Some LSU students wave their purple and gold Confederate flags with pride and happiness, but it’s a pride that shouldn’t exist with the history of the South.
On Dec. 17, I had the eye-opening opportunity of attending the hearing where the New Orleans City Council voted to take down four Confederate monuments.
Statues of General Robert E. Lee, P. G. T. Beauregard, Jefferson Davis and the pillar dedicated to the Battle of Liberty Place are seeing their last days on the city’s streets.
The statues stare down the streets as if to say, “I own this city,” disgusting many residents of the city, the majority of whom are black.
At the hearing, many New Orleans residents fought to remove the monuments, but just as many supported them.
I was baffled that so many people wanted to preserve an offensive time in history. The monuments’ supporters argued, protested and expressed outrage.
The mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, joined residents pleading the city council to take down the monuments.
“The time surely comes when [justice] must and will be heard,” Landrieu said.
He proposed to move the monuments to an American Civil War museum. I’d personally rather burn them. Nonetheless, Landrieu’s compromise is great for me, but it wasn’t sufficient for the monument lovers.
Immediately after the New Orleans city council voted 6-1 to remove the monuments, people in favor of them began ranting “It’s not over,” and they meant it.
Monument-supporters filed a lawsuit against the city hours after the council’s decision. They are arguing taking down the monuments violates the Louisiana Constitution.
David Mahler, the contractor hired to take down the monuments, backed out of the project after receiving death threats. I wouldn’t call it a coincidence that the contractor’s $200,000 Lamborghini was burned to pieces earlier this week.
These monuments shouldn’t mean that much to anyone, not even if Robert E. Lee was your uncle. Yet, people are burning cars and suing cities in defense these racist symbols.
The reason why no one should support the Confederacy is simple.
The monuments are symbols of the Confederate South. The South fought against the Union. They fought against the Union to keep their slaves, who were beaten, sexually assaulted and raped.
All this goes for the Confederate flag as well. Neither LSU students nor the South should be proud of this time in history. That’s a shameful heritage.
Look at the Confederacy from another perspective.
Americans take pride in having the strongest military in the world. We love and cherish our army. They protect us, and we value our safety. A man in a uniform gets instant respect and gratitude from many Americans.
This is the same army the Confederate South fought.
Can you say double standard?
So, you love and cherish both the army and the monuments?
Be considerate for once, and let the monuments come down. Many New Orleanians don’t want to see them every single day. I promise, taking them down doesn’t erase your history. Your ancestors belittling and dehumanizing African-Americans can’t be erased.
Clarke Perkins is a 20-year-old political science sophomore from New Orleans, LA. You can reach her on Twitter @ClarkePerkins.