I don't have a problem with removing confederate statues...
...if it's done through a reasonable, democratic process. But that's not what we're seeing, and it's gone beyond confederate statues to any statue of a white person from the period of slavery. In what reality can a statue of Abraham Lincoln be reasonably viewed as a symbol of oppression by a black person?
I believe what we're witnessing is an unsatiable thirst for power from a mob that is hardly interested in racial justice. I'd be willing to bet most of the people we are seeing rip down statues are simply anarchists who want to destroy America, and they're using racial unrest as a veil to disguise their to attempt to make that happen.
Also, I think it is completely unreasonable to try to judge historical figures through the lens of modern day norms. If you believe in progress, then in another 200 years, it would make sense to believe that the cultural norms of that time will look quite a bit different than those we hold in 2020. Should we then throw away all accomplishments of our current generation? Should the election of America's first black president be ignored in the future because the people who helped get him elected benefitted from "white privilege"? America isn't perfect and never will be, but I cannot think of a single place on Earth that has done more to protect the rights of all and to make amends for its past sins. Are we ever going to move beyond that? Yes, racism still exists, but I believe that is true in ever-decreasing prevalence. I believe if our founding fathers were alive today, they would admit to their mistakes and they would be proud to see the progress that has been made. They had their flaws, but without their vision, equality for all still might not be possible today.
Furthermore, I can't think of a single powerful civilization that does not have some history of slavery. That in no way justifies the practice, but I believe it is dishonest to pretend that America is somehow unique in its history of allowing slave labor. If not for America, western civilization might STILL be mired in the evils of slavery. Were America's founders perfect? Far from it. Did they violate some of the very rights they risked their lives to secure by declaring independent from England? Indeed. But does that mean America is inherently evil? I absolutely do not believe that to be true, especially in the light of the vast strides made towards equality over the past 150+ years. Tens of thousands of men fought and died in a war that was required to put an end to the practice of slavery on American soil. Are we going to say that their efforts were completely in vain and that America is no better place for black citizens today than it was before?
|
(
In response to this post by HokieAl)
Posted: 06/28/2020 at 12:27AM