Monuments continue to remind of past’s evils

How sad it is to see monuments and memorials that have stood for over a hundred years have to be relocated and, even worse, destroyed. These monuments and memorials have been near and dear to hearts of countless thousands of people (the politicians should keep that in mind) for generations. But no one seems to want to consider their feelings.

The others say they want these things gone because they are a reminder that this country once enslaved people. Well, I say good — leave these things to remind us that there was a time when people were enslaved in this country so that it will never be repeated. There is an old saying that “those who will not learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat those mistakes.” But, there are those today who want to erase that memory. Does that mean, then, that we just might, at some distant date in the future, enslave other people once again? Auschwitz, and other places, have been preserved. Memorials have been erected to that terrible time in the history of the world. Holocaust museums have been built (we have one in D.C.). All of this to preserve the memory of this terrible time. The Jewish people want these things preserved because, as they say, “Lest we forget.”

One thing more. For those who want to destroy these memorials, remember many are being made angry over the destruction of these memorials and statues that they hold near and dear to their hearts. Those memorials and statues that you hold near and dear to your hearts are also vulnerable. Let the courts handle this. And if they have to be removed, let the authorities do it. RONALD HAGEN

Fayetteville