Monuments are placed and seen all over the world. The main concept of a monument is to give recognition to individuals, groups of people, or things. Monuments are also placed to bring awareness to a topic or issue. However, many people have their own interpretation of the representation of a monument. Due to these varying perspectives, many people are left discontent. In order to minimize controversy, I believe it’s best if the mayor takes certain things into consideration; such as the amount of damage these statues, plaques and figures are causing. After analyzing various articles, my criteria on monuments that are causing racial tension by showing one sided history, drawing unnecessary attention around academics institute, or constantly being vandalized, should be removed.
When a monument is causing racial tensions, most times it’s because the people feel that it’s sending a hurtful message to the public. Other times people can also feel as though some truth within their history is being hidden and not respected. People tend to believe that when monuments such as “Robert E Lee” are requested for removal, it’s an attempt to erase their history. However, I recognized a good point from Mayor Landrieu, in the “we can’t walk away from the truth” article when he states “ why there are no slave ship monument, no prominent markers on the public land to remember the lynchings or the slave blocks ; nothing to remember this long chapter of our lives ; the pain, the sacrifice the shame-”. My interpretation of Mayor Landrieu’s point is that their are so many people focused on “preserving and remembering history” when in reality their only showing the world what they want to be seen, in other word rebranding or rewriting the past, rather than bringing forth the whole truth. Another good example is the “great italian explorer”; Christopher columbus might have sailed across the atlantic and discovered new lands, but what else did he do? Why isn’t every aspect of his life being shown to the world since history is so important? This ideology serve as a good enough reason as to why a monument should be removed; if its causing racial tensions; by being oblivious to the whole truth and not displaying the past wholly.
There are many monuments all over the world. Monuments tend to draw a lot of attention for many different reasons, whether its admiration, or in disgust. If a monument is always being crowded around, especially around a academic institute or business I believe it’s unethical and should be relocated, or maybe even removed. For example, the Stephen Foster monuments that’s located in Pittsburgh is placed right outside of the University of Pittsburgh. Many people found the statue as disturbing due to the fact that an African American male was placed by the feet of a Caucasian male and had over 50,000 petition request for its removal. Despite the fact that those were norms back then, I believe that due to the area that the figure is placed, and the amount of attention it’s receiving, that specific location wouldn’t be a good place for the monument. In addition, the statute might be disturbing to folks as they travel back and forth. The monuments seems to degrade African Americans in a way and might create controversy among the school environment.
Monuments are currently being vandalized all over the world. Many times, the vandals are fully aware that they could be incriminated by their actions, however, they’d rather give up their freedom than accept disrespect in their own communities. As mentioned before, the vandals, and other people might be offended by the message and meanings they receive from these figures. Whether or not that was the intended message, acts of violence will always be considered during such disagreements. Mayor Landrieu even stated “we will continue to pay a price with discord, with division and yes with violence”.. That in which serve as a good enough reason as to why a figure should be removed; to reduce controversy.
There are tons of monuments, statues, or figures all over the world. Some might say the removal of these figures will erase a part of our history, but some can also argue that these monuments are being bias and not portraying our history as a whole in any sense. Even though their may be a great deal of monuments around the world, too many to be removed or relocated, I think the mayor should take these reasons into consideration. A decision needs to made on whether or not these controversial confederate monuments, should be destroyed or relocated. Its understandable that everyone has their own opinions, however no opinion is worth subjecting people to statues that can cause them pain and discomfort. People are so upset that they’re at a point where they are willing to give up their freedom to have it removed. I understand that as the mayor you have to listen to all of the people. The removal of these statues is the best decision. It can put an end to the suffering of its victims while simultaneously putting an end to the hate that they help to promote.
