Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Solider, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman

By Mule T. Briscoe '82 

The above is a portion of campusology known well to Corps of Cadets members at Texas A&M. Though he only lived 59 years, his contributions to the State of Texas, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and his fellow man were amazing. Well worth the research into his accomplishments, if one was really interested in what he actually did. This research is necessary to fully understand why the university and the state for that matter aspired to have his life memorialized with a statue centered at his beloved Texas A&M University. And if involved in the "demolish Sully" debate, wouldn't you, shouldn't you, know both sides?

His life demonstrated service above self repeatedly, often in the face of peril, and of public service to his state, a life worthy of Texas to remember, understand and commemorate. One could herald or criticize his path in life some 150 years later, but destroying the history thereof, will never lead to understanding. Today there is a ill wind blowing and a drive to have him banished from the school whose foundation he is largely responsible for establishing. This faction claims to be a movement but it's really just a mob. If one can't see the hypocrisy in what this mob is doing, claims to represent and is out to accomplish, words on this page won't bring that hypocrisy into any better focus.  

We all feel it — the unease, the divisiveness, the hurt — the hate that is permeating through our whole country, removing a statue is not going to change or stop any of that. The root cause of where we are today, although seemingly about a statue, is not the real problem…  our problem is not a social problem, it's not a political problem, it's not a cultural problem, it's not even a racial problem, it's a spiritual problem.

Romans Chapter One was penned 2000 +/- year ago, but see if this does not resonate with the current environment, "When right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right,….. claiming to be wise, they become fools,….exchanging the truth for a lie, and although they knew God and his ways, they continued to do these things as well as give their hardy approval to those who do likewise."

We as a nation have lost our way, we are ok with the truth not being true and justice not being just. 

Condemn away, say the writer is evil and hate filled, uncaring, unloving and specifically unknowing, but when you finely see that things are truly upside down and inside out, that is when an inconsistent, dangerous and deadly mob can establish for the rest of us it's protocol, they won't stop at a statue. I refer you again to Romans Chapter One… all of it. I pray by the time you get it, it's not too late.

God Bless Texas.

-Mule T. Briscoe