There is much debate over the removal of Confederate statues and paraphernalia. The usual argument made against the removal is that removing these monuments would erase part of our history. Yes, that was part of our history...but so is this. I argue that leaving these monuments in a position of honor allows us to willfully ignore the past which is just as bad as forgetting, if not worse. My proposed solution is to move all Confederate statues and paraphernalia, statues that are offensive to the indigenous peoples of this land, and whatever else is deemed appropriate to a designated museum for American atrocities. This museum would both allow us to keep our history from being erased as well as force us to face this history head on. 

 We claim that America is a melting pot. That all are welcome and free here. That everyone is equal. We cannot expect people to believe these claims while surrounded by monuments erected to honor the people and events that betrayed these very ideals. It is imperative that what we choose to honor in our society is that which bring healing, comfort, and warmth. We must only celebrate that which brings justice and equity. We can no longer memorialize these people and events that brought destruction and pain if we want to claim, truly, that the attitudes they represent are a thing of the past.