Donald Nian

Professor Jody R. Rosen

ENG

Oct 2nd 2017

Draft

In New York City, there are many monuments that are important and each monument has a story behind it. Each monument is important because it represents our past accomplishments  and helps us better understand the history of the monument itself. These monuments teach us lessons, and these lessons helps us better understand what is being discussed. New York is filled with tourists and these monuments help them better understand the history of our city and the many accomplishments we have made. Therefore, it is believed that we should keep these monuments because they play a significant role in showing our many accomplishments and history.

The Korean war veteran plaza is a monument that should make people proud, especially Koreans and Americans. The Korean war was seen as comical to many because North Korea wanted to have only one Korea, and initiated the war. However, this war was important because many people in the army partook in this war and fought for our country; there were many lives lost. A lot of soldiers were missing, dead, and injured. Another reason why it was so important to remember this monument because soldiers that fought for us has families and they lost their lives. At the plaza, the majority of the people are tourists and they seem to not understand what the monument means. People usually tend to take pictures with the monument, but not really go into depth with understanding the history of it.

Another fact is that some monuments are often overlooked by many. There are mainly two reasons why it is overlooked: one reason is where the monument is located or people are just not interested in learning the history behind that monument.

It is pretty upsetting to see how people go to some monuments to just take pictures, have a picnic, or just loitering there. If we all think carefully about the history, we should realize or say “Oh is this what they’ve gone through? It must be tough for them.” Another reason that it is not okay is when monuments are taken down for another thing or because one needs the space. It is understandable to learn history in the textbooks however going to see a statue gives us a better experience.

Another example can be that Robert E. Lee and Stonewall jackson were removed from the CUNY hall of great americans because New York stands against racism. It says that Lee and Jackson were best known for leading a seditious war against the union. In the article, it says “There are many great Americans, many of them New Yorkers worthy of a spot in this great hall. These two confederates are not among them.” This explains that these two monuments were not supposed to be in the great hall due to racism. Another quote in the article was, Busts of Lee and Jackson — best known for leading a seditious war against the Union — are featured in the hall alongside prominent black Americans such as inventor George Washington Carver and baseball great Jackie Robinson. Lee was inducted in 1900 and Jackson in 1955.” This explains Lee’s and Jackson’s history.

These are some examples that were provided within the text to back up my thesis as to why monuments should be kept and why it is so symbolic to one’s city. Monuments should not be taken so lightly and should be seen in a more deeper context. It shouldn’t just be something that is to be taken a picture of, but it should make a stance in one’s perspectives. We should always remember what the monument means and the history behind it.

Cites:

1. Jaeger, Max. “Cuomo orders Confederate busts removed from CUNY ‘Hall of Fame’.” New York Post, New York Post, 16 Aug. 2017, nypost.com/2017/08/16/cuomo-orders-confederate-busts-be-removed-from-cuny-hall-of-fame/.