Charlottesville

[Gene C]

On the BoothieBarn article regarding Confederate statues, is a chart regarding the dates and numbers of these statues erected. I think the conclusions drawn from that chart are misleading.

The article states this - "But two distinct periods saw significant spikes. The first began around 1900 as Southern states were enacting Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise African Americans and re-segregate society after several decades of integration which followed Reconstruction. It lasted well into the 1920s, a period that also saw a strong revival of the Ku Klux Klan. The second period began in the mid-1950s and lasted until the late 1960s, the period encompassing the modern civil rights movement."

- I would like to note that many of the statues and monuments to Union soldiers were also erected during this same time period. Many of the soldiers for both sides had recently died and typically we don't build statues or monuments to the living. The Lincoln Memorial was built during this time period, 1914-1922
- The second time period of the 1950's and 60's coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Civil War. There was a heightened awareness and attention to the Civil War during that time period. More monuments raised, more books written, more TV and movies about the time period were produced, much like there were during the recent 150 year anniversary.

The numbers on the chart can be viewed from this additional perspective. The data can be interpreted more than one way. I guess it depends on the agenda you want to emphasize.

But for those who are organizing and leading the effort to remove Confederate monuments, why is the focus on a negative interpretation for the message of the monuments instead of a positive message that is also there. Why does the focus seem to be more on removing and tearing down than it is on encouragement, inspiration, lifting up and building new?
Maybe that's not really a message that is important to them.