Introduction
The disposal of monuments that represent oppression is a sensitive topic, and many people have conflicting opinions on the matter. In the current case, local organizations believe that Robert E. Lee’s statue symbolizes enslavement and should be removed to promote diversity. I agree with this position and believe that this monument contradicts contemporary American values and is an inappropriate object to be located in a public space.
Why the Removal of the Robert E. Lee statue Is Beneficial
Historical sites represent the country’s history, but the values of these monuments might contradict contemporary beliefs. This means that removing them is an effective method of promoting cultural diversity (Burch-Brown, 2020). However, the research demonstrates that this process should be regulated and discussed with the local government, communities, and other interested people (Burch-Brown, 2020).
It helps convey the message of why the statue is being removed and the benefits. After all, we mustn’t violate some contemporary values in trying to preserve others. In such cases, effective communication is key to promoting cultural diversity and preventing conflicts, such as the march of the white nationalist group in this example. Another argument for the removal of statues is their impact on the public. Prof. Lucy Puls states, “Public sculpture <…> is a powerful communication device that is used to reflect the values of a community” (Nikos-Rose, 2020, para. 24). Therefore, we must preserve those statues that fit this description and remove monuments that drastically oppose this idea.
Conclusion
While the removal of monuments that are associated with oppression is a controversial topic, it is the right idea in most cases. Many statues built in the era of slavery represent values that are harmful to contemporary society and hurt people of various ethical and cultural backgrounds. It should also be noted that removing these monuments promotes diversity, but this approach should be supported by other government policies and actions of communities to build a compassionate society.
References
Burch‐Brown, J. (2022). Should slavery’s statues be preserved? On transitional justice and contested heritage. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 39(5), 807-824. Web.
Nikos-Rose, K. (2020). Redefining the role of public monuments. UC Davis. Web.