Respectfully to Justin Ward, while Orwell held left-wing political views, I do not think he would agree with everything the left is doing today in the United States. That is a simplistic conclusion.
I personally know Democrats and Republicans alike who disapprove of the removal of public monuments. What the author of this piece is treating is important. Our public monuments are history. To remove them, even democratically, is to self-inflict amnesia.
You, too, Ward, make a strong case that these monuments’ history is part of the project to revise the Confederacy’s monstrous denial of the basic dignity of an entire race of humans.
When did we lose our creativity as a nation? The monuments are controversial. From my point of view, they should be. Like Ward says, the early 20th century monuments are meant to do more than commemorate the nobility of brave men. So tell people that. Put a plaque by each monument that discusses what is good in it, and what is bad. Teach people. If we remove our monuments, we lose an opportunity for reflection, humility, and perspective on who we are.
I am not a radical myself. I see from your profile picture, Justin Ward, that you prefer John Brown, the radical abolitionist. I choose Abraham Lincoln, the principled but realistic statesman who emancipated the American slaves and kept united the country that has raised you, myself, and every other American alive today.
To the author: Thank you for writing this piece.
