Civil War Memorial Debate

      In the articles that I have read, both sides of the confederate stature debate have been explored.  In the first article, writer J. Pepper Bryars writes about a man named Elijah Morrison, a former confederate soldier who died during the Civil War.  He uses this man to convey that people who fight for their land and their family should be celebrated with a memorial.  He then brings up that monuments commemorated to these soldiers are being destroyed, and ponder "Is this how Americans remember dead soldiers?" (Bryars).  Another article written by LeeAnna Keith proposes that monuments of progressive Civil War republicans should be created for those who fought to end slavery, such as Thaddeus Stevens, and Charles Sumner.  The writer then uses activists from Huntsville to honor for what they did to further the Civil Rights movement after slavery had ended.  This is said to suggest that existing statues can stay where they are, but new monuments will be erected to become more important.  The final article written by David Person focuses on revealing the true symbols and meanings behind confederate monuments and flags.  He brings up that John C. Calhoun's statue glorifies a man who advocated for slavery and secession.  He then sites the South Carolina Secessionist Party for them campaigning for confederate flags, a symbol of racism and oppression, to be flown all across the State.  He then says that when confederate soldiers were fighting for their homes and lively hoods, that more than 50% of that property they would be protecting in South Carolina would be slaves.  This is the driving force in his final argument, saying that "there's no way in the world as a Christian you can support [the Confederate flag] or fly it."  This leads me to agree with the final article most of all because I believe that a change in attitude towards the statues and monuments of the Confederacy are necessary for there to be significant change in this country regarding racism, and this article most clearly articulates that change needs to be a priority.