On Southern Heritage
“Heritage” means what you inherit; and you have to triage what you inherit. What do you keep as your own; what do you give or sell; and what do you trash. Statues of failed rebels fall into the trash category.
I propose that all statues of Confederate generals be replaced by statues of the South’s singers and writers: Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, William Faulkner, Mark Twain, Kate Smith, Dolly Parton (after she passes), and many others.
The South’s best legacy, beloved by all, is cultural. It would be both gracious and practical for the South to show off its best side.
I offer this proposal in memory of Aristides the Just. He showed his friends around Athens; they asked him why he has no statue; he answered that it’s better to have no statue and have people wonder why not, than to have a statue and have people wonder why.
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