Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, expressed his opposition to the removal of statues that honor Confederate soldiers.
Kennedy appeared as a guest on Tim Pool’s podcast “Timcast IRL” during the Libertarian National Convention. In their conversation, Kennedy expressed a strong emotional response to the removal of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s statue in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2021.
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“I have a strong emotional response to the attacks on those statues,” he expressed. “Growing up in Virginia, I am aware that there were Confederate heroes who did not own slaves. I personally feel a strong aversion to erasing history. I simply do not approve of it. Instead, I believe we should embrace and honor our past.”
Kennedy believes that erasing a culture’s history is neither beneficial nor healthy. He emphasizes the importance of celebrating the positive qualities of all individuals, advocating for a collective appreciation of diversity and inclusivity.
According to the speaker, erasing all of history would be necessary if we were to find individuals who were completely virtuous on every issue.
According to the independent candidate, it is important to recognize that values evolve over time. As Americans, we must be open-minded and understanding of the choices made by our ancestors, even if we do not agree with everything they did. It is essential to acknowledge that what may be considered immoral or wrong now, might have been acceptable or even encouraged in the past.
According to Kennedy, the statues may not have been erected solely to commemorate the soldiers’ involvement in the Confederacy, but perhaps to honor other admirable qualities. He emphasized that Lee possessed remarkable leadership abilities.
During the interview, Pool also questioned Kennedy about his stance on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day. Kennedy expressed his belief that the United States should not entirely eliminate Columbus Day. However, he emphasized the significance of acknowledging all individuals, especially Indigenous people, who endured immense suffering and one of the most devastating genocides in history.
