Present Day Removal of Historic Statues in America

A Civic Memorial

A civic memorial serves to commemorate anyone or someone, not to preserve history. The Confederate States of America erected statues to honor great men and fallen warriors. The monuments honor the great southern figures who served the nation well while remaining loyal to their home states. Despite the fact that the Civil War ended more than a century ago, sculptures and markers commemorate the United States Confederacy (Suerth par. 1).

Debates Over Monuments

Hundreds of Confederate statues were erected in the states after the battle. Supporters of these statues argue that they symbolize history and heritage whereas opponents claim that they are symbols of racism and slavery (Suerth par. 2). Removal of monuments and statues means that the country will get rid of markers that celebrate Civil War era in public spaces. The removal means the nation is ripping apart its history and culture. People cannot change history but they can learn from it.

The Confederate States of America

Debates over monuments have increased since the fatal mass shooting happened at a church in South Carolina in 2015. Since then state and local administrations have attempted to remove the historical markers. The most recent occurrence is that of Charlottesville where people protested the removal of Robert E. Lee statue. The discussion over statues has flared, but there is no accepted standard of determining where they are taken after removal (Strickland par. 8).

Statues and the Political Climate

The Confederate States of America established in 1861 argue that the states can maintain slavery. The statues have less to do with the celebration of the Confederacy and more to do with the political climate in which they were erected. Removing a statue raises moral and ethical issues. Remembering America’s lamentable behavior in the past is an important step of ensuring that a similar behavior does not recur.

Moral Wrongs

People have realized that the government is not obligated to honor individuals who want fame for fighting in a war that instituted slavery (Somin par. 1). Those who want to retain monuments claim that they are honoring historical figures that committed moral wrongs. The goal is not to commemorate the actual evils of slavery, but to honor them for defending it.

Perceptions and Historical Understanding

The removal of statues raises questions about their place in the life of the Americans. What the current generation upholds will influence the perceptions and historical understanding of generations to come. For instance, Robert E. Lee was a strong supporter of slavery and a supporter of the Confederacy. His monument shows that he is honored for his services to the Confederacy which involved perpetuating and extending slavery. The white supremacists that protested the removal of Robert E. Lee’s statute in Charlottesville did it for the sake of history. They believe that the monument is a symbol for present and future generations. The country was established through conflict and bloodshed, hope and prosperity. If people valued the Lee monument, they would view it as a memory that he existed, preserve the memory and avoid repeating his mistake. Having the statues in public places shows that they are part of the U.S. history, no matter how hard people try to bury them.

A Designation of Honor

Supporters of the removal of statues argue that the practice is more than a designation of honor (Strickland par. 14). The society is still struggling with racial discord and tension and holding the figures deepens the problem. There must be a line for choosing the statues to celebrate and those that need removal. Most people were slave owners but, they may have made other positive achievements that deserve the honor. For instance, Washington and Jefferson were flawed founding fathers, but they built the country. One of the positive achievements of the founders of the Confederacy was the establishment of the Constitution. It is right for the states to remove monuments of evil perpetrators. Other leaders do not have compensating accomplishments and virtues to counterbalance their treachery. As a result, it is difficult to justify the numerous honors and tributes granted to them as symbols of culture and heritage.

Preserving Monuments in Museums

After removal, states need to find appropriate places to store them. They can store them in museums and other institutions of research and historical understanding. Most objectionable have great historical and artistic importance. The removal of statues may suggest that the country does not need to honor all leaders publicly. Monuments in museums will ensure that the Civil War remains part of the American history.

Reflecting Values and Freedom

Statues and monuments are related to the values that a society upholds. Confederate monuments glorify the height of segregation and reflect a society that values the oppression of African-Americans. These values do not reflect America’s efforts to value freedom and equality in today’s world.

Acknowledgment and Glorification

It is not fair to look at the statues as tributes to slavery. The removal of statues shows America’s struggle to shake off its historical embrace of racist values and practices. People should not look at the past through today’s view. These monuments remind people of past slavery, but they can put up new ones to celebrate the elimination of slavery. Americans cannot hide from their history, but there should be a clear difference between acknowledgment of the past and glorifying dark chapters of history (Somin par. 6).

Works Cited

Somin, Ilya. _x0093_Opinion | Why slippery slope arguments should not stop us from removing Confederate monuments._x0094_ The Washington Post, WP Company, 15 Aug. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/08/15/why-slippery-slope-arguments-should-not-stop-us-from-removing-confederate-monuments/?utm_term=.e050165f2133. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.

Strickland, Patrick. “Debate Over US Confederate Monuments Intensifies.” TCA Regional News. Jun 28 2017. ProQuest. Web. 21 Sep. 2017.

Suerth, Jessica. _x0093_Here are the Confederate memorials that will be removed after Charlottesville._x0094_ CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Aug. 2017, edition.cnn.com/2017/08/15/us/confederate-memorial-removal-us-trnd/index.html. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.