The Future of Confederate Monuments

Monuments in Parks are put there by people who revere them. All monuments have people who revere them and people who want them removed. Why is one group singled out? Why are some groups privileged? We have a long history of commemorating the past, all of it. To change now smacks of the social committees of the old Soviet Union, a nation that erased all of its history and decades later had to rebuild it from scratch.  I thought the US tradition was to protect minorities, whether you like them or not. What happened to the "tolerance and diversity" crowd? Was it all a fraud? Is it now OK to be intolerant, hateful and aggressive toward those with whom you disagree? That's what I am reading in some of the comments.

News flash....Slavery is over. 

Time to quit whining about the past.

Those that are traumatized, and feel they cannot live in such an evil country should be given a one way ticket to their ancestors continent of origin so they won't have to be stigmatized by old memorials.

Seeing how the moral high ground is to be taken when it comes to destroying monuments. Why not take down every monument to Martin Luther King. I mean after all he was an adulterer, and I find that highly offensive, and cringeworthy. 

My question is where does the stupidity of destroying monuments end?

It seems like the saying forgive and forget. It doesn't apply to this group of people who won't let it be. Men lost their lives on both sides. They should be remembered for their beliefs and sacrificies of their lives so let them rest in pease.

Put an emphasis on empowering and strengthening the black community not trying to change the damned past.

I'm simply astounded at the number of people who have no knowlege of history, yet feel qualified to speak about it. Your historical ignorance proves what a dismal failure our public school system is -- and that was back when teachers acutally got paid to go school, instead of sitting at home. Liberal mentality is the single greatest threat -- and greatest evil --  this great country faces. Stop being gullible, hateful, spoon-fed sheeple and learn the facts.

Why don't you spend your free time doing something constructive for America.Oh,that's right,erasing history is,in your opinion,is.Get off of your self righteous horse,and understand,that we all believe slavery was wrong.But you just can't leave it alone.Oh how you feel so righteous.The war that cost thousands of lives,is over.

It would be nice if you used real journalism. This article lacks facts and truth. The confederate monuments memorilize southern men who sacrificed all in the defense of their state, home, and family. The South was invaded by citizens of northern States. The southern states did not seek to overthrow The United States or it's government. The president of The United States sent soldiers from one state to invade another state. The historical ignorance being displayed these days is horrific and terrifying. These types of cultural genocide are the acts of communist, dictatorships, despots, and terrorists. I never thought I'd see this type of destruction in my beloved country. Most Of these statues and ones like them in towns across the south were paid for with money raised over years by women and children to remember the fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons that never returned. The south lost 1 in 4 men during this sensele invasion and most never new what happened or where the remains were. Only about 40-50% of bodies were identified. The rest were buried in mass graves or left to route in forests and fields. To erase the memory of  these noble souls is downright sadistic. 

The turning of an argument about a historical event into an event itself is what makes history political.  Our Civil War defined us as a nation as no other event ever has, including those during our nation's founding. It is a primary characteristic of our collective identity since war's end that makes us distinctly American - one that which our belief system and world view is built on, one that continues to influence our behavior as Americans, and defines us from all other nations on earth.
Confederate veterans are American veterans.  The fought first to protect their kin, homes & firesides. As a whole, they cared little for contemplating the larger questions as to what others might believe the fight was about - the Yankee invader was coming to destroy their livelihood & take away their freedoms, just as British regulars had attempted some four score years earlier.  To not defend themselves would have been distinctly un-American.  
Any attempt to eliminate an objective interpretation of our national history - one with intellectual honesty that necessarily must include perspectives from both sides of this American conflict; and one that leaves the present behind in order to delve into the past on its own terms - is history as a liberal art rather than a social science.  Our country has never before seen such a deceitful, malicious attempt to destroy our national identity.

If u dont like them, dont look at them. Dont go to historical sites. Heres an idea, how about quit trying to push your ideas off on other people. Take a look around you, this nation is now full of people trying to force their ideas on others. Remember "dont tread on me?" It still lives today. Our history is our history. Changes have come since those days. It's horrible that people were enslaved, but changes have happened. I'm not 100% sure, but I dont think anyone is still enslaved in the U.S. today.
; Time to move on. My daughter asked me, "why is there a black history month, but veterans only get a day of recognition?" Huh, seems like an agenda...

If you take the time to read even a little bit about Bob Lee, you might learn that he wasn't a slave owner! In fact, he didn't believe in it! Which is why, if you do a fuzz more research, Lee was Lincoln's first choice to lead the Union army! Lincoln was a smart guy, I think we can agree, why would he choose Lee if he was a slave owner? You can't talk about the United States without the Civil war! Good or bad it made us into the nation we are and both sides should be remembered! If you don't like a statue up, don't look at it! Btw, I'm a Yankee!

Leave the monuments alone. But if you dig up Gen. Grant and kick him out of public property, then may be a good trade off. I am highly offended that he is buried there.

The ones concerned about taking statues down, need to find something worth investing their time in. most Americans this day and time, are worried about making a living, and are not concerned with what color your skin is!  I don't care if you are red, white, black, or any other color under the sun. Grow up, get a job, and provide for your family. To you reporters, find stories reall worth writing about. Grown people have more cares and concerns in this world than, tearing our country apart. If you all keep on, this country will be ruined. We are all on this boat called earth together. You all continually try to sink this ship, and I guess you do not realize you all are in the same boat. You stupidity will one day come back to bite you in your ass. Better yet, it has already consumed you completely? Use you time worth making this world a better place, and stop writing about nonsense. 

Based on this logic,  we all also need to remove any statues or add additional context of Union generals or soldiers that participated in the cicvil war and then went on to participate in genocide of American Indians.  Anyone with Native American heritage would not feel welcome at these parks.  

Based on this logic,  we all also need to remove any statues or add additional context of Union generals or soldiers that participated in the cicvil war and then went on to participate in genocide of American Indians.  Anyone with Native American heritage would not feel welcome at these parks.  

Those who destroy history are doomed to repeat it.

When I view these massive works of bronze I think, what a waste of good metal.

My ancestors fought to defeat Lee. Two died. Three others were wounded. They reconciled without hangings, reeducation camps, or treason trials. It is a low cut that attacks a dead man's memory. America would have a tough time winning a war without the sons and grandsons of the Rebels. The current mania will pass. As Trump rightly said, they started with Lee but are now on to Washington and Lincoln. 

Gettysburg has always been a special place for me, The fields, streams and footpaths where so many Americans fought, and fell.  The monuments I was drawn to told a story of common men, who did their best, no matter where they came from. I felt their struggle, their fear and their courage as I looked into their faces of bronze.  Those monuments at Gettysburg have stayed  with me all my life. And there is no feeling within me about racism, or causes, just or unjust as I remember these statued ghosts" who now stand where  once men of flesh and blood did.     I think, we must preserve not only the fields where they gave their lives, but we must also provide something that this generation can actually "see" of that generation who fought here. Let's keep the monuments that allow us to see our own ancestors, whoever's they may be...

Bring them to Sibley, MO we'll protect and safeguard them from ALL aggressors!!!

Reverse DESCRIMANATION is NOT the answer. Ignorance of the Civil War is NOT admirable. The Civil War was NOT about slavery. The Civil War was about financial greed by Yankees and the Industrial Revolution.

There is no good reason at all to remove these Confederate battle field monuments. Eighty percent of Southerners had no slaves. Most of these men were defending their states from a hostile invading army.Also many of these Confederates were buried in unmarked mass graves instead of pristine federal cemeteries like the federals (which Southerners helped pay for but couldn't be buried in) and these monuments are there only memorials. Also most of these memorials are also great works of art. So please show some respect to these poor long dead soldiers who gave their last full measure in their defense of their states, families and homes!

The statues of the confederates should be left alone because it is history and it happen so long ago. If people felt the way they do against the south why didn't the north do something about it then but now they feel that it racist against blacks and other people but its our history and our heritage. So leave them alone