I read the news today (oh boy) - Current world events | Page 89 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

I am torn over the issue of removing statues, renaming buildings, etc…

Agreed, most of these tributes date back to uglier times when knuckle dragging racists were more prevalent and their actions not held in check as much as they are today. However, as time has passed, they don’t represent that uglier time as much as they serve as a lesson (ideally anyway) of what not to do.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”- George Santayana

As much as the idea of slavery sickens me, it saddens me just as much to think that Robert E. Lee is supposed to be somebody’s symbol of the practice. How short-sighted can people possibly be? The more myopic among us either forget or ignore the fact that Lee came from a US military family. His father served as an officer in the Revolutionary War and Lee himself served proudly and valiantly in the US Army for over 30 years before the Civil War. He wasn’t just some ill-meaning white supremacist they dragged in off the street to start a fight. Further, from Wiki:

“When Virginia declared its secession from the Union in April 1861, Lee chose to follow his home state, despite his desire for the country to remain intact…”

This had to be an agonizing decision for him, but it was a choice he made and lived with. Now, armed with more than 150 years of hindsight, someone wants to tear down his statue thinking he is a symbol of racism and bigotry.

I am not suggesting that everyone who has a statue erected in their “honor” is as deserving. But this begs the question “where do we draw the line?”. It’s not like we are changing the name of Adolph Hitler Elementary School – that would be an easy choice. But seriously, where is the line? What criteria is used to justify tearing down statues all of a sudden? The idea was raised in the media and even in these pages that perhaps they should be in a private museum somewhere. Why not a public one? Museums are not always there to remind us of unicorns and rainbows. They are there to help us learn – even what not to do.

A couple of months ago, we had visitors in from California who had never been to Pennsylvania. While they were here, they wanted to visit Gettysburg. It just happened to be on Memorial Day. When we got to the Gettysburg National Cemetery, the site of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, we  serendipitously stumbled upon the 150th Annual remembrance of the Address (and for you anal-retentives, it was not the 150th anniversary of the speech – just the 150th remembrance celebration). I bring this up because the cemetery was teeming with families there for the celebration which included a reenactment of the speech and many Civil War reenactors dressed in uniforms both blue and gray. It was impossible to not overhear many a child ask a parent who these people were and why do they wear different uniforms. All throughout the various battlefields there are statues and monuments for both individuals and entire armies from both sides. Again, we kept hearing questions like “who is this statue for dad?” Those are perfect opportunities to educate. But Hell, let’s remove all of them, plow over the fields and put up a shopping center. That will teach those racists!! While we are at it, why don’t we storm all of the libraries across the country and burn all of the books on Robert E. Lee and his ilk? That will solve the problem!!

I am an advocate for peace and not by any means an “alt-right” sympathizer. I am not a descendant of those who were enslaved and do not pretend to understand how deeply a true symbol of hatred (not worthy of mentioning here) could affect one. But tearing down statues? Be careful – it’s a slippery slope.

Starr Shine? said
statues are less about education and more about celebration. 
 

You say celebration, I say remembrance. Let’s agree to disagree.

The Hole Got Fixed said
That’s absolutely terrible. My thoughts are with all those affected.  

Indeed. I was on La Rambla with my family on a sunny day 10 years ago – which seems an age ago now.

Terrorists were out and about that summer as well unfortunately – we just missed them in Glasgow and London.