General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: OK, non Confederate leaders statues coming down. [View all]unblock
(52,206 posts)the confederacy was created for the express purpose of perpetuating slavery, it was expressly a rebellion against the united states, it was armed treason and it is directly responsible for the death and suffering of a huge number of americans.
moreover, the statues were made and placed, and buildings named after them, not merely to remember some random historical figures, but to perpetuate a system of racial inquality. these people and their names symbolize oppression.
washington, jefferson, and others stood for many things, most of which we're happier to commemorate. freedom from england, founding of the nation, establishing our democracy (such as it is). they did things that were objectionable, but that's not why we name things after them, that's not why we remember them.
people have different attitudes towards famous people with problematic aspects of their history or private lives. personally, i grew up listening to richard wagner (among other classical composers). i'm jewish, and he was a virulent anti-semite, and his music as used by the nazis. but to me, it was just music. i wasn't listening to his anti-semitism, just his music.
but plenty of jews will never listen to his music.
on the other hand, i'm not watching anything with kevin spacey in it again, so maybe i'm not very consistent about this....