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In the past, I鈥檝e tried to understand听and 别虫辫濒补颈苍听the reasons why听there are听Confederate monuments in the Northwest.听

I have also argued听in writing听at听MyNorthwest听and on the听成人X站 Radio听airwaves —听some might say 鈥渞ationalized鈥�听—听in favor of leaving Confederate monuments in place as a听guarantee听of never forgetting the most听deadly听and destructive periods听in American history.听

As听former deputy director of MOHAI听and听a听one-time King County Park System employee,听I鈥檝e argued for 鈥渞e-interpreting鈥� those monuments听right where they stand, often in public parks. This would mean听creating and displaying听new information, installed right alongside,听that puts the person or event being commemorated听by the monument听into a more modern context.听

This re-interpretation, in my mind, might have included going so far as to build a 鈥渏ail cell鈥� around the statue of person, or听even听completely enclosing听the monument, other than for a few small viewing areas, to听force the viewer to read the new interpretation听(maybe through glass, with the information printed over听the听viewing portion).听

While these re-interpretations would听still听be my preferred action, my thinking has evolved over the past several days of living in America听during听the听pandemic, and in the wake of听the death of George Floyd — yet another law enforcement听murder of an African-American man.听

Based on history and reality, I can no longer argue for preserving these monuments in place, especially on public land. If a community wishes to take听a Confederate monument听down, I no longer object.听This is clearly a time when the old attitudes 鈥� including my own 鈥� are in need of new thinking and new action.听

I still vividly remember a monument鈥檚 removal a few years ago somewhere in the American South. The empty stone plinth, where a Confederate figure had once stood, was a powerful visual argument for partial removal 鈥� take the statue, leave the base 鈥� as a form of new interpretation.

The image of the empty plinth has stayed with me, and I know it was then that I first began to really question my stated beliefs in re-interpretation听rather than removal.听

Confederate monuments on private land are a different matter, of course. In Seattle, the most well-known of these monuments is probably the Robert E. Lee Memorial听in Lake View Cemetery.

I would urge the operators of that cemetery to consider creation of a sincere and thoughtful community process to address the future of that monument.听听

I once believed听that听putting such monuments in museums meant听that听no one would see them,听and听that听opportunities听would be missed for displaying history where it can be seen听and experienced听every day. It鈥檚 clear to me now that a听museum is exactly where they belong.听

I know I can count on my colleagues in the media, museum, history and education sectors to find new ways to keep telling the important stories of America鈥檚 inspiring and听troubling past.听

You can hear Feliks every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle鈥檚 Morning News and read more from him鈥�here. If you have a story idea, please email Feliks鈥�here.听