You can be one of those people

Published 1:30 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2018

 

On the Daily News’ opinion page, there’s been quite a few mentions of how people feel about the relocation of Confederate monuments in the past few months.

The issue was catapulted into the national spotlight after a clash between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, last August led to arrests and, ultimately, the death of a woman when a man drove a vehicle through a crowd of counter protesters.

Some argue the monuments should be moved to museums — they are part of history, but not necessarily a history that should be celebrated.

Others argue that relocating Confederate monuments is an attempt to delete history altogether.

Most with an opinion are very passionate about the subject.

In North Carolina, the removal of three Confederate monuments on the State Capital grounds is being considered. They would not be put into storage or destroyed. Rather, if the North Carolina Historical Commission proposal is accepted, they will be moved to the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Four Oaks.

The decision is not being made in a vacuum.

“The North Carolina Historical Commission and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources are very interested in hearing what our citizens have to say on this important topic,” Susi H. Hamilton, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said in a press release.

The state is asking for opinions about the matter. After a subcommittee created to study the issue met last week, it was decided to give North Carolinians a voice in the discussion. Those who have an opinion are welcome to express it a couple of different ways: online or via letter.

For all those who have read the back and forth in the Daily News, now’s the chance to have a say. Visit www.ncdcr.gov/comment-relocation-monuments or submit comments through the mail to N.C. Historical Commission Monuments Committee, Attn: Dr. Kevin Cherry, 4610 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699.

This is what government is supposed to do: listen to and abide by the will of the people. You can be one of those people.