Confederate Monuments Editorial Introduction

Originally published August 2017 · p. 18

Confederate Monuments Editorial Introduction The removal of statues portraying Confederate leaders has sparked a great deal of controversy to say the least. Many people feel the Confederacy was defeated and should be buried. Others feel that folk who fought, bled, and died for their beliefs, and were then honored by memorials, should not be dishonored. Many of the latter feel disenfranchised in the current politically correct environment. Since the topic relates to, in fact derives from, the Civil War, it is newsworthy and space will be given over to the debate. The issue is now complicated by the June 19, 2017, Supreme Court ruling that allowed an AsianAmerican band to trademark their name, “The Slants.” Justice Samuel Alito provided a most succinct and clearly worded statement when he noted that the 71-year old trademark law banning disparaging terms infringes free speech rights guaranteed by the

Constitution. “It offends a bedrock First Amendment principle: Speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend,” Alito said. If carried into the public realm, this decision has immense ramifications for those who feel Confederate statues offend. The statues are free speech, just like posters, magazines, editorials, and other art forms. There is an additional part to this in that at least some Confederate statues are protected by Federal laws because they are on the National Register of Historic Places. This crisis is not going to disappear until it has been worked out. When a minority can dictate to the majority, something is wrong and will, eventually be corrected, but that time has not yet come. America has demonstrated its strength by tolerating a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and with different beliefs. Once again, our country has come to grips with the unintended consequences of the diversity (call it hybrid vigor, perhaps) that has made us what we are. That calls for civil discourse and honest, rancor-free discussion to resolve the issue. Whatever your viewpoint, we ask that you speak clearly and concisely, refrain from hostile invective and inflammatory speech (even if guaranteed), so that we can all work together in a common cause.