I am trying to think how I feel about the statues that are under attack. I grew up in New Orleans where ,when on the street car ,the tracks went around the statue of Robert E Lee. I never even noticed him. When we went into the French Quarter, we always
made a stop at jackson Square. There was a statue of a man in the center of the park. He did not impress me. I only knew the park, not the statue. But how would I feel if it were a statue of Hitler. I would hate it. I can understand the hurt that a statue
can bring. I do. Could a statue be used as a learning tool. Could an African American and a Caucasian look at a statue and say this piece of bronze is here to remind us of the history of our country and to say never let that time come again. Would having that
statue legitimize the times it represented? I don't know. To me it is a piece occupying space. But then, how would I feel if it were a statue of Goebels that was in the center of the park. I would want it removed. Is it art. Is it a symbol. What is a symbol,
what is history, what speaks to me,what reminds me of a time that was morally wrong, am I being insensitive. Is it the statue? Is it the symbol of an ugly time. It is the people who are ugly who still revere what the statue represents. The Civil War. In school
in N.O. I learned to call it the War between the States. We never called it a civil war. It's over. We are Americans. Stop fighting .Learn from the statues. Maybe a plaque on the statue saying that this is a man who represented a time in our history that we
as Americans are not proud of. America has done some terrible things. Interning the Japanese Americans during the Second World War, refusing entry of Jews at the Beginning of WW11, The American Indian reservations . Learn from the mistakes of the past and
live in peace , dignity and respect. Never Again is a good place to start.