Bruce Lee County
One of Southwest Florida's most prominent counties, Lee County, is named for Civil War Confederate general Robert E. Lee.
It's time to stop idolizing these Confederate soldiers. Ending racism includes the removal of racist figures, statues, and idols across the south. We propose this petition to rebrand Lee County, Florida, in an effort to continue the battle to eradicate racism in the United States.
One of the biggest issues about changing the name of the county is the high cost involved with, but what if the cost would be very minimum, and most of it would be just changing the narrative?
That’s why we propose to rebrand the county to Bruce Lee County. Lee is considered by commentators, critics, media, and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of all time and a pop culture icon of the 20th century, who bridged the gap between East and West. He is credited with helping to change the way Asians were presented in American films. Lee was born in both the hour and the year of the Dragon, which according to tradition is a strong and fortuitous omen.
We are not trying to change our past, we are trying to improve our future, and what better way than use an inspiring, positive influential figure as our namesake.
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I moved here 8 years ago and moving here from Colorado was quite a change,
especially to a place called Robert E. Lee county. I would go out to the local bars and often complain about the name of the county. After 8 years of complaining with my artist friends on something we all had in common, I met good friend and fellow artist, Cesar Aguilera for a beer at a local bar. As we were drinking that beer we had a conversation about Robert E. Lee county. There was a woman sitting next to us who overheard and classy, yet slightly intoxicated responded to our conversation with laughter but sincerity:"Robert E. Lee county?!, It should be named Bruce Lee county!"
Cesar and Brian looked back at her with laughter but also in agreement and they all knew in their stares that they envisioned artistic appreciation on the matter.
The conversation quickly turned in to "Why? Do you have any proof? And can you please show us?" She agreed to all 3.
We ordered a round of shots and obliged to follow her to her house.
Turns out her late grandmother owned property in Lee county which was also previously owned by BRUCE LEE. Also there within was another document forbidding the release of this information due to his known status and respect for his mother, family, and the beautiful secret county they called home. His mother was said to commonly refer to the county as Bruce Lee county and she compared one of his poems to Ft. Myers, FL. That poem is entitled "Be Like Water." Since he has passed we are now able to obtain this knowledge and share this information with the rest of you.
We believe now is the time to change Robert E. Lee county to Bruce Lee county which won't cost tax payers much. Let's get it on the board to be passed.