I normally don’t respond, but I do feel compelled to do so on this. First, off what one finds offensive another find good. We nor anyone should be the judge of that. I am personally having trouble understanding the relationship between racism and the CSA. The roots are racism are not in the CSA but in the very bedrock of our great country. Yes the roots do act like weeds and when left unattended they can and do sprout. This is where my true confusion comes into play. We often hear the phrase those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat. Such is the case if you choose to forget history or worse sponge it. I honestly abhor some of the principals the CSA actual professed as part of their way of life, such as slavery but I also recognize I am looking this through a modern lens, and what may seam illogical or abhorrent by today’s standards wasn’t the case then.
To take it a step further I have study most military campaigns in history from the battle of Cannae to our modern conflicts and some of my very heroes of history do come from the American Civil War (also known as the first modern war) because of the honor they showed. Several names come to mind “The Professor” Chamberlain and his Tenacious Maine Regiment, not for their actions at the battle of little round top but for what occurred at Appomattox. He and his regiment recognized the honor for which our ancestors fought and was one of few the actually rendered military honors. Another hero of mine is General Robert Lee, besides being the brilliant tactician that he was he was profoundly honorable in the fact he disagreed with many of the reasons the south wanted to leave the union but he felt he had to honor his homeland and he couldn’t bring himself to fight against it. As he knew he would have ti had he remained (He was offered command of the Union Forces before he was he resigned his commission and lead the south). So if the American Civil War did produce such honor shouldn’t all of its figures and symbols be remembered for future generations
In another chain of thought, I had the privilege several years ago of going to Normandy. The thing the strikes me most about Normandy and today’s dilemma, is this observation. There is a German cemetery in Normandy. It is a little ways down from the American cemetery. This cemetery was not run down, vandalized, or destroyed. It was actually there proudly on display in a place of honor. If the French can find the ability to recognize the German’s honor and sacrifice despite the atrocities committed by the Germans/Nazis during WWII, which in my mind far exceed the slavery points, why is it our ancestors cannot be forgiven for their way of thinking, which was in tune with everyone’s way of thinking of the time and why must all future generations pay for “sins” committed by their forefathers. History is always written and rewritten by the victors where the truth becomes buried and disappears.
Therefore I argue to not hide history but acknowledge it for what is is. Be proud of the American journey and its symbols over the years. Don’t remove CSA from the history books nor any of its symbols because a part of it you disagree with. I would bet all of us disagree with parts of the CSA because when we look at it through a modern lens but let us remember us to not repeat it and embrace the good ideals of the CSA. If we must have visual representation of history instead of destruction, recognize and promote items that show the progress of our country in all races and encourage this progress by showing/using their symbols/statues and names. Then and only then will the good ideals of the CSA be remembered properly for future generations.