Monumental proposal

When I first learned of the national furor over the proposed removal of Civil War monuments commemorating notable Confederate leaders, I considered such proposals as infantile and anti-historical.

It seemed somewhat like the Afghani Taliban’s explosive destruction in the early 2000s of Buddhist monuments which the radical Islamists deemed to be offensive to Muslims. These acts which brought about international condemnation were considered to be extremely retrogressive.

I suspected that cooler and more progressive leaders in America would quickly stanch the fervor of the radicals and the issue of monument removals would dissipate.

After a few days it became clear that the issue had legs and potentially violent radicals from both sides were joining the fray. Violence has ensued, and leaders from around the country are responding in various ways. Our country needs an enlightened resolution to this problem, and I would like to offer an humble proposal.

Being that the pro-removal forces are apparently predominantly aligned with the Democrat Party, and who blame the Republican Party for being racists opposed to the removal, the following suggestion should represent a fair and equitable resolution: Let it be decreed that all Confederate monuments erected throughout the United States under the authority of a Republican governing body (be it city, county, state or federal) be expeditiously removed. Only those monuments erected under Democrat political authority will be allowed to remain standing.

I further propose that John Brummett, columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, be appointed as chief facilitator for this project in the state of Arkansas. DENNIS LEGGETT Searcy