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Should the Confederate Statues Stay? Recently in Arizona a statue of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, was covered in tar and feathers. This vandalism is a product of the movement to remove Confederate memorials and statues across the United States. America has been split over the removal of these statues. Many Americans have found the Confederate memorials offensive, racist, and endorsing white supremacy, while others see them as mere reminders of our nation’s history. However, the question still stands: Should the Confederate memorials be removed because some Americans find them offensive? This situation has sparked several rallies and even the defacement of statues and public property. In my opinion, the …show more content…
They represent the historical figures of the South during that time period: strategists, leaders, generals, and soldiers who fought to protect their rights as independent states and not slave-owners. If the reason that 27 percent of the country wants the removal is that the statues represent slavery, then the statues should remain for the simple reason that they do not endorse slavery. In an article by the website, dallasnews.com, many Americans sent in letters voicing their opinions on what the Confederate statues mean. According to that website, Brian Baldwin says, “My Northern schooling taught respect for Robert E. Lee’s military skills. That’s how I understand his statue in Lee Park.” Many other Americans agree with Baldwin’s opinion. Another website, denverpost.com, also published letters they were sent by everyday Americans on this subject. In the letter from this website, Bob Mesenbrink says, “They[the statues] were put up in recognition of great, albeit imperfect, leaders of the South, those who served our country well before the Civil war, but who were faithful to their home state.” He goes on to add, “But if these monuments do remind us of slavery, perhaps that is a good thing. Let’s leave them up to remind future generations of the past.” I agree with this argument as it recognizes that …show more content…
The monuments have not created racism in America, and are not the reason that white supremacist groups exist. The removal of these monuments would not stop the KKK from holding rallies, recruiting members, and existing. If the statues are torn down, it would have no effect on the high school dropout rate. In an article on the website, nationalreview.com, Deroy Murdock says “…black Americans still would face a national unemployment rate 7.4%...” In this statistic, Murdock provides an argument in defense of the statues. Throughout the article he provides statistics and information that support the theory. Tearing down the Confederate monuments will in no way improve the lives of any person. Beyond the lack of improvement everyone won’t see in their day to day lives, there will be no improvement in the battle against racism and white supremacy. According to the website, nationalreview.com, Kyle Smith, the author, says, “If a statue that has been standing in your city for years suddenly sends you into paroxysms of destructive rage, you are really determined to create a problem for yourself, and you’ll create another problem when it’s gone.” This statement speaks to the argument that the statues are so offensive that people feel the need to vandalize and tear them down. Even if the statues would be torn down in an effort to console those few Americans who find
...more overpowering and overwhelming than any general feeling of Southern pride. America has obtained a reputation to be an accepting and open minded country, welcoming all of any race, couture and religion. The Preamble states clearly that America will establish justice and insure domestic tranquility for all. Neither of these entities are accomplished in America as long as the Confederate flag remains raised. Our nation is furthermore divided by racism through a flag that is possibly being used as a degradation tool. This battle with racism has become far too large for American citizens and anything that is viewed as racist in such a manner as the Confederate flag is, should be censored from society, in only a helpful practice. A state flag should be capable of uniting its citizens, instead of dividing them. The Confederate flag should be lowered immediately.
The United States Constitution is a national government that consist of citizen’s basic rights and fundamental laws. This document was signed on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia by the majority of representatives. Today, the United States Constitution’s purpose is to supply a strong central government. However, before the United States Constitution was developed, many citizens did not support the constitution due to the fact that they found it contradicting and detached from the original goals of the Declaration of Independence. These citizens were known as anti-federalists. Fortunately, George Washington was a supporter of the constitution and had an enormous impact in the public support of the constitution. With a few adjustments, some
“ The existence of slavery in the United states presented the greatest possible contradiction to the American heritage of liberty and equal right ” In 1830s slavery was so connected with the government and the community that they forgot about liberty. Not everybody agreed with slavery and how it treated African American people ,they had abolitionist and anti slavery activist . Both Abolitionist and Anti slavery activist determined to end slavery. The delegations of powers
Is there a constitutional right to burn the American flag? In Dallas, Texas there was a Republican Party for President Ronald Reagan as a re-nominated candidate for president. But the protesters were not so happy about the policies of the Reagan administration. Through the streets of Dallas protesters marched, causing damage to property. One protester named Gregory Lee Johnson doused an American Flag in kerosene and set it on fire. In Texas, desecrating an American Flag was a criminal offense. Johnson was arrested and charged with violating the Texas flag desecration law, so the U.S Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. We of the Majority opinion believe that there is a conclude that such conduct does not merit First Amendment protection also the flag itself may be used as a symbol, only in one direction which is the country, and it doesn’t matter if the flag has a deeply symbolic value.
“The Confederate Flag: Controversy and Culture.” David Sarratt American Studies University of Virginia. Web. 22 Feb. 2014
When majorities of people see the Confederate flag they think it symbolizes racism, oppression, and even supremacy. The other portion of people say that the Confederate flag is a representation of heritage, history, and states’ rights. In my personal perspective no matter what faction you choose the flag was ascended at a particularly delicate time period. The period known as the ‘Civil War’, which was caused by two major divisions including States Rights’ and money.
Lee, Jefferson Davis, and P.G.T. Beauregard statues were not erected just to honor these men, but are a part of the movement which became known as The Cult of the Lost Cause” (Landrieu 2017). Basically, Mayor Landrieu is emphasizing that the statues put up for those men were put there to honor them and support a cult that wanted slavery and believed that people of color were less than human. During his speech, Mayor Landrieu quotes Alexander Stephens and says “cornerstone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery -subordination to the superior race- is his natural and normal condition” (Landrieu 2017). In making this comment Landrieu urges us to realize that the confederate statues are not there to remember the people that fought in the civil war but to honor them. By keeping the statues, the people of New Orleans are reminded every day that thousands of people were sold and bought, they were raped and forced to work. These quotes support the claim because they are both about how the statues are atrocious and how they are on the wrong side of history. Both quotes establish that removing the confederate statues would benefit New Orleans because young children would not have to be exposed to hatred and racism. To the defenders of the confederate statues Mayor Landrieu says “There is a difference between remembrance of history and
Taking the statues down is like ignoring standing up for what you believe in and death by war. A quote from “Monumental Battle” states, “‘But many of those who support keeping the monument say their motive are about honor not race.’” This quote shows that not all who support the statues agree with slavery. Some don’t want them to come down because it’s honoring all who fought for what they believe. Others might argue that even though those people lost their lives for what they believe in, slaves lost their lives from working to hard or starvation. I would argue against that by saying, in school students are taught to stand up for what they believe in, if we take the statues down that’s saying don’t stand up for what you believe in; if you do, nothing comes from it. In other words, if we are able to take down statues of people who stand up for what they believe in, then that’s like taking down a statue of Lincoln, He stood up for what he believed in, no slavery; just like, for example, General Robert E. Lee, stood for
The Confederate flag was used symbolically during the Civil War. For Southerner’s, the flag represented a source of southern pride as well as a way of remembering the fallen Confederates. As the Civil War proceeded, the meaning of the flag began to change. Currently, the flag is being used as a symbol of racism. Due to this change in meaning, controversy over the flag has been exponentially growing.
This class has affected my understanding of American history through images by teaching the usefulness and power that images have. The first image I picked isn’t an image but the comparison between the Shaw Memorial and Confederate Memorial. I think that comparing the two monuments helps the understanding of American history through images. The differences between the two show the ideals of each side even after the Civil War. Even though the war was over another war started with art. The south used art like the Confederate Memorial by Moses Ezekiel commissioned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to spread the “Lost Cause” ideology. With using art the “Lost Cause” the ideology caught on to a point where groups were forming and textbooks
It signifies pride and heritage the exact same way that any state flag or national flag such as the Flag of the United States does. Just because white supremacist groups like the Klan have tainted this flag with acts of hatred and racism does not mean that its history lies within those lines. There have been many groups who have wanted to preserve this flag in a positive way like the Sons of Confederate Veterans do. They are a group who fight to preserve the pride and heritage of the Southern Nation. Many of these men are men of color who are taking this hallowed piece of tainted history and are trying desperately to make it whole again. So to blatantly attack this flag with its one dark segment of history and completely disregard the positive aspects of the South is completely absurd. The Confederate Battle flag should remain exactly where it is so that open-minded people can cherish it and feel free to express their heritage at any
(Costa-Roberts) Throughout the debate on banning the Confederate flag, the people still defending the Confederate flag are considered racist. The majority of the people flying the Confederate flag is not flying it for any form of racism. They are flying it because they are proud of their state's heritage. (Simon) Why would people be so protective of a flag? The flag has been in their life for so long. Imagine growing up watching The Dukes of Hazard with your family, or walking out the door every day on the way to school and seeing it flying on your front porch. “You grow fond of the image, it’s an attachment based on an affiliation with things they love. It’s easy to associate an image with feelings of happiness and therefore form a protective affinity for objects and symbols.”
Recently a school in Virginia suspended more than twenty students for wearing clothing that had a Confederate flag on it. The school also banned students from having the Confederate flag on their vehicles. The reason theses students were displaying the flag that much was because a fellow classmate had passed away a week or two before. The family made t-shirts and decals in memory of their son. The design was a Confederate flag that had the date that the young man died and under the flag the shirt stated “Heritage not hate.”. A simple design caused this much trouble. The students that were suspended were called racist and prejudice. How could a shirt and decal that was made to remember a loved one be considered racist? The Confederate flag
In conclusion, people should not take down confederate memorials as they are part of the history. They remind us of the cost of freedom and equality; they force us to remember the ignominious truth of the past; they serve as a mighty tool to educate the racists. We need them to avoid recommitting the same
Formed at the eve of the Civil War, the United States (USA) and the Confederate States (CSA) were created for multiple reasons. The main reason of the formation includes that of political issues and slavery issues. Other ideas include the military, economics, etc. The USA was led by President Abraham Lincoln and the CSA was led under President Jefferson Davis. The CSA included the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The United States and Confederate States can be compared based on their advantages and viewpoints in the fields of how and why they were formed, the rights of the federal and state governments, views on slavery, economic issues, and the military strategies.