Monday letters: Statues should be fully explained

I am one of the many who was glad to see the Confederate flag moved to a museum where it belongs. It is unfortunate, but it did become a symbol of hate for many.

Instead of removing Confederate (or U.S.) statues, why not add a plaque to each statue that accurately tells its story? As example: “Ben Tillman was governor of South Carolina from 1890 through 1894. He founded Clemson University. He was also a self-proclaimed white supremacist who led the Red Shirts that actively killed and hanged African-Americans.”

A similar plaque should be added to the statues of all famous Americans. For example: “George Washington was America’s first president. He is known as the father of our country. He also owned 318 slaves.”

Including their good deeds as well as their shortcomings would give viewers a better understanding of why and whom they should honor.

This story was originally published August 2, 2015 at 7:27 PM.