I am against removal of monuments to confederate soldiers. However, even if my view mattered to those making a decision to keep or remove a monument, I am afraid that my message would be too convoluted for many to understand. Here is my pitch, what do you think?
"Yes, the Civil War was about slavery. The south left the union to protect slavery. The north began its war to keep the south in the union. Later the union emancipated slaves to deprive the confederacy of labor. Of course, slavery was a very bad thing, but this does not mean southern soldiers were devils and northern soldiers angels.
Soldiers, North and South fought for many of the same reasons, because it was their duty, to join friends, to seek adventure, or because they were drafted. Many Southern soldiers fought because the south was being invaded; Northern soldiers invaded the south to put down a rebellion. Few soldiers North or South fought over slavery. Most Southern soldiers did not own slaves, and many Northern soldiers believed that slavery was a right protected in the constitution. In fact, most soldiers, North and South were racists by today's standards. They could not view African Americans as equals as they had never seen them in circumstances where they could demonstrate their equality.
After the war, communities north and south built monuments to their soldiers. Some may interpret monuments to confederate soldiers as pro-slavery, but this is not necessarily the case. We can interpret monuments to Union soldiers as anti-slavery, but look at these monuments closely. Most exalt the war to "Preserve the Union"; few describe it as a war to free slaves.
I say let all monuments stay at least to remind us of how far we have come."
Bringing the