Another Confederate monument is 'offensive'

Editor:

Has nothing of any significance happened to Columbia County or any of its citizens since the 1860s? Since the Civil War, when right prevailed, have there been no Georgian men and women whose valor and honor is worth celebrating?

If so, why, pray tell, is it necessary to locate at the new county courthouse annex a monument honoring the saddest and most enduring indictment against the South? I agree strongly with Keith Moses (letter, Sept. 1) that remembrance of the Confederacy belongs in a museum of history, not on the grounds of a supposedly forward-moving, innovative county that should be leading the way for the rest of Georgias counties.

Not having yet another Confederate memorial seems a very small price to pay to make the bold statement that Columbia County chooses to move beyond the past and not to further contribute to the great racial divide that still exists in this country. Isnt the ridiculous, time-consuming, money-squandering argument over the state flag enough? Arent there more important issues?

Another monument honoring the losers of a revolution, a quasi-government that (bottom line) tried to legitimize slavery, should be offensive to a lot of people - not just black Americans.

For the record, and because it seems to matter, I am white, female, Christian, conservative, Republican and was born and raised in Georgia.

L. Gilmore

Martinez