Monday letters: SC must learn from history, not erase it

I moved to South Carolina about a year ago from Michigan and quickly became aware that there was a Confederate battle flag flying on the State House grounds. I was somewhat surprised, but not offended, as South Carolina has a rich history from both the first and second revolutions fought here. The events that transpired this year, causing the removal of the flag, were both tragic and inevitable.

What should not be inevitable is the removal or erasure of parts of the history of the state that molded it into what it is today. Slavery was indeed a stain on the country’s history. As was the treatment of Native Americans, who even today have grievances that need redressing. As also was the treatment of child laborers in the North.

Monuments to leaders who helped create those other stains have not been removed, nor are there plans to remove them. Let’s not fall prey to a Stalinesque plan to erase history. It is what we must learn from.

This story was originally published August 23, 2015 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Monday letters: SC must learn from history, not erase it."