Tear down monuments to my Confederate ancestor - Rev. Robert Lee - What I've Learnt 

dont hear my grandson complaining

How can any historian want the destruction of historical statues?

Ironically, though he is seen widley as a slaver, was it not true that he detested slavery? Was it not also true that he disagreed with secession? From my understanding, limited as it admittedly is, Robert E. Lee refused the union generalship as he refused to draw his sword against his fellow Virginians.

"He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past". George Orwell "Keep people from their history and they are easily controlled." Karl Marx "History is always written by the winners." Dan Brown

He DID NOT fight FOR slavery.... He FOUGHT for his home state of Virginia. Sad his own ancestors don't know a thing about the man, or his purpose for fighting for the south. He also held an anti-slavery sentiment, though he did take advantage of the laws enabling him to own them

Even if they are moved, why destroy them? Several collectors would pay thousands to hold them in their private collections.

Notice how effeminate all these “men” look.

You can always have your name legally changed

Trump is absolutely right, the statues should remain. This man, the man who is a decendant of Lee himself, look at the statues the wrong way entirely.

Robert E Lee himself said "no monuments" so why are they keeping the monuments?

“Are you related to him?” Well it turns out the answer is no A new report shows he lied about being related to Robert E. Lee, this ended up being quite ironic...

General Robert E. Lee was great but his descendant is a mess and waste

So, it turns out that he isn't even a direct descendant of Robert E Lee. In this matter, I agree with former President Trump, and I'm saying that as someone who voted for a 3rd Party Candidate, in 2020.

Just because he is a descendant... doesn’t mean he can determine what should be done with historical monuments.

This guy is simply not who he is purported to be. To be a grandson, as stated, of the general he would have to be a very old man; all the generals three sons died over 100 years ago. Nor can it be a case of confusion and he is actually the grandson of Robert E Lee Jr (who had no sons). In fact, I cannot figure who he can be, but I would like to know the claimed line of descent before dismissing him as a fantasist (in which case he would share something in common with a lot of people whose first name is Rev.)

I am not southern, I do not support slavery, I am not racist... But I don't see the issue with statues existing because stones do not offend me. Those statues are for the over 600k confederate soldiers who died, they were not built to offend people in 2018 where people are offended by everything. Catholic statues are every where and their bible has such quotes as "Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord."-- this doesn't imply catholics or christians support slavery and it's silly to get offended over. In 1918 we were worried about the flu pandemic...in 2018 we're worried about people being offended by things, as if that gives them certain rights.

Put them at museum

US federal law 85-425 section 410 passed in 1957 states confederate soldiers, sailors and marines are infact US veterans per federal law. Also they were never tried as traitors and were infact pardoned by President James Buchannon on Christmas Day 1868

Doesn't matter whether he was a racist or not. At that time mostly everyone was, the thing that matters is that he was an honorable man and truly was a great strategist.

Even though the Washington Post proved that this man isn't even related to Robert E. Lee, he still clings to the idea that he is and comments on issues surrounding the man's monuments as if his opinion somehow carries more weight than it actually does.

😂😂😂😂 because his names Robert lee everyone asks him, “are you related to him?’ I know a couple of people named Lee an d I’ve never once asked them or thought they’re related to a civil war general.

I have had the honor to be friends with a black man who was born in 1928 he was named after Robert E. Lee and proud of it

What a disgrace to the name

Don't take them down Build more of them

I love Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis. I would love to have both of their monuments in front of my house. Lee also served in Texas and fought in the war with Mexico. He was a graduate of Westpoint. He was a true American hero.

Robert E lee did not want status of the Confederacy or himself erected, but no sir! we love you and we love the Confederacy, both will be remembered.

Democrats are so amusing first they banned their plastic bags now they want to take down their own statues. There's a lot of irony going around.

He loved his state so much he could not betray Virginia. US would not be this country without him. He is a honourable man be proud of him, not the confederation.

Copied from a friend: Just as a personal point of reference, I have Union and Confederate ancestors and I am an Army Brat. I love history and I am a participant in many Civil War living history and memorial events. This post is shared from a friend. A friend of mine from Massachusetts recently asked on Facebook why so many conservatives are so supportive of the Confederate flag and monuments and why the South in general is still so attached to their Confederate heritage, even though they lost. My friend wasn't trying to be combative, but genuinely wanted to know. So here's my response as to why many Southerners still feel as they do. Discussion welcome. Feel free to share. ********* First, many Confederate History Lovers (for purposes of convenience, CHLs henceforth in this post) have spent far more time researching the Civil War and reading about the Southern people than most folks up North have. Most folks up North aren't terribly interested in the war. I know, I lived there for 10+ years and I didn't care much either when I lived there. But when you start researching and reading the "other side" and start reading original diary after original diary, including the post-war narratives, you gain an entirely different perspective. Second, the reason the North isn't as interested in the war is that the war didn't happen on their land, there are few historical sites to bring it to their remembrance, and it didn't affect them historically the way it affected the South. When the war was over, Northern homes and crops were still standing, their economy recovered, and they did not face 12 years of occupation by vicious politicians and a military force. I don't think most Northerners fully understand the impact of the war down here. In some areas of the South it has taken literally 100 years for the economy to recover to its pre-Civil War levels. Third, many CHLs are old enough to remember their grandparents talking about the war. They are old enough to remember the stories of destruction, looting, burning, and even raping. I know people today like this. They know exactly what happened to the family property, they know exactly how poor their grandparents were even several generations after the war because of the destruction, and they know the unspeakable things that happened in their own family at the hands of Northern soldiers. 150 years really isn't a very long time. I have personally met an elderly woman whose father was a Confederate soldier. Time shrinks when you look at it that way. To a Northern millennial, the Civil War was a big fight 150 years ago about slavery. To a 70-year-old Southerner, the Civil War was when Grandma's house was burned down, she lost everything, her father and brothers were killed, and (in some cases) she was raped by a Northern soldier. That's not an exaggeration for many families here. Fourth, along those lines, many Southern families have lived in the same area for generations. The rural South isn't as nomadic as many of the transient Northern cities. So they know exactly where their Civil War ancestor lived, died, and is buried. Many times his grave is in their own town or close by. So again, they still have personal connections to the war. Fifth, many CHLs know that roughly 65%-70% of the South did not own slaves. If you read the original writings, the average soldier was not fighting to preserve slavery. The politicians might have been, but the rank and file soldier was fighting to protect his homeland from an often merciless enemy. While there were many good men in the Union army, some Northern soldiers could be extremely brutal, ruthless, and cruel to civilians. Not all of them were, but many of them were. Southerners appreciate the Confederate soldier because he was fighting to drive out an invading force. Sixth, many Southerners are steeped in the traditions and beliefs of the founders and do not (and did not) believe that secession was treason. If secession was treason, then so was the colonial secession of 1776. It grieves me that many Southern states seceded over slavery, but I absolutely believe they had the right to do so. The very Declaration of Independence spells out that when a people decide the government is no longer meeting their needs, they have the right to dissolve it and create a new one. We can disagree over the reasons and rationale for Southern secession (although a look at the various state ordinances of secession is enlightening--there are many other reasons listed for their secessions beside slavery) but that doesn't mean that they were irrevocably bound by natural law to remain in the Union forever. Seventh, Southerners love an underdog and always have. 😀 Eighth, CHLs are becoming more and more attached to their heritage and the symbols of it because the extremists on the left are working harder and harder to take it away. If the extreme left had more savvy, they'd shut up and let it all fade from people's memory and eventually there might rise up a Southern generation who doesn't care about the monuments and flag anymore. Instead, they have a systematic fight going to erase history and sanitize it and reinterpret it. My master's degree is in Civil War history and I got so SICK of so many pompous Civil War historians prattling patronizingly about "lost cause mythology" without ever once giving the Southern voice an objective ear. Ninth, you gotta hand it to the South that Lee and Jackson were incredible, principled, God-fearing men. You get a few guys like that in the history of your cause and they quickly become larger than life heroes who live on well past a war. Tenth, Reconstruction bred more bitterness in the South than the war. You oughtta read up on it sometime from a Southern perspective. For twelve years, Northern politicians enjoyed grinding an already broken and impoverished people into fine dust. Southerners have long memories. Eleventh, a lot of Southerners have Scottish or Irish roots. The Scots-Irish culture is very big into memorializing the past, reverencing heroes, and being attuned to its heritage. Twelfth, the fact that the Confederacy lost is irrelevant to the people who honor their Confederate heritage. And that's as it should be--one should honor people because of what they do or stand for, not whether or not they triumphed. If the Allies had lost in WWII, I'd still honor my WWII Allied heritage. So hopefully that addresses your confusion about why people care even though they lost. 😀 There, that's a quick overview. I love the monuments and respect the Confederate flag because I respect the Southern soldier for fighting in defense of his native land. I know the names of my Confederate ancestors and have photographs of some of them. To my knowledge, none of them owned slaves. I have records of their military service. I've walked onto battlefields and thought, "My own great-great-great uncle died here." I understand the complicated factors surrounding the war and realize that saying "it was only about slavery" is factually wrong and grossly oversimplified. I oppose attempts to rewrite history and therefore support the monuments and flag, because it tells a side of the story that the Northern victors began suppressing in the 1860s and that many liberals are continuing to suppress today.

he's NOT a descendant! R E Lee is not his ancestor!

He was just one participant in this war. There are millions of other descendants who have a voice in the issue. The guy speaking is speaking only for himself. The Communists are tearing down statues of heros in Canada who had no connection to slavery. This guy is probably a Communist or a Globalist. Communists destroy the past and put their history in it's place. This is only his opinion. His ancestor is probably throwing up in his grave. Most Southerners did not own slaves. Let's talk about Slavery in the North, or how Northern states rented slaves during harvest time. Why did Abe Lincoln marry a slave owners daughter?

what a shame to be related to one of the best if not THE best generals in US history and not being prideful about it (at least openly)

Recently visited Smithsonian and learned more about the civil war and ww2. It was fascinating yet heartbreaking and by having these monuments, we are reminded of the errors of our ancestors. This allows us to better our society. Wash this reminder away and we run the risk of repeating mistakes. Do not tear them down. Tell the full story. We must learn. Not ignore.

Respect and Honour these Confederate statue of noble and great fighting soldiers.As a former Army man myself I salute them and their heroic memory!Johnny Reb ye fought all the way!

You are so much better than most white evangelicals out there .. god bless you !!!

NO HE IS NOT THE GRANDSON OF R.E.LEE..... NOT EVEN CLOSE BLOOD TO R.E.LEE......

You cannot right the wrongs of History. You can only learn from history. Erase history then we are doomed to repeat it!

America's history is intertwined with slavery, just because Lee fought for slavery rather than just owning slaves as many other 'great' american figures did, his extraordinary military and tactical abilities is what the monument is in memory of, not him being a slave owner, same as the likes of Jefferson and Washington. i find it hypocritical for people to want to tear down these statues, if you were going to tear them down then tear down the ones of Jefferson and Washington as well. history is history and by getting rid of the statues it stops us remembering to learn from our mistakes, history isnt PC so if you go and remove important monuments due to a trend i think you are an idiot, you don't see us in Britain tearing down monuments to empire.

This guy is NOT a descendant of Robert E. Lee. I’m a liberal and supporter of the ideas that he is promoting so I’m not against him politically. But, this man is using his similar name to promote himself as a representative of the Robert E Lee family. It’s insane that anyone would offer him a platform without calling him out on this.

Robert E Lee would be ashamed his own descendant can’t even do enough research to understand what the confederacy was about and why Lee choose not to attack his home state

He's related but not a descendant. Time to correct the title. Lots of people are "related".

I'm trash for reading the comments when I knew exactly what they were going to be like

Focusing on the past is a convenient way to not deal with the present.

They should remain!!!!

All proud racists were not happy when the statue came down

Robert E. Lee was not fighting for slavery, but a war of Northern agression.

“IDOLS”?! Did he seriously say idols? I don’t see anyone worshipping these things. Does this mean there can’t be any memorials in history? We can’t have a Washington monument Or Abraham Lincoln monument. This poor guy has been brainwashed

If the monuments are removed, only books remain, then history can be more easily minipulatad. Is this good?

We should create The Civil War Museum National Park & repurpose them.

Well, my ancestor was a Union officer...and I think he'd tell you that you can't unify a warring nation without offering the other side respect.

The reason they tear these down are because people are beginning to slander and worship these statues for what they think they mean,although tearing them down is only a way to prolong the problem instead of adress it head on we look back at the people of the past and blame them for problems of our own creation.but the stautes should be allowed to remain for they are part of history and looking back on history and acknowledging that that was wrong we can move forward and not repeat it but if we forget we come back to the idea that was frowned upon long ago and inevitably repeat history .but the statues should not be worshipped like idols or used for white supremacists because Robert e. Lee had nothing to do with that movement and should not be related to it. He was just a man who fought for what he thought was right for his state and that's all he ever will be. Edit:I might have made a few spelling mistakes.

It should be treated like Native american artifacts. Locked away and buried in a building for no one to see but kept safe and preserved.

why would you be ashamed of your past? Others whose ancestors comitted atrocities do not feel this way.

Should we also tear down the pyramids? The Coluseum? Basically any monument that exist

Did Grant own a slave? Yes. Stop over reacting. Grow up and stop rewriting history just to make you happy.

Trust me this is no descendant of Robert E. Lee. He may share the name but he makes me sick. He needs to read a history book before he speaks.

Why live in a constant state of apology.

He looks like the Minister of Truth... 1984 style

This is all Bs

That is the thing . No one is hating anybody but they want to tear down monuments because they say there racist. We work hard to take care of our families. We are not out there hating . It’s a excuse to take them down. If it’s because the statues are idols we need to take all statues down.

No one knows what happened back then. People act like lying, exaggeration and manipulation are new. Believe it or get emo about it and they got you.

he has no clue what he wants. Apparently, he just found out what the statue was for after it was toppled. Or else, he would have taken it down when he was 5 years old.

I hope this fine gentlemans goodness will inspire others

his mother could have named him anything. I don't want to hear this bs. I want actual evidence this guy is even remotely related to the general because I think this is really bogus.

I stopped listening to pastors. I’ve asked several real world needs for myself to a pastor. I was in a Christian rehab for 14 months and we had written assignments. I asked him after that year I was 28 years old what field in your opinion should I pursue . He said, “ I can’t think of anything but manual labor” I was 28 with no children or commitments. A little late for the ideal college career I look back at that conversation and realized pastors and schoolteachers don’t ever need to see a broad picture. They don’t have a survivalist keen wit yet we approve of them so highly they never notice how to think outside the box

Erasure of history is just stupid

That's dumb. You should not erase your own history because you are the winner

Would you put up a statue of Bin Laden? No i didn't think so.

Robert E Lee was anti slavery for goodness sakes

It must be weird having a famous ancestor.

Lee was incompetent in leadership strategy and tactitionism and was a poor choice for the south

wait isn’t he related to george washington tho

I aspire to be lee because of his boldness and courage

Millennials what a waste

Listen, son. Your ancestors were heroes.

Fighting terrorism since 1861

Oh I'm a good ol rebel, now that's just what I am. For this fair land of "freedom" I do not give a damn! I don't want no pardon for anything I've done. I'm glad we fought against it, I only wish we'd won........

I’m a descendent of Stonewall Jackson and I say leave the statues alone. I’m not a so called white supremacist . I’m a hard working America and I’m proud to be American. My grandmother’s maiden name is Jackson . I’m proud of General Stonewall Jackson!

What about the royal family and their blood diamonds?!

The issue with Lee is different from Washington and Jefferson as despicable as their slave ownership was. Lee was against the great nation of the USA. He SHOULD NOT BE FEATURED IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS AND STATE PARKS. You can wave a confederate flag in your house and private properties can feature confederate statues but federal and state properties of this great nation should not feature rebels and traitors.

Very bright man thank you for your compasion! Those monument needs to be in museum! Replace them with honorable soldiers

I think you're descended with a brave man and a good general in fact he is one of my favorite war heroes and I am from Arkansas and how dare you describe him

I myself, he is a cousin. They need to stay. Good or bad these monuments, tell a story of our history, all of our history! Our ancestors werent perfect and neither are we. Instead of being victimized by something you never lived, teach the history of those who did.

What a disgrace to his family

Bruce Lee?

To this guy I would say, you are judging people on our time standards. In that time both North and South really did not want to fight for or against slavery. Also, would you want to fight against your neighbors or family? Looking across a battlefield and knowing your kin and friends were on the other side? Also, once the war was over, Lee tried his best to unite the two sides. He only had five years or so. I am suggesting we remember that he made a mistake for 4 years, look at the 35 years he served the USA honorably. Also look at what he did after the war. That said, to erase history is to repeat it. This history really does not need repeating

He doesn’t understand general robert e lee was the opposite of a traitor and he was anti-slavery. The only reason he didn’t fight for the union was his loyalty to his home state of Virginia

Why is their never a debate about the American constitution which was created by the rich for the be befit of the rich.

leave history alone these men have left their mark on history witch is more than most of us could say they deserve to commemorated be it for better or for worst leave the statues alone

The US is like Rome having defeated Carthage after the Third Punic War: it didn't stop at defeating the enemy, it needed to destroy it entirely and erase its history. Same thing with Germany after WW2 and Nordstream 2. Same thing with the Confederacy.

If he doesn't want to be associated he should say he isn't easy!Lee was a slave owner fact,as regards to the statues it's surprising how many there are may be should be in a museum!🤔

Interestingly he is also a political descendant of George Washington. He is a direct descendant of Martha Washington the wife of George Washington

I call b.s Robert e lee is related to me. I do not know or have never heard of this guy

He should be proud of his ancestor, everyone else is saying to tear it down because they don't like the fact he owned slaves. Most american's don't like the idea of a monarchy because they had the revolution and celebrate that as a good thing even though having the revolution meant that they were more cruel to the native populations and persisted to have slavery hundreds of years after the empire abolished it all because they weren't under the control of the crown anymore. American's love the revolution that meant they could continue to have slaves But hate the confederacy who wanted to continue to have slaves... Stop letting media manipulate you, the history past was not a history filled with men of virtue versus men of malice, they were all just business men striking out on their own at the cost of anyone who got in the way. One day, people will want to tear down statues of Lincoln because he didn't mind slavery and was willing to let it happen if he could win without the propaganda. www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2013/05/facing-facts-about-lincoln-and-his-views-slavery/ One day people will delete any history of Einstein because he beat his wife. One day people children will say they have no parents because they didn't like how daddy told them off for doing something wrong that one time...

so woke, lets just tear down history.

Wrong wrong wrong don't you great answers Toh you're great and it's a good old slave if he said and I "the reason I have joined the Confederate army is because I cannot draw my sword against my home state of Virginia

Democrats tearing down statues of democrats.. What irony.

Jefferson and Washington founded a great country. What country have you founded lately ?

He dont know his ancestor very well. Lee hated slavery and freed his slaves before the war. Look it up.

He is not a related to Robert e lee . It’s been proven.