TO THE EDITOR:
I sure have learned a lot about Robert E. Lee over the last few days. But the historical sparring match that has appeared here for the last week quickly lost sight of the reason it started in the first place.
The statue of Silent Sam represents Confederate soldiers who died carrying arms for the Confederacy. They actively fought for a government that unflinchingly supported the enslavement of human beings. Therefore, the stain of slavery is on their hands, just as it is on the hands of every American and has been since this country began. We now have a choice.
Do we celebrate that stain or do we remember it as a terrible example of how even the most seemingly “enlightened” people can condone atrocities? I believe we should choose the latter.
We can never allow slavery to fade into a historical footnote. We must always be vigilant against the threats of prejudice, hate and persecution that lurk in every human being.
John Anagnost
Graduate student
City and regional planning
