A Monumental Debate The American Civil War was a moment in history that everyone would like to forget. The divisive conflict over slavery, state’s rights, and expansion tore apart a country that was founded on the ideals of freedom and unity. The North and South refused to compromise with each other, and as a result, hundreds of thousands lost their lives. The Civil War was one of the darkest times in our history, and hopefully it remains in history as a reminder to not forget what happens when division tears a country apart. However, history tends to repeat itself, and today there is again divisiveness in our country. The debate on whether to keep or remove Confederate monuments is a topic of interest in America today, and there are many different opinions on the debate. In “Op-ed: The Monument Controversy: a Crucial Distinction Between History and Memory”, Matthew …show more content…
I disagree with Mason’s argument because I believe the monuments do document the history of the Civil War, so removing the monuments is erasing history. I also believe that removing the monuments is against the First Amendment right of the freedom of speech. Removing Confederate statues is an erasure of a dark period of American history. In doing so, many will not have the reminder of the tragedy that was the Civil War. In the article, Mason tries to contend that there is a major difference between history and memory. He states, “History is what happened in the past. To study history is to try to understand what happened and why. Memory is how an individual or community chooses to remember what happened, usually to celebrate or condemn the events or people being commemorated. Civil War monuments document the
In Atlanta Ga, Charlottesville Nc, and in every other formerly Confederate State in the U.S. there has been controversial debates on whether or not the current standing Confederate statues should be removed from public areas. Many people claim that a modern society should not honor the racist soldiers who fought for slavery. Others believe that preserving historical accuracy is essential to learning from the mistakes of the past. The opinions of thousands of citizens clash with one another over the debate between offense and information. I believe that it is most beneficial for the majority of people if the current Confederate monuments remain where they are.
In light of recent events in our country, there has been no better time in our history than the present to illustrate how Madison was a visionary in supporting the Constitution via his Federalist Number 10 argument. The removal or defacement of Confederate statues by those other than government employees is prime example of his argument. Despite the sometimes illegal removal and resultant damage, the persons responsible continue to wreak havoc in local communities and do not appear to be suffering any consequences from the federal government. National polls conducted just last month revealed a majority of Americans do not approve of removing Confederate monuments. In spite of this, statues have been removed and damage caused to them by
Why a push to remove Confederate monuments create violence, protests, and controversy. Removing monuments can be difficult because people will agree or disagree, because to some people its showing appreciation, and to other its showing lack of respect. A white supremacist drove his car into the counter- protesters killing one and injuring 19 others. Despite the chaos the city still plans to remove the Lee statue thought opponents have filled a lawsuit to stop the removal.
Throughout the teaching and the study of our History, we have discovered lots of facts and truths about the war between the two groups in America, which are the Confederate state that’s located on the South and the Union state which is located on the North. Both states had their own combination of preparing for a war, as well as power that supports the will of gaining independence. Each state had it’s own strengths and weaknesses throughout the war. The war was thought to be effective and ineffective for the two groups because of decisions they made and forces they brought in as their own separate state.
The flag has been used in many occasions for the wrong reasons, and it affects how people think of the flag. Although it seems to be a racist symbol, it is a symbol of southern heritage, ancestry, and it hold the memory of all of the fallen Confederate soldiers. Confederate monuments mark history, it would illogical to remove them. It would be taking away a valuable part of our community. Over all, the flag is a symbol of heritage not
The 8th grade class took a 4 day trip to Washington. We did many things to explore Washington D.C. including visiting monuments. Some people think differently of how a monument should be made. Good monuments to some people could be to make people remember about the person or thing being remembered or to just reflect the person’s life or importance. In “The Follower Problem” by David Brooks, David thinks a good monument should show power and authority.
Byers explains each monument in detail ranging from the Lincoln Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Each statue and structure means something to him and he shares his opinion of each one. In his examination of these structural tributes, he begins to discover the meaning of what it is to be part of the American society. He sees
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Essay Shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War which resulted in over 620,000 deaths, the reeling United States of America created the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the soldiers who passed during service to their country. The monument symbolizes that there is no American who dies in battle that goes unforgotten. I personally have never gotten the privilege to visit the cemetery, but I have had the opportunity to see other monuments such as, the WWII Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Civil War Monuments The Confederate monuments from the Civil War in many cities, colleges, and universities are being asked to be taken down. The monuments are causing problems between the U.S. citizens. Many people are protesting and saying that the monuments are a symbol of racism, and symbolism of traitors to the U.S., and are used to show white supremacy. These monuments should be taken down from the public but they should not be destroyed.
(George Santayana) Southern Confederate statues and buildings, some feel it is important to remember history or it will repeat itself. Remembering our past even when it is painful will help us to not make the same mistake again. Some people want to tear down statues of General Robert E. Lee and get rid of the stars and bars (confederate flag).
Should Cities Be Allowed To Take Down Confederate Statues? What do you think about Confederate Statues? Should cities and governments be allowed to take these statues down? The city of New Orleans had this problem.
In the news today, a continual debate can be found about the significance of Confederate monuments and if they should remain or be removed. Confederate monuments that have been erected throughout the U.S. should be kept because of the preservation of America’s history. For instance, in the article, The Unbearable Lightness of Confederate-Statue Removal, the author lists how slaveholder monuments aren’t the only statues being vandalized, but the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore are other symbols of U.S. history that some believe need to “blow up” (Murdock). Every historical symbol can have both people who appreciate it and who oppose it. That doesn’t mean that we should tear down all symbols, but
There was a politically correct remembrance of the Confederacy in that men felt so strongly about their beliefs they were willing to wage war and die for them, many felt that should be honored. My own understanding of the South’s passion with the Civil War is much like Tony Horwitz, In that the War is so intriguing and interesting because it involves the country I live in and the beliefs that are so passionately felt to this day. Born and raised in California I believed racism to be dead and the surprise I received moving to the panhandle of Texas was discomforting. The Civil War has a unique way of luring
Should monuments be removed? For many years people have been arguing whether certain controversial monuments, such as statues, should be destroyed or removed. A common type of monuments in this situation are the Confederacy monuments. These are various statues across the US which honor Confederate leaders or “heroes”. Many see these offensive since those people basically oppressed African Americans for years and were fighting to keep doing so.
Surprisingly, most of the public is unaware of the meaning and importance of historical context. Historical context allows individuals to analyze and understand occasions of the past in depth. Particularly, the method to benefit from historical context includes referring to the conditions that existed in a specific time and place. To demonstrate the use of historical context, a current debate around the United States is whether the confederate statues should come down. Today, a population of society frowns upon the confederacy era and believes the figurines representing the confederacy should be destroyed.