Statues are erected to commemorate someone’s achievements. They are there to celebrate the person immortalised in stone/copper/whatever material used.The Robert Milligan statue that was removed, I walked past it often. Barely noticed it or took note of who it was. I think plaques acknowledging history truthfully is what is required. Times were very very different then. No need to vandalise or remove historical figures. It won't erase the past or the hurt people feel.
Would you be happy to take down a statue of jimmy saville and replace it with a plaque? After all, he did a lot for charity...
As you said, you’ve been walked past that statue many times and not noticed. That’s because it didn’t effect you. I’m sure you’d feel different if you had to walk past a statue of hitler every day.
Imagine someone saying “what if we take down the state of hitler and put a plaque on place instead?”
I don’t think you have considered what it is like to be a minority. I’m not trying to shame you. But please try to understand why there is a general outcry to tear these statues down. Your response screams white privilege and I think you would really benefit from some extra reading.
Side note, I am really trying not to be bitchy here. I am a white woman who has faced a lot of hard truths over the last couple weeks, and I am just trying to ask you to perhaps do the same.