Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed opposition to the removal of Confederate monuments, arguing that it is not healthy for any culture to erase its history.
Speaking on the “TimCast IRL” podcast, Kennedy specifically objected to the melting down of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that was removed from Charlottesville in 2021.
“I have a visceral reaction against destroying history,” Kennedy said. “I think we should celebrate our history and learn from it, even the parts that are not so pleasant.”
Kennedy grew up in Virginia, where many heroes of the Confederacy did not own slaves. He also pointed out that the Confederate flag was also used by the Ku Klux Klan, which has been responsible for hate crimes against African Americans.
“But that doesn’t mean that we should erase the history of the Confederacy,” Kennedy said. “We need to remember it so that we can learn from it and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”
Kennedy’s comments come amid a national debate about what to do with Confederate monuments. Some people believe that the monuments should be removed because they represent a racist past, while others believe that they should be preserved as historical artifacts.
Kennedy’s position is that we should not erase our history, but instead learn from it. He believes that we can find ways to commemorate the history of the Confederacy without glorifying racism.
Indigenous People’s Day
Kennedy also spoke about the importance of recognizing the contributions of indigenous people. He believes that we should rename Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day to honor the Native Americans who were here before European settlers arrived.
“We need to make amends for the genocide that was committed against the Native Americans,” Kennedy said. “We can do this by recognizing their history and culture, and by supporting their efforts to preserve their land and way of life.”
Kennedy’s comments on Confederate monuments and Indigenous People’s Day are part of his larger vision for a more just and equitable society. He believes that we need to confront the mistakes of the past in order to build a better future for all Americans.
