Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
George Santayana
ROBERT E LEE
It is notable to see the removal of statues and monuments around the US. Now, as of date, the history on any subject which might shed unbiased light on history is difficult, if not impossible to find.
A great example is Robert E. Lee. Should you look briefly at the articles peppered around the internet, you might find this great historical leader to be a bigot and not understand the progress of the days in which he lived.
When reflecting on a portion of an eloquent letter Lee wrote to his wife , the evolution of his stance on slavery becomes apparent.
We must learn from history, with our eyes wide open… not afraid to ask questions… research… or even change our minds mid stream should we realize the error in our ways. If we pay close attention to the sufferings of those among us, we can continue to change the scope of things to come. It all starts with us and our history is a part of us. For better or worse, it is the substance of our present state and if we are mindful of it (not forgetting our glories and our hardships) we will make progress forward. If we forget it, we are destined to make the same mistakes again, if only from ignorance.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/us/robert-e-lee-slaves.html
Of all the letters by Lee that have been collected by archivists and historians over the years, one of the most famous was written to his wife in 1856. “In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country,” he wrote.
But he added that slavery was “a greater evil to the white man than to the black race” in the United States, and that the “painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction.”