Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

This photo was taken in 2014 showing Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee and Stanley Lanier (a Southern Poet) on the facade of Duke Chapel in Durham, NC. Today, the figure of Robert E. Lee has been removed after it was defaced in 2017, as part of the anti-confederate statue craze that swept the south. The statue space is empty and the Board at Duke has decided to leave it that way in perpetuity

“We have also begun the process of respectfully and openly engaging with one another toward building a more inclusive future for our university, nation and the world,” wrote Vincent Price, President of Duke University.

I didn't think much about this until I was reviewing a photo I had taken of my sister standing in front of that facade just this October and noticed an empty space. I want back to my Archives, and sure enough, it was Robert E. Lee that was missing.
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Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Erased from history like the authoritarian regimes of the world.

Susan yamakawa

I’m glad you have the photo ,at least❣️

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I fully understand why there are objections to such statues, but removing them does not change history.

dmc Loc: Montgomery, AL

Bob...I believe you meant 'Sidney' instead of 'Stanley' Lanier. (I went to Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama.)

Removing Robert E. Lee (also a high school in Montgomery !!) was pathetic in my opinion. Whether or not one believes
in his cause is one thing. But the fact that he was great leader of men can not be denied.

By the way....nice picture.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

You're right about the name being Sidney --- I just rechecked my source materials. I never argue with someone who grew up there.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Carol, this reminds me of a memorial obelisk in Saratoga National Monument in northern NY where a statue of Benedict Arnold was removed from a niche that portrayed the American Generals who had fought there. His later treason removed him from the ranks of "honored" Americans.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Where are the statues honoring the great southern war heroes and patriots George Thomas (the "Rock of Chickamaugua") and David Farragut ("damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!")? They fought for their country, the United States of America. They were from the South. Then there was lieutenant general Winfield Scott, Mexican–American War hero, perhaps the most accomplished general in U.S. history. He was from Virginia, and he stayed true to the country during the Civil War.

How about the estimated 100,000 other white southerners who stayed true to the old flag and fought to save the country and against slavery and the planter aristocracy. How about Longstreet? He fought bravely for the Confederacy, but joined the Republican party and advocated reconciliation after the war. His memory was largely erased from the history of the South as a result.

If we want to honor Southerners from the Civil War, why not honor the 150,000 former slaves who fought and died for the nation? Were they not from the South? Were they not brave patriots?

All of those have already been erased from the history of the South. But taking down statues of Lee and other figures associated with the Confederacy from prominent public places, statues that were put up long after the war for the purpose of advancing a violent political agenda? That is a false history that should be removed from any prominent public place.

Mike

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

False history?
Or wrong side history...

Still history.

FrankR Loc: NYC

Rommel and Yamamoto were great leaders of men too. Should we pit up statues of them, they’re also part of history. Lee was no less an enemy of the United States than they were.

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

I think it is unfortunate that the statue of Lee was defaced, removed, and will not be replaced. The same thing has occurred in Canada. Removing the statues does not erase the histories. And it is important to remember.
Nice photo of the statues, Bob.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photo.

Removing statues that are part of our history is sickening. It’s sad what our country is coming to. We cannot deny our past; it is part of us.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Removing the Statue of Robert E. Lee is no different than the destruction of churches and other monuments by ISIS in the middle east. Both are repugnant.

I read the letters of Robert E. Lee and a small book by his servant during the war. There is little doubt that he was an honorable and rather kind man. Lee was the commander at West Point and had many pre-war accomplishments. In the letters is a telling story. Lee received 4 pairs of socks from his wife. He kept none for himself. Instead, he distributed the socks to others including one pair for his negro servant. His servant recorded but nothing but high praise for Lee has a human being in his memoirs.

Lee and his Father-in Law at Arlington House planned to free all the slaves at Arlington prior to the war and were in the process of ensuring each had a trade to make a living. All were freed in 1862. One must take great care to judge men who lived in the past. Many options available to us today were not available.