First, I do think it's time for them to go--- past time. That said--- please understand some of the old folks are going to take it hard. Before you say, "Screw them!" remember that older people in the South, and I am talking about my father- people in their 80s that were raised in Richmond-- remember the last of the Civil War veterans. Hell, my stories of the war were only second hand, and I was born in 64. My grandfather talked fondly of members of the family that he knew that fought in the war.
History down here was revisionist. I was raised to be able to look at that statue, and name his horse (Traveler). We were taught that Sherman marched through, burned everything down, 600,000 young folks dead, starvation, etc. "Gone with the Wind" was one of the first adult chapter books I read, and I truly believed Scarlett surely to god looked just like Vivien Leigh.
I grew up, and majored in history- so, obviously, clearly I outgrew those childhood notions. My parents are strong Democrats; my mother is a feminist.
But, there was a point where I was praying those statues would stay until Dad died-- selfish, I know. I was hoping he could drive down Monument Ave. one more time and feel some pride in his ancestors who believed they were doing the right thing.
History waits for no one. So, I will listen to him mourn the passing of his beliefs, and hope that someone thinks to dig up Jefferson Davis, cremate whatever is left in that coffin, and bury those ashes underneath a magnolia tree.
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