A Solution to The Monument Controversy: Build New Statues Dedicated to Minorities in American History

Katie Pavlich | August 16, 2017 5:00 PM

As the protest of confederate statues continue across the country, Americans are grappling with how to handle the controversy.

The mob has suggested all confederate statues be ripped down and erased from history, others have said local communities should vote on whether to have them moved to a museum and many believe they should stay put as part of American history.

Cheryl Chumley has a different idea: Instead of taking the statues down, we should be adding monuments of minorities who have played significant roles in American history.

She wrote about the concept for the WashingtonTimes:

Here’s a solution, one that should be met with agreement from both sides — the side that doesn’t want history revised or whitewashed and the side that sees some of these government-stamped monuments as harsh reminders of America’s time of slavery: Build more monuments.

Instead of erasing history, let’s add to it.

Instead of tearing down Robert E. Lee, let’s put up monuments that recognize, say, blacks who served honorably in the Civil War.

Let’s put up statues of notable minorities who spoke out for the cause of freedom, for the side of righteousness, for the healing of a nation and a people.

Tearing down is symbolic of dissension, hatred, anger, partisanship, violence.

But building more?

That’s not only a symbol of unity and healing. It’s also a means of enriching America’s public shows of history — of fostering deeper debate, reflection and discussion about the diversity of the country and about the multicultural contributions that made us the melting pot our founders intended and foresaw.

More building, less tearing down. That’s a solution that not only appeases, but unites.