Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Actor (Robert) Duvall enters battle to save Va. battlefield
www.breitbart.com ^ | May 4, 2009 | STEVE SZKOTAK

Posted on 05/04/2009 11:12:18 AM PDT by Publius804

Actor Duvall enters battle to save Va. battlefield

By STEVE SZKOTAK

LOCUST GROVE, Va. (AP) - Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall has fired a verbal salvo against plans to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter near a Virginia Civil War battlefield where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee first fought the Union's Ulysses S. Grant.

Duvall, who is a descendant of Lee, said he will help preservationists in "chasing out" the retailer from a site near the Wilderness Battlefield.

At a news conference on Monday, Duvall said he has no grudge against Wal-Mart but believes in capitalism coupled with sensitivity.

Duvall was joined by Congressmen Peter Welch of Vermont and Ted Poe of Texas, representing states that lost many lives at the Wilderness battle 145 years ago.

The Wal-Mart proposal must first be approved by Orange County supervisors.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: battlefields; civilwar; dixie; godsgravesglyphs; hollywood; robertduvall; robertelee; va2009; virginia; virginiahistory; walmart
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: poobear

But the entire state of Virginia is historical grounds. It was the central site of action in the War of Northern Aggression and the American Revolution. If people don’t want the economic development and jobs that come with the Walmart, that’s one thing, but don’t use the fact that it is somewhere near a battlefield to argue against it.


41 posted on 05/04/2009 11:45:34 AM PDT by mak5
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: The_Victor

Individuals have the right to pressure whomever they want to pressure. This applies to battlefield preservationists too. Its called the First Amendment.


42 posted on 05/04/2009 11:46:33 AM PDT by dinoparty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
Individuals have the right to pressure whomever they want to pressure. This applies to battlefield preservationists too. Its called the First Amendment.

And WalMart is likewise free to ignore them.

43 posted on 05/04/2009 11:48:24 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: The_Victor
"Private property should be used as owner desir(e)s. If we think that a battlefield needs to be preserved then we should buy the land and set it aside"

Some might argue that land was bought and paid for with the blood of men fighting for the same principles of individual liberty that you espouse.

44 posted on 05/04/2009 11:48:24 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Publius804

I love Wal Mart too, but would not want to see one sitting over Gettysburg or Antietam. Here’s hoping they think better of this and do the right thing. Sadly all too many Americans just have no concept of the number of lives lost during our Civil War. (if they did the drive-by media would not have gotten away with their ginned-up freak-out over Iraq)


45 posted on 05/04/2009 11:48:36 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
Individuals have the right to pressure whomever they want to pressure.

If it's just yelling and screaming then sure...but using the government to do it for you is not the same thing.

46 posted on 05/04/2009 11:48:56 AM PDT by Ron Jeremy (sonic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner; Publius804
Here is a period-era map showing where the proposed Wal-Mart site is. I will see if I can find others.


47 posted on 05/04/2009 11:48:58 AM PDT by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Ron Jeremy

“Did you consider buying the land for yourselves and then doing as you pleased with it, or did you just bully the government to restrict someone else’s property rights?”

Try to ask yourself, “Do I want a 24 hour Walmart within a 1/2 mile of my home?” We didn’t.

It was not a matter of property rights. The land was zoned Residential. Walmart wanted it rezoned before purchasing to the level of Commercial that would allow 24 hour big box stores. The traffic alone would have made this area look and feel like the renowned area of Colonial Drive in Orlando. We compromised for the rezoning of the Property, which residents in my County have voting rights to Light Commercial. There is now a very nice restaurant with a bank and several pads still available for office/retail type buildings.

Yes, we would have bought it but could not raise 2.5 million dollars.

Try to hold back on accusing someone of bullying Property Rights. I’ll defend YOUR right till the day I die to maintain your Property Rights!


48 posted on 05/04/2009 11:50:00 AM PDT by poobear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Publius804
Another map:


49 posted on 05/04/2009 11:50:19 AM PDT by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: poobear

OK.. if you buy into a residential zone and Walmart comes in and wants to re-zone then I can buy that you have a right to fight that. No, I would not want one 1/2 mile away, but I love having one 5 miles away.


50 posted on 05/04/2009 11:51:57 AM PDT by Ron Jeremy (sonic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Badeye
Its not on the battlefield. I appreciate concerns about preserving the CW battlefields, having visited almost all of them in the ‘eastern theater’ including the Wilderness/Fredreicksburg/Chancellorsville location...but that Wal Mart means JOBS in a area that sorely needs them.

I can understand that the official battlefield frequently does not cover the entire area over which the battle occurred. There were likely a number of skirmishes that took place all around that we consider the Wilderness Battlefield. But, more often than not, the official reason for opposing a WalMart is little more than an excuse for forcing the land owners to not use their land as they wish.

51 posted on 05/04/2009 11:51:57 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: mak5
"It was the central site of action in the War of Northern Aggression and the American Revolution. If people don’t want the economic development and jobs that come with the Walmart,

I'm all for economic development and I'm certainly not against Walmart. But Walmart, as well as other big-box retailers, want it on the cheap. As an example, Walmart prefers to build on uninhabited land where there's no building to demolish, there's no trash or ruble to remove and there probably isn't any "environmental" remediation that needs to be done.

So, rather than building on property that already has exiting structure that is either out-dated or empty, Walmart prefers to build where it will be cheapest and fastest.

52 posted on 05/04/2009 11:54:43 AM PDT by Big_Monkey (Flubama - bringing disease everywhere he goes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Ditto
“In Virginia, it's hard to travel 5 miles in any direction and not be on ‘historical’ ground.”

You have a point there. Walmart might win this one. Hey, if the community wants it fine.

I have one 4.5 miles down the road in one direction another 6.8 miles in the other. It will be up the the County and the residents. They probably want this and maybe Duval is sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.

53 posted on 05/04/2009 11:55:10 AM PDT by poobear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: The_Victor

Not if they are requesting a zoning variance and are turned down.


54 posted on 05/04/2009 11:57:06 AM PDT by dinoparty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Ron Jeremy
That's right. This was right across the through fare from our neighborhood. Walmart wanted to have the land rezoned before purchasing. Something very few folks have the money or time to do. They had a twelve seat panel representation at every Council meeting for years. We would show up in matching t-shirts.

Walmart ended up building a much need Super Center in the small town of Deland just north of here. Hundreds of new jobs and all that.

Yes, 5 miles is close enough for me too. Great prices on ammo and fishing equipment!

55 posted on 05/04/2009 12:01:35 PM PDT by poobear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
Not if they are requesting a zoning variance and are turned down.

The article doesn't mention that the land is zoned residential and Walmart is trying to change that. The zoning entity is certainly within their right not to grant the variance.

I'm just curious, if the land were being divided and sold off for single family dwellings, would Duvall be concerned with the battlefield?

56 posted on 05/04/2009 12:01:52 PM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: The_Victor

I don’t know that you can find ANY area in Northern Virginia that didn’t have a ‘skirmish’.


57 posted on 05/04/2009 12:05:46 PM PDT by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

I sure would, Gettysburg needs the jobs, and the revenue.


58 posted on 05/04/2009 12:08:37 PM PDT by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
Some might argue that land was bought and paid for with the blood of men fighting for the same principles of individual liberty that you espouse.

The pricipals of individual liberty exist as a gift from God, regardless the the blood we have shed squabbling over the details.

59 posted on 05/04/2009 12:12:56 PM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: SonOfDarkSkies

I too believe that battlefields are hallowed ground. I have been to the earth works in Richmond, VA and there is nothing there but earth mounds where there were huge battles. You Can’t even think to walk there...the feeling is so strong of the deaths of many. The idea of building anything on a site like that is absolutely abhorrent.


60 posted on 05/04/2009 12:13:25 PM PDT by TXLady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson