Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his opposition to the removal of statues honoring Confederate soldiers.
During an episode of the podcast “Timcast IRL,” Kennedy joined Tim Pool at the Libertarian National Convention and expressed his strong emotional response to the removal of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2021.
“I have a strong emotional response to the attacks on those statues,” he expressed passionately. “Growing up in Virginia, I am aware that there were Confederate heroes who did not own slaves. Personally, I strongly oppose the destruction of historical monuments. I believe we should celebrate our history and embrace our identity.”
According to Kennedy, erasing history is not a beneficial or healthy practice for any culture. He believes that the United States should honor and celebrate the positive attributes of every individual.
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. Americans should have the maturity to accept the decisions made by our predecessors, even if they did not align with our current beliefs and actions. It is crucial to acknowledge that our ancestors may have engaged in actions that are now considered immoral or incorrect.
According to Kennedy, the statues may not have been put up solely to commemorate the soldiers’ involvement in the Confederacy. Instead, they could have been erected to honor other admirable qualities. He emphasized that Lee possessed remarkable leadership skills.
During the interview, Pool also questioned Kennedy about his stance on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day. Kennedy expressed his belief that while the United States should not completely eliminate Columbus Day, it is crucial for Americans to acknowledge and honor all individuals, especially Indigenous people, who have endured immense suffering and one of the most devastating genocides in history.
