ANALYSIS/OPINION:
When replacing the Robert E. Lee statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection, suggestions such as Pocahontas, Maggie Walker and several other diverse dignitaries have been made.
After a summer of protests, property destruction and sequestered funds, culminating in the removal of Confederate statues nationwide, I believe the best choice would be to leave the space statue-less after the Lee statue is removed.
The funding of future sculptural caricatures, possibly perceived offensive by any race, gender or other group years down the road, would only spawn more autocracy.
Instead of instigating further cultural disunion, our leaders should focus on investing resources in creating a system that would unshackle our future generations from the distress, diminished infrastructure revenue, societal disharmony and grievous intolerance that confronted us in 2020.
In my opinion, this is only common sense. Why can’t our leaders grasp it?
RICK KNIGHT
Henrico, Va.
Sign up for Daily Opinion Newsletter
