Union County residents respond strongly to monument debate

The Confederate monument at the Union County Courthouse was erected in 1910 by the Henry G. Bunn chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It sits at the corner of the Courthouse at the corner of Washington and Main streets. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
The Confederate monument at the Union County Courthouse was erected in 1910 by the Henry G. Bunn chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It sits at the corner of the Courthouse at the corner of Washington and Main streets. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)

Just over a week after the first meeting of the Union County Quorum Court’s Monument Committee, which was formed to explore the legalities of and public opinion on the potential removal or relocation of the Confederate monument at the county Courthouse, Union County Judge Mike Loftin has already received an estimated 200 letters from county residents expressing their views on the matter, his executive assistant Jody Cunningham said Wednesday.

There have been several demonstrations in support of keeping and in favor of removing or relocating the monument since the Committee’s initial meeting on June 23. Union County residents have also reached out to the News-Times to share their perspectives.

Some comments are included only in part due to their length; the News-Times endeavored to include the main idea of all respondents.

“I think the monument should stay. It is a part of history,” said Phyllis Scott, of Smackover. “We do not erase history just because some do not like or agree with it!”

“Apparently some locals believe that the Confederate soldier statue at our courthouse should remain because ‘some of their people served in the Confederate Army.’ I’m like ‘hold my coffee,’” said Kathryn Morse, of El Dorado, who noted that she is related to at least seven members of the Confederate Army or its auxiliaries, including an aide to Gen. Robert E. Lee.

“Take the statue down. The statues represent people who fought against the country of which we are a part (that’s treason). The statues represent white people actually owning Black people and profiling from the latter’s labor,” Morse said. “The statues belong in museums with a placard explaining how they were a fad 40 years after the war was over as part of a marketing campaign to reinforce ideas about white supremacy. The statues are an unhealthy coping mechanism for white people whose feelings were and are hurt. The statues send the wrong messages to our children and grandchildren. White pride is much less important than consideration of the suffering of others and the virtues of empathy and respect for others. Take the statue down. Take them all down.”

“It should stay where it’s been for the past 100 years. It represents Union County veterans,” said Chris Howe, of El Dorado. “My thinking is the statue represents a soldier of Arkansas that fought and died on our lands. I served in the Army for 21 years, an Iraq War veteran. It’s been there since 1909 and should stay another 100 years.”

“You can’t remove history. It will always be there. It shouldn’t matter if we have statues, monuments or streets named after Confederate, Union or civil leaders. But if you remove one symbol, it’s only fair that all others must follow,” said Sheryl Duggar, of El Dorado. “It’s what made us strive for so much more in our lives. We’re supposed to learn from our ancestors’ mistakes so that we can make a better place for our children and their children and so on.”

“We shouldn’t dwell on the bad that took place because we aren’t the ones that lived it. We should go forward and stop running backward for the love of hate. Read about it. Write about it. Talk about it. But leave it in the past. We can’t change it, but we can make life better without all the riots, vandalism and looting. We don’t need or want destruction. We should be helping one another deal with the pandemic and everyday life,” Duggar continued. “All this racism stuff should not even have to be addressed. We are all people. We all bleed the same color blood; so if our insides are the same, why do we judge others by the outside? Most of us have faith in something that we can’t see, yet we still believe. So why can’t we believe that our skin colors don’t matter? I have friends of all colors. They’re my friends because of the way we respect each other and how we treat one another, not because they don’t look like me.”

“Monuments are symbols, and in times of trouble, they prompt symbolic action. They went up as political statements, and they come down as political statements. But it is far easier to topple a monument or change a name than to eradicate racism or counter its long legacy,” said Steve Terry, of El Dorado. “Should the citizens of Germany respect and honor their forefathers, the Nazis? … I understand where individuals are coming from, our history and our personal forefathers are important to us as individuals. But the issue is do we continue to honor those who sought to destroy our country, to honor those who sought to continue to enslave other humans, or do we relegate these monuments which are displayed to honor these people to not a place of honor, but to a place in history. Move the offending monuments to museums where they can be displayed in context.”

Terry noted that any art or creation by a person could be considered offensive, and that he believes its important to make careful consideration when removing, or erecting, monuments in the public square. He said he wants to see statues of the nation’s founding fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson remain standing.

“We must judge these men and women in the context of their society, not ours. Condemn them for their faults, honor them for their service. But never judge them based on 2020 ethics,” Terry said.

“The Confederacy was a treasonous failed rebellion. They lost. When do we celebrate the losing side anywhere else?” said Stephen Harshaw, who was raised in El Dorado and currently lives in Shreveport, La. “The huge majority of these monuments were not erected during or immediately after the Civil War … These monuments were put up to reinforce white supremacy and remind everyone who was in charge in the South. These monuments had/have nothing to do with Southern heritage and culture.”

“Why do we not have monuments of British royalty or fly the British flag? They are a much bigger part of America’s history and heritage than a four-year failed Confederacy,” Harshaw continued. “Robert E. Lee himself was against any monuments to the Confederacy believing that it would only delay the healing and advancement of the American nation. Robert E. Lee didn’t want these monuments! That says it all.”

Opinions included here were emailed to the News-Times; all reader emails sharing their views have been included in the News-Times’ reporting on the issue. Those who would like to share their views are urged to reach out to us at [email protected]. Readers are asked to include their name and city of residence.

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