There is no easy s*#t

 Yesterday, I outlined the most important-and-urgent issues facing the next administration. Today is only the second day, but I am going to rest a little and look at the less-important and lower-pressure matter of statues. More specifically, what do we do with statues of historical figures whose attitudes, beliefs, and actions would be suspect almost anywhere today.

The first two rules should be pretty easy:

Rule 1.  If the statue is of a person or persons whose main claim to fame is military leadership in an insurrection against the Constitution of the United States, remove the damned thing.  To those who say these are accomplished men (generally) who are part of history, I say, "Right the part of history marked by treason, bigotry, and chattel slavery; take the damned thing down, it's not helping deal with what's still going on.

Rule 2.  If the statue is of a person or persons whose main claim to fame is starting this country or defeating the secessionists and insurrectionists covered in Rule 1, grant some easement.  And remember, you're not perfect either.  Figure out a way to make the monument a learning tool for dealing with what's still going on.

The third rule was a little harder for me to formulate:

Rule 3.   If the statue is of a person who served as President of the United States, it really ought to stay. Even Woodrow Wilson, a damned Democrat. It's a terrible job that you are completely unfit to do, so show some awareness. Again, figure out a way to make the monument a learning tool for dealing with what's still going on. And again remember, you're not perfect either.  

I'm going to stop at three rules because a wise man taught me that once you go past three points, point one goes right out the mental back door and thus what was the most important thing you wanted to say is lost. Confederate generals were traitors, and were much too close to being successful to be worshipped now.

This is what passes for easy stuff for the next administration. None of it is easy. Neither candidate will like having to actually deal with any of this, but they asked for the job.