Persuasive Essay On Confederate Monuments

For people who oppose the removal of Confederate statues, history is said to be their biggest concern. Many believe that “Ultimately, removal of the monuments will, quite literally, erase an unsavory – but important – part of our nation’s history” (Brophy 2015). They fear that by removing these symbols, America would be disregarding a huge part of its past. Yet, history itself would not be destroyed, as the impact of the Civil War lives on; only the tokens of oppression would be removed.

“‘A great nation does not hide its history, it faces its flaws and corrects them.”’ George W. Bush spoke these words at the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Nelson). He said this in hopes of keeping monuments reflecting slavery and segregation standing so people today could learn from mistakes in the past. Most monuments dealing with the topic of slavery are Confederate monuments, but they are causing controversy over their true meaning. Some people believe Confederate monuments are about southern pride, but many think they are symbols of racism (Ingraham). The debate over these monuments has caused violent protests like in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a Robert E. Lee statue was removed. Although Confederate monuments anger many people because of the history behind them, they provide lessons that can be taught to help end racism and make a better country. Confederate monuments and statues need to stay to preserve the history of the United States so it is not repeated, but the meaning to them should be altered to show segregation is immoral.

Confederate Monuments have been a hot topic of debate through the years of whether they should stay or go. Throughout history the idea of removing the Confederate Monuments has been perceived as the best possible solution citing that they had a sense of evilness and could flare up racial emotions. While a strong point could be made for the removal of Confederate Monuments, the Confederate monuments should stay in public places because they honor timeless virtues, they could be used as figures to reflect upon our nation’s past and they could be used to educate future generations.

On the other Side of the argument, John Daniel Davidson author of “Why We Should Keep The Confederate Monuments Right Where They Are” and editor in chief of the online publication The Federalist, argues that Confederate statues such as General Jackson and Confederate war heroes should be kept where they are. In making this claim the author asserts that the public knows the history of the United States and should be able to conclude that these monuments don't represent what they would have represented during the Civil War. Rather, in present day American society they represent how the U.S. was able to make a dramatic change and turn away from slavery. Davidson begins his article with asserting, “They say we shouldn’t honor a bunch of racists

From Trajan’s Column, completed in 113 AD, to the statue of Christopher Columbus in Easton, Pennsylvania, monuments and memorials have been a significant element of celebration and honor throughout history (Source B). Though monuments are typically meant as a symbol of honor, recent controversy over statues dedicated to Confederate leaders and generals has sparked the debate over how to choose subjects to memorialize, and the actual development of these memorials. When considering what or who to honor, one must also consider the subjects impact on history, ensuring that it is positive. In creating memorials and monuments, groups and agencies should examine the historical significance of the events or persons they wish to memorialize, and the

There are many monuments in the world and they are all built to honor someone or something that was done by that person. For example, after the Maine Lobsterman was built, the fake bronze statue returned to Maine and spent several decades being moved from city hall to museum to museum. No one seemed to want the man and his lobster. The issue at hand is if the monuments being built are memorializing the person or moment created accurately. Monuments capture legacy and preserve the individual's actions throughout history. Specifically, monuments should consider purpose, location, and size in their creation.

The removal of Confederate monuments has been a controversial topic over the past few years. Many want to tear them down, others want to keep them up and some want them to be moved to museums. Although controversial, many still do not know why exactly people want these statues to tear down or be kept up. After reading and analyzing both Michele Bogart’s and The Guardian’s view on Confederate statues, I would say that Michele Bogart’s “In Defense of ‘Racist’ Monuments” article was the most persuasive. Right off the bat, Michele Bogart starts off with how the rise of white nationalism is causing officials around the country to remove memorials of Confederate soldiers, military leaders, and symbols of “the Lost Cause”. Bogart clearly states that not all civic statues represent white supremacy or racism, but that they are “the culmination of complex social and artistic engagement at the community level” (Bogart). She further explains how eliminating these statues is not going to help solve the problem of racism in the United States. Her purpose in this essay is to persuade the reader that civic monuments should be kept up as pieces of art, not as “symbols of hate”.

A recent hot-button subject in the media has been what to do with Confederate monuments in the South. After the removal of a statue honoring Robert E. Lee, a general in the Confederate Army considered by many to be a hero for the part he played in the American Civil War, a clear divide has formed over whether it was the right thing to do. Some agree with this choice, calling the statues remnants from a time of racial oppression in the United States. Others are outraged, considering it desecration of their proud history. Still others don't understand either side of the issue, and see it as a pointless feud. It is imperative to understand that to many people, these are more than just statues. Whether their impression is positive or negative, this issue goes beyond physical monuments.

Do you want America to be a label of controversy and disagreement?Do you want pride and patriotism to just be a thing of the past? The Confederate Flag is one of the most controversial icons of American cultures,making it the reason of many disagreements in the country’s idea of right. Therefore it should be removed from public places because it has represented the melancholy history of war and slavery,a topic that should not regain power, however respect the individuals that keep it inside their property, leaving the decision to everyone that has different judgements.

The real question is: Why? There have been increased racial attacks, with many pointing to Confederate monuments as symbols of this violence. So, to try and balance the tension, states have been removing the Confederate monuments, but this, too, was met with opposing opinions. Confederate Monuments should not be removed because they are an essential symbol of American history. These monuments have been here for a long time and resemble the sacrifice of the Confederates.

Monuments, are how we as people can relive the past and be able to put ourselves at that time period. For Americans the 9/11 memorial puts us in the gravity and it gives us the impact of what that disaster did but, it also shows a sense of beauty with how the water falls into the spot where once stood a tall and powerful building. Monuments, have the aura that has a sense of empathy and shows more emotion than words ever could, the Holocaust museum gives a solid reminder of what genocide really is. Monuments and memorials should be based on the size location and what it is actually standing for it should be for someone who has been influential or it should be something of war or tragedy. We as Americans don’t pay attention to local cemeteries but when they see the Arlington cemetery or Vietnam memorial or even the WWII memorial people understand what death is really like and are more appreciative of those people who fought for the United States. Monuments and Memorials are not to remember those who fought for slavery, who have committed genocide, or any acts of treason and terrorism there should be no reason to make a statue that symbolizes something that a culture and a nation does not stand for anymore. Therefore, a Monument should consider the location, size, and why the monument is built along with the emotional aura that goes along with it.

In order for America to evolve with the history, the best option would be to keep the Confederate monuments in the eye of the public only if a supplemental plaque is added since this solution could work in the favor of most of the nation and will be able to satisfy their basic needs. White supremacists have not only spoken about unhesitantly hurting others for wanting to remove these Confederate monuments, but dozens of them have committed to unspeakable crimes of violence to preserve the meaning behind the statues. This is a very complex matter that can be mentally, physically, and economically fatal to the United States’ citizens and the future generations to come. Countless blood-soaked homicidal videos and pictures roam the world wide

In the United States, there are at least 1,500 Confederate symbols with highest density of emblems dedicated to soldiers. Although these statues and public properties are causing much controversy, there is no reason anyone should take these down. The Civil War was an important part of history and what is left behind to honor the soldiers should stay in America. Over 600,000 Americans sacrificed everything they had over whether or not we should have a united nation or not. The people that are trying to forget the past are also going to repeat it. With our divided country right now, it is looking like it is going back to the way it used to be. Donna Work told Chicago Tribune, “President Andrew Jackson, facing the first nullification crisis, insisted that our federal Union must be preserved. United we stand, divided we fall. Now even more than ever” (Work, D. 2017). Not one of the early presidents wanted the United States to get to where it is

The first monument that comes to my mind is the Eiffel Tower. When the Eiffel Tower was being built and even years afterwards "many regarded the massive iron structure with skepticism" ("History"). The reason it was built was that it was France's anniversary. France had held a competition for the best blueprint and whoever won would have their blueprint built on the Champ-de-Mars. "More than 100 artists submitted competing plans for a monument" ("History") but Maurice Koechlin won. Although Maurice Koechlin was the person who actually created the blueprint, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel was the one who received most if not all the credit. The Eiffel Tower was to be torn down afterwards, but it became a loved national monument and helped with more than just one war. The Eiffel Tower is thought to have intercepted enemy radio communications, used for scientific events, and even Hitler ordered for it to be torn down, but his order was never carried out

Monuments are used to honor achievement, historic even that happened in the past and respect people who have achieved great things. Monuments have been around for thousands of years and are still being constructed to this day. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration before creating a monument, but location, message or a purpose behind the building of the monument, and having a plan beforehand are the most important factors to consider when an agency or a group tries to memorialize a person or an event in a monument.