In the last few months, a main debate in the United States has been whether or not Confederate monuments in America should continue to stand or even be in existence. As we all know, less than 200 years ago America was split in a Civil War, the North versus the South. After the war, many Union and Confederate monuments were erected, in order to honor the soldiers who fought and died on both sides of the line. The monuments should stay standing to commemorate the history of our country.

In Missouri, specifically the City of St. Louis, the topic of whether or not a Confederate monument should stand. In mid-June the Missouri Civil War Museum agreed to remove the relatively large monument in a lesser trafficked corner of Forest Park. Many people were unaware that the monument was even there.  The museum is going to restore the monument, since it was vandalized. Some of the graffiti on the monument included: End Racism, Black Lives Matter, and FTP, which is a derogatory term referring to police officers.  

There are Confederate and Union monuments scattered all across the country. Over the summer I had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which hosted one of the most pivotal battles of the entire American Civil War. The whole town of Gettysburg is one big historical artifact. In Gettysburg there are 1,320 monuments, honoring both the Union and Confederate soldiers. All of the monuments in Gettysburg are beautiful and artistically created. They are like no other monuments I have ever seen. Each is unique to itself, none are the same.

In Gettysburg, you are able to witness both sides of the battle, both viewpoints. Whether the men were fighting for the CSA or the Union, they were all fighting for what they believed in, and I have respect for that. Through seeing both sides monuments, you are able to gain an appreciation for the war, and for how far we have come since reuniting the Union. None of the monuments are an ode to slavery, they are all in honor of the men who fought and died.

The opposition to keeping the Confederate monuments is that it is wrong to honor those who fought for the Confederacy, because it is honoring slavery, and promoting racism.  

By keeping Confederate monuments, it is a reminder of where our country once was, how split we were. If America decides to take down all Confederate monuments, or vandalize them, we will be losing a part of our history. The whole point of putting monuments is to remember a time in history, whether it be good or bad. By tearing down Confederate monuments, we are erasing a part of our history that is crucial to remember, honor, and learn about. By taking down monuments, does the exact opposite of what the Black Lives Matter activists are trying to do. The BLM activists are trying to erase the things that they say need to be preserved.

Whether you are pro-monument or anti-monument, it is important what we recognize and remember our country’s past. We have to remember and honor the fact that people died fighting for what they believed in. It is important that we all work together to preserve our history and that we respect one another, and the opinions of others, even if you may not share the same one as your neighbor.