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How do we think about removing controversial statues in the US? How do we think about removing controversial statues in the US?
"We must remove these statues!" "We must remove these statues!"
"Individual states should make the call. A universal consensus is not necessary." "Individual states should make the call. A universal consensus is not necessary."
"We must not remove these statues!" "We must not remove these statues!"
This discussion is a distraction from more urgent issues. This discussion is a distraction from more urgent issues.
We should remove some statues, but this movement has gone too far. We should remove some statues, but this movement has gone too far.
These statues venerate people who supported the dehumanization of others. These statues venerate people who supported the dehumanization of others.
These statues were intended to promote white supremacy and racial terror. These statues were intended to promote white supremacy and racial terror.
These statues romanticize the Confederacy These statues romanticize the Confederacy
These statues honor individuals who harmed indigenous people. These statues honor individuals who harmed indigenous people.
We should allow states to make this decision independently We should allow states to make this decision independently
Removing controversial statues erases history. Removing controversial statues erases history.
The statue removal movement is an attempt to erase white Southern history. The statue removal movement is an attempt to erase white Southern history.
These people made morally questionable decisions but they weren't completely bad. These people made morally questionable decisions but they weren't completely bad.
This movement is led by violent, angry mobs. This movement is led by violent, angry mobs.
There are more urgent areas that need reform There are more urgent areas that need reform
This movement might threaten all historical statues. This movement might threaten all historical statues.
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How do we think about removing controversial statues in the US?
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"We must remove these statues!"

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These statues venerate people who supported the dehumanization of others.

These statues depict people who supported horrific institutions. We should not honor them in our public spaces.
Nancy Pelosi James E. Clyburn
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The Argument

Activists calling for the removal of controversial statues have a good reason to do so. These statues depict individuals who openly supported racist ideologies, or fought for racist institutions. For example, a statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia has drawn significant backlash, because he was a commander of the Confederate Army, which fought to preserve slavery. Another prominent example of this includes Fort Benning, a famous U.S. army post. This post gets its name from Henry Benning, a Confederate general and supporter of slavery. [1] Although these people supported treasonous, horrific institutions, they still hold a place of honor in public spaces. Although these are only two examples, they illustrate the basis of criticism toward controversial statues. These people supported racist institutions. They do not deserve places of honor in our public spaces. Furthermore, it is wrong to venerate people who supported the dehumanization of others. For this reason, we should remove their statues.

Counter arguments

Statues do not necessarily honor the individuals they depict- they simply portray them. In this way, they serve as impartial, innocuous reminders of our history. It is irrational to argue that we honor problematic figures through preserving statues of them.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Controversial statues depict people who supported racist institutions. [P2] Statues honor the individuals they depict. [P3] Thus, these statues venerate people who supported the cruel and horrific treatment of fellow human beings. [P4] It is wrong to venerate people who supported such morally reprehensible institutions because they don't deserve this honor. [P5] Therefore, we should remove controversial statues.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/16/us/racist-statues-controversial-monuments-in-america-robert-lee-columbus/index.html
This page was last edited on Monday, 13 Jul 2020 at 01:10 UTC

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