re: Historical monuments okay or not

I'm looking for a picture of it.

No, only because Genghis Grill sucks.

Hitler's Hibachi sounds tasty though.

It was a different time. The way humanity treated one another was simply different. Doesn't make it right, just was. To say that George Washington isn't worthy of praise because he owned slaves is asinine. Owning slaves was something that the elite did for a long time all around the world. Again, that doesn't make it right, just was. He helped give birth to the idea of equality for all men. An idea that would spread to everyone of all races, religions, sexes, etc. At the time, the idea was only for a few, but it started the conversation on what it means to truly be free and equal. Eventually, women were able to vote, blacks were freed from slavery, so on and so forth.

The same goes for the other historical figures you listed. Yes, they committed atrocities. But history hasn't forgotten that. That doesn't mean they should be erased from history. They existed, and their actions had a lasting and profound impression on humanity. To destroy their memory would be a disservice to the future. The future needs to know about these people. They need to learn why things happened the way they did and how to avoid a repeat of the bad.

I understand why people want to remove Confederate statues from public places, especially government buildings. They represent a very dark and tragic time in our history. But to destroy them would be a mistake. They need to be preserved in an appropriate setting. If we just destroy them and forget what happened, history will repeat itself, and we will have learned nothing.

As for the dirt bags who want to dig up grave sites of dead Confederate soldiers, they can eat shite. Those men are dead. Leave them alone. (Not part of the OP, but thought there was some relevance.)

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So you're saying the good outweighs the bad?

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No. This is not what I'm saying. I'm saying that what we consider bad now was not considered bad at the time. You cannot fight every battle at once, and some issues have to ripen before change can be effected.

This was not the case with Lee. He led an armed rebellion that killed tens of thousands and immiserated his supporters. There is no balancing test for this. Treason was just as awful then as it is now. What's more, he existed at an opportunity where he was presented with a clear choice on how to come down on the issue of slavery at a time when it's existence was precarious and susceptible to elimination, and he chose to side with its supporters. He could've fought to end slavery, and his voice and the respect he commanded would've been powerful. He chose poorly and he deserves the stain on his honor from his choice.

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How about George Washington? The racist slave owner whom rebelled and founded a country built on slavery?

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I'm not aware Washington is honored for his defense of the institution of slavery.

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if you're asking why AMERICA should memorialize someone one of the first questions I'll ask is what did they do for the country? If your answer is: they committed treason... well, that's not good enough for me.

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Well said.

The great thing about using terms like racism (or any -ism) is that they have very fluid definitions and can be determined by those in power.

The puppet masters want to erase history (or invalidate it) because they want to use the same tactics to gain power. The useful idiots on the streets think this is truly about racism and helping the poor souls that can't help themselves (a racist/bigoted thought to begin with).

The democrats are the richest, whitest people in America. They have the media as their propaganda machine using a handful of racist idiots to continue to label their enemies. Yet, they are exactly what they are portraying the other side as... racist, white fascists.

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You can't judge historical figures by modern standards.

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Agree

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Unless that is done, the lefties better remember that

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The KKK was started by the Dems

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Are these figures okay? If so, why are they okay?

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You are asking for intellectual honesty and consistency about an issue that is based on pure emotion. I doubt any of the people that participated in taking down the statue in Durham thought very much about what they were doing. In time they very well may turn their attention to monuments dedicated to our founding fathers. This is part of a social and political movement so where it stops nobody knows.

If this movement had not started and those statues remained for another 200-300 years then they would probably be looked upon as the other ancient examples you mentioned. Then again who knows maybe their will be a sudden demand to destroy all monuments dedicated to western civilization.

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Either we tear down all statues of slave owners or we be honest with ourselves and realize
1. They're inanimate objects.
2. Times were different back then
3. They're fricking inanimate objects.
4. We have MUCH BIGGER FISH TO TRY THAN MOTHER frickING STATUES OF LONG DEAD MEN.

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You seem rustled.