I use to be for their removal but have recently changed my stance.
Those removed in New Orleans is over, but this movement is far from over. If this regressive movement isn't contested, I fear that a slippery slope with no end in sight. Once the Confederate memorabilia is removed across the country, these revisionists will turn their cross-hairs to objects like Mt. Rushmore as two of the four owned slaves.
Here are my thoughts on how we behave as a society moving forward.
I am not denying that these inanimate objects elicit a variety of emotional responses from an individual based on the underlying meaning of why it exists. These objects …show more content…
To expand on the history and add more prominent men/women of history from all races, sexes, and creeds to represent many viewpoints of that era.
let us add to the history, not subtract.
I have heard citizens speak from all backgrounds who were directly affected by the atrocities that these symbols represent; who are able to transcend past feeling oppressed by these objects just as much as those who feel oppressed, upset, angry, and any other negative emotion. That being said, we have every right as citizens to experience these reactions and we do not have the right to not feel these reactions.
To remove the monuments due to individuals experiencing negative reactions does not progress society in any way other granting those who gave power to an otherwise powerless object some sort of short-term relief until the next scapegoat is acquired.
Have we reached 100% equality …show more content…
As a culture, of course not, but these inanimate objects have not been impeding progress nor have they revoked any rights. We have been collectively progressing further with equal rights all while these monuments stood.
So, if these objects have not been impeding progress, then I suggest that removing them does nothing to progress any societal narrative. I would put forth that this movement to remove/hide/stow away painful reminders of history does nothing at best and regresses us at worse.
What do we gain by removing history that we could not gain by adding? Add more prominent figures from the history of all races, sexes, creeds.. why take away?
I am not necessarily making a direct argument for preserving history either as that implies that these actions erase history. I do not think this, but I do think to put them in museums hides them from anyone learning anything new as I would assume that most people visiting museums would already have an understanding of whichever museum that they are visiting. Let us wait until they can no longer be preserved in the public and then stow them away for safekeeping in