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 meaning. Each monument are important because it was part of our history and it teaches us a lesson in order not to repeat it again. Lessons are great in life because it protects us and it makes us understand better. Obviously in New York are filled with international people and sometimes, people doesn’t want monuments here because it’s either they don’t like it or it reminds them. Monuments should make us proud because it’s not going to repeat in the present and history did this for us.
The Korean war veteran plaza is an example of a monument that should make people proud especially Koreans and Americans. The Korean war was kind of ridiculous because North Korea wanted to have only one Korea but they initiated the war. However, this war is important because many people in the army participated this war and fought for our country. A lot of soldiers were missing, dead, and injured. Another reason why it’s so important to remember this monument because soldiers that fought for us that has families and they lost their lives. At the plaza, majority of the people are tourists and they seem to not understand what the monument means. People usually takes pictures with the statue and some people would read it.
Another fact is that some monuments are not popular as others. There are mainly two reasons why it isn’t popular or seen oftenly because one reason is where the monument is placed or another reason can be like people just doesn’t care about it. Fighting in war is very tough decision for the person because it’s either you’re dead or you’re alive.
It is pretty upsetting to see how people go to some monuments to take pictures, have a picnic, or just chilling there. If we all think carefully about history, we should realize or say “Oh is this what they’ve gone through? It must be tough for them.” Another reason that is not okay is when monuments are taken down for another thing or spacing. It is understandable to learn history in the textbooks however going to see a statue gives us a better experience.
Another criteria can be racism. An example can be Robert E. Lee and Stonewall jackson was 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 are not suppose to be with 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.
Some monuments should be removed and everyone should at least care about monuments. It is great that monuments are installed in New York city because there are a lot of people in the city and it’s usually busy. We should always remember what the monument means and its history.
Cites:
- 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/.
