or otherwise alter the record". However, removing Johnny Reb is doing exactly that. 

Ultimately it is up the Christine to decide if the image stays or goes. I, for one, hope he stays. I also hope for a return to an apolitical alumni forum.

Jamie Moritzky

And these are blatant examples of why we continue to experience racism in 2021.  We worship things, not people.  This is not political, this is about human decency, this is about respect. Your views are limited to your own perspectives.  Your memories, your experiences are not those of ALL your classmates.  All that is being asked of you is to consider the perspectives of those who did not and do not share your paradigm.  To consider, for a moment, how things were and felt for other people who were your classmates, who had vastly different experiences.  Who were disrespected, disregarded and made invisible, and who continue to be.

Kevin, I’m sorry you have been personally attacked for bringing up a relevant and important issue for consideration.  Thank you for asking us to consider you and your opinion, you are worthy, regardless your duration as a member here.

This feed also makes it all too clear to me that my needs, among others, will not be served here, we belong somewhere respectful and inclusive.  Thank you, Chrissy for the gift of all your time and money to host, pay for and keep up this site, I appreciate all you have done out of kindness and generosity.

Robert Rosenfield (Lakeman46@yahoo. Com)

I vote  for  no change.This  country  has  lost  its  mind....If  you  are  offended  you  can just  delete  yourself  from the  web page  or  Forum....Each  person can make  a  decsion to  veiw  or  not  view.I bet  the  vast  major  feel the  same  as  me  and i think majority  should  decide what  we  see or  cancel ,not  the  few  that  are  offended.  ,I do not  mean to  offend  or  hurt  any ones  feelings  but  this  cancel culture  has  to  stop...Do not  change it!!  Thank you  Chrissy  for all you  do..Robert  

Del House

Susan Schultz (O'Connor)

Russell's post was spot on.  I do hope he stays as I identify with the Rebels not the Huskies. 

Deirdre Jones-Shook (Shook)

Hello Fellow Alumni,

I am deeply moved by everyone’s remarks. Each of you expressed very valid points.  Mr. Jackson recalled “… the morning announcements over the loudspeakers from the administration office that ‘the M & M bus was late,’ not ‘the Majority to Minority bus was late.’” My brother and I were two of the students who traveled on that bus our 10th-grade year. Yes, I remember those announcements and it was terribly hurtful and degrading. Yet, there were many contrasting experiences that resulted in very positive outcomes.

Mr. House stated, “While I understand Kevin’s sentiment, I really do not believe any of us looked at the Rebel flag or Johnny Rebel and thought of their history back to the Civil War days and before.”  Actually, I knew students then who looked at the Rebel flag and Johnny Rebel from the perspective of the Civil War. However, many of the students who shared my sense of consciousness chose to engage in activities that made our high school experience enjoyable irrespective of our awareness. Furthermore, I concur with Mr. House, “ I doubt many of us, if any support racism.”

Mr. Synder, I agree that “Symbols and icons can have different meanings for different people.” Thank you for understanding why others “may be offended by confederate symbols.” Additionally, I appreciate the sentiments of Jamie Moritzky, Terry Sherbert (Nelson/Ladines), and I respect Robert Rosenfield's views. 

I will not state a position regarding the retention or removal of the Rebel flag or Johnny Rebel. I refrain from doing so on the grounds that I am not an active member of the Alumni and its activities. Although Mr. Jackson’s opinions are an unexpected addition to the customary posts, it has provided a footprint for deeper thought and expression. Specific examination of individual and collective experiences may require additional consideration outside of our traditional frame of reference. Doing so provides an opportunity to describe what each perspective looks like through the unique lenses of our shared experience, i.e., graduates of Westbury High School.

Respectfully,

Deirdre “Dee” Jones-Shook

Michael Lacey

Keep Johnny Rebel.   Michael Lacey.  

Christine Littlejohn (Hale-Hagle)

I really appreciate everyone being so involved in the website these past few days.  When Kevin first approached me to remove the photo of Johnny Reb, I have to tell you that I didn't even know exactly where Johnny Reb was on the website.  There are images in different places and after looking into it, I saw that the image was actually created and placed on the home page by the web designer who hosts the domain.  He had selected that photo from looking back at our school and mascot. This isn't a win or lose situation and it doesn't remove from our memories our school mascot that got stolen by Bellaire or the Cardinal stolen by the Greyhole Gang.  It was a symbol of our school not a symbol of racial unrest.

There has been mention of contributing to the site and I appreciate it, but I don't want contributions.  I only mentioned the cost because when I was first approached about the website photo.  I was put off by it because I didn't feel after me posting about a classmate's passing it was the right time to approach me about a photo that had been on the site for 12 years.

I am going to put out a vote whether to have the photo removed.  I'm getting opinions from both sides so I want to make sure I go with the majority here.  I don't want this to turn into a situation where we remove one photo and then it's something else.  If that's the case, I would just as soon take down the website.  As you are probably well aware, the real estate market is the busiest it's ever been and as a Realtor with a busy real estate team, I am doing well to keep up with my work and family.

Thank you for understanding and I really do appreciate everyone's opinions.

Glenn W. Cunningham

Thank you, Kevin, for bringing this issue to the forefront. And, thank you Jamie and Dee for your thoughtful and thought-provoking posts.  Like you, I wince every time I see the cover of our yearbook, or a picture of me in my cheerleader uniform with the Confederate flag emblazened across my entire upper torso.  At the time, I was naive and unaware that these were symbols of oppression.  I was just a kid.  I thought it was "cool."  But, that was then; this is now.  We can no longer claim to be naive and unaware.  We're not kids anymore.  We now know that Confederate imagery is (and has always been) a divisive flashpoint in race relations. We either care how Confederate imagery bites and stings some of our classmates to this day, and chose to no longer inflict that pain - or we chose to continue to bite and sting. The right choice is clear to me.

Bruce Mills

Christine,

I would to chip in as well and help with the cost of the page. Please share the joy of servanthood. 

This is a wonderful formium for us to keep in touch with classmates and renew old friendships.

On to Mr. Jackson.

I don't know where he got his information. It has no basis. As I have stated before. The "War between the States" was fought over taxation NOT slavery! Please remember the victor writes the history to their point of view regardless of the truth. 

Mr. Jackson only mention the " forced labor of Africans". I guess he does not or refuses to know about            " Indentured Servitude" or the Asian, European and Irish who were slaves.  For that matter my distant relations may have been slaves?  Slavery has been going on in Europe for thousands of years. Don't hear or read a word about it. Still going on today. Basically we are all slaves to our passions, job, paychecks, relationships and what ever else you can think of.  

History has a bad habit of repeating itself. Like Valdimir Linin should have been stopped in 1903. Trying to erase history and killing 50,000 people to start and Hitler in 1932. incidentally  Hilter did escape and died in Peru in the 50's. ( Bob Bare and FBI)  The Democrat Bolshevik propaganda today is the " Rebel Flag" is a symbol of racism? How? Just something to start a fight. Don't forget about the three (3) other off flags of the Confederacy. Are they a racist symbol too? 

All I'm saying is know your true history. The final chapter of JFK is not going coming out until 2039. (LBJ).

Y'all have a awesomely blessed day!  

Christine Littlejohn (Hale-Hagle)

Nanette Powers (Miglio)

 Keep it as it was! You do not erase the past. You learn from it. You can"t change the past, only do better if needed.

This whole culture change stuff, or whatever you want to call it, is on my last nerve!

PAST is the PAST! DONE Present is now and what we should all be focusing on! Really? Think about it! How many years do we have left? 30? 20? What is your health situation?

How about we all just take each day as a present, and be in the present., because that is what it is, and that is where we are.

Good luck on pondering this ya'll , GOD BLESS and have fun! Go Westbury Class of 1979!

Thank you Chrissy for all you have done to keep us connected!

Russell Snyder

That's sad to hear about Billy. He was one of the most easly going, friendly guys I remember in HS. He got along with everyone, regardless of which group or clique one might have been a part of. I remember he had a pretty awesome conversion van back in the day too. I hope he pulls through. I understand if you don't want to publicly say what he's battling, but I really hope he gets well.

Thanks Christine,

Russ

Lauren LaHaye (Tucker)

Hey Russel. I wanted to provide an update on Billy Young. He is doing really good and home now. 

Terry Sherbert (Nelson/Ladines)

 First of all, I would like to thank Kevin for his post. It has sparked response on this website. Sometimes controversy is the only thing that keeps us together. 

 Before reading about the possibility of losing my precious rebel flag, that I cherish,  OK so now you know my opinion. But before reading that, I hadn’t really tuned into the Westbury website. I was thinking , oh it’s too much trouble for me to hunt down my password, I tend to forget those things unless I write them down and then I forget where I wrote them down. 

Secondly, I would like to thank Crissy  for all her efforts in keeping this website up and running for so many years. I would also like to thank her for the birthday information and for the death information.  The way the website is set up is very easy to follow and I had not done so until recently. I went to the area where it says in memory, I looked at how many deaths we have had from our class, and I am very sad. It makes me realize how actually old I am. 

 Lastly, I would like to thank those of you who have been writing on this blog lately. It brings back memories both good and bad. It makes me long for a 50th reunion where I can actually have sincere heartfelt relationships with those of you who come.  As opposed to the childish way I behaved at the one in Reunion I did attend where I just wanted to act like I was a somebody. Totally prideful. Totally childish. 

Nanette,  you are so right. We have very few years left.  Lauren, thank you for the update on Billy.  you were both two very important people to me in high school. Especially at the Methodist youth group.  I always looked up to you both and admired you both. Along with many others of you. U2 Russell Snyder. Mark Zerbe, Beth Sawin, Meg Cook....and more..

 Last night my husband and I went out to dinner with a couple that were high school sweethearts at his high school. They were coming back to town to visit her mom. They had been married 40 years. My husband and he were in high school band together and they had a lot of good reminiscing even though they hadn’t seen  each other in over 35 years. 

 My prayer is that we will experience the same thing with each other. Let’s keep in touch through this website. Thank you again for keeping it running Chrissy. 

God’s girl, Terry Ladines (Sherbert)

Genette Dodson (Stanton)

It breaks my heart that we are putting division in our close knit high school class over a postage stamp sized picture of our mascot. I did not then and do not now think we are racists because of it. I had black friends then and have many now, I do not have a prejudiced bone in my body. 

I love and respect those who have spoken up on this page, but please remember the good times and memories from our High School and don’t let us become a part of the “cancel culture” it further divides this country and us as the class of 1979. I love the webpage and the way we have continued to keep in touch with each other through it. 

I am a therapist and I have seen how racism has affected those on both sides of this racial issue, no one should be ashamed of their past because of the color of their skin.  There are people suffering because someone disagrees with them and their beliefs. My Christian beliefs have taught me to love everyone regardless of their race.

Please don’t let a tiny picture destroy what we have as a diversified class of wonderful people.

Thank you so such Chrissy for keeping our class close.

Always respectful,

Genette Dodson Stanton

Christine Littlejohn (Hale-Hagle)

I just want to let everyone know that Kevin Jackson requested to be deleted from the site.  When he was deleted, the system deleted his posts, as well.  I did not delete them.

Kellie Anders

Thank you for all the info, Christine! It's been nice to read all the responses. I think that some people feel obligated to think a certain way due to today's cultural pressure. But, I truly hope that everyone can just be who they are, think how they want to, and relax and enjoy their lives. Regardless of one's mindset, let's just be kind-hearted and tolerant above all else. No one can alter the past. Let's dwell on the future! ❤️☺️

Bruce Mills

I would to say to everyone and pray y'all are doing well. Please stay healthy. I thank God and Y'all for the thoughts and prayers, I have not been in the hospital in almost four years.  

I do look foward to the next reunion.

Happy Grandparents day to y'all ! 

Michael Mayse

Hi there folks, found this site a few days ago. Sure glad its here.

Christine Littlejohn (Hale-Hagle)

Hi Michael, It's great to see you here.  Very long time, no see.  Hope life has treated you well!  We're overdue for a class get-together again and hopefully you'll be able to join us.  ~Chrissy