A monumental reckoning

Since protests erupted over the death of George Floyd, the range of public monuments removed or vandalized has expanded well beyond those honoring the Confederacy. Criticized as racist or oppressive, statues depicting historic figures from Christopher Columbus to George Washington are now getting a second look. Correspondent Mo Rocca reports.
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[@jtlovescodelyoko]

This is a perfect example why social studies and US history is important

[@icc2010]

JT LovesCodeLyoko i would take the opportunity to evaluate how history is taught in this country. If no one doesnt know their history, why is that? Is it cause no one bothers to do their research? Could it be schools arnt teaching enough? Could they teach another way? It leaves a question.

[@thuff1947]

Accurate history needs to be taught.

[@rosendomarco153]

History is an interpretation of facts! Remember social studies is written by State standards

[@mauritiusdunfagel9473]

You can’t cancel history! Only one aspect of Washington was dishonorable. He helped found a nation! But he also relinquished power at the end of his term when leaders didn’t do such things!

[@chrisfinch8637]

History is meant to be learned and understood, rather than cancelled and put down.

[@honestbusiness1371]

Mauritius Dunfagel ahhh yes. But do you know your history is the question.

[@honestbusiness1371]

Think of it like this, imagine Washington was rapping white women but at that time everyone was rapping white women. Do we ignore it and just put his statue up all over the place?

[@danthomas6587]

@@chrisfinch8637 absolutely! So why is this idea so hard for people to grasp?

[@mauritiusdunfagel9473]

Honest Business Your comment would be more effective if you knew how to spell “raping”.

[@OkaySoThatsHim]

Mo Rocca: “Christopher Columbus, a Brilliant Navigator” (3:00) 🤔: Ummm No...He was so brilliant that he landed in the Caribbean Islands...But he thought he was in India😂🤣😅

[@mikereardonbass]

And that was one of his good qualities.

[@dobbysboggart6883]

He had the courage and faith to sail into the unknown.

[@OkaySoThatsHim]

Dobbys Boggart 🙄Bye Felicia

[@robiking011]

You do know that there were no space satellites back then right? Like how was Christopher Columbus supposed to know he wasn't in India? Europeans didn't know the Caribbean Islands existed. How was Columbus supposed to know he landed there?

[@gstarr3355]

People didn't know how big Asia was, also India didn't refer to the country back then but the whole region

[@evan4672003]

There was an African American that worked on a Confederate ship that was stationed in Charleston harbor. He knew everything about the ship including piloting the ship. One night he got a lot of slaves I'm not sure how many. They casted off and cruised out of the harbor and sailed to I'm thinking Norfolk and got everyone safely out of the South. That is someone that should have a statue built for him.

[@summerreynolds9477]

And that doesn't make it right so take it down

[@fourthgirl]

That was Robert Smalls who took control of the confederate ship The Planter and gathered slaves from different stops. The delivered the ship to the Union in exchange for freedom all aboard.

[@HHH-ye1ro]

“People are complicated. We have to realize that about OURSELVES, and the dead.” Could not be put any better.

[@philathea80]

M Martinez Slavery wasn’t complicated. Treating people with dignity isn’t complicated. Treating people like you want to be treated isn’t complicated.

[@liviadix1433]

Don't go too far. For any reaction there's a counter reaction. George Washington was a.man of it's time. I have not seen in my lifetime a perfect human being. Move forward, make sure mistakes are not repeated. Be wise in the battles you choose to fight. Otherwise you'll lose it all.

[@evan4672003]

It was the way of the times at the times. It's just a fact. But taking Washington's statue down is really crazy. These damn people are wanting to be the ones that chose what statues down. They showed Martin Luther King's statue really wanting his statue to be one of the few that are left standing.

[@markwilson2805]

They had no intention of ever assimilating into the American culture...they waited for years, decades , etc to make their move against all of us in the majority...only good thing is that thank God their abortion rate is 48%...we need to find a way to get it to 90% or more and get rid of this disgusting mistake once and for all.

[@mancal5829]

Even statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary have been defaced.

[@rsoubiea]

Same rules apply, religious icons don’t get preferred treatment.

[@mancal5829]

@D Brick Church property has, in fact, suffered damage (statues, buildings). In any case, something being in a public place doesn't mean anything goes. These are savages.

[@mancal5829]

@@rsoubiea Same rules mean respect. Destruction is not the rule; rather it is breaking it.

[@walterdayrit675]

@Abel D Bunker Sooo...guess that Rocky Balboa statue should be defaced as well? 😂😂😂

[@jameshalsted8016]

Now I'm supposed to think that George Washington was bad for America? If it wasn't for George Washington we wouldn't be watching your wonderful Sunday morning program.

[@unclejoe3397]

Wait til they find out the many many sins of those represented by the Black statues. Fair is fair.

[@BLAISEDAHL96]

2:39 statue of Abraham Lincoln was paid for by freed slaves, FYI

[@chrisfinch8637]

This holiday will have such a different story, this year. I can't even imagine why people would act like this, to have history become removed from so very long ago.

[@mindakahn9964]

Evolve or die. Literally.

[@marystinson7]

@Kimberly Fraizer They’re Trying To REMOVE HISTORY Before America’s Youth Read it & realize They’ve Been Lied To CONTINUALLY By The Democrat Party. If Only Everyone Would Research🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@itsinevartable3207]

@@marystinson7 do your own research too bud, Christopher Columbus didn't even really discover America. Even if we ignore the fact that there were already MILLIONS living there, there were European vikings that made it there before him. You need to stop blindly following everything trump says and take your own advice; do research, have conversations, actually take into account what others are saying.

[@marystinson7]

@@itsinevartable3207 I’ve known that since I was in School When THEY Taught History, The Indians were here 2,500 Years Before that, They were actually the first slaves, to the people today we call LIBERALS!

[@itsinevartable3207]

@@marystinson7 Yes, I know they were the first slaves of the Americas but can you explain to me what mental gymnastics you had to do to land at the conclusion that the liberals of today owned Native Americans as slaves? Because the slavery of Native Americans largely stopped alongside the end of chattel slavery in the south in the mid 19th century, both people enslaved by power and money hungry, horrid people . If anything the enslavement of the Natives is just more reason to tear down statues of people like Columbus because Columbus was the person who started the enslavement of the Native Americans in the first place.

[@tb1534]

The monuments should should reflect today's values???? Well then put up monuments of participation trophies and pacifiers.

[@danielclawson5113]

You are 100% right! The US has raised a generation of spoiled rotten brats/punks that go berserk when they don't get their way.

[@itsinevartable3207]

@@danielclawson5113 Says the people who are whining and going berserk when they can't go outside and get a haircut ;~; or when they find out that their history teachers lied to them and they can't fathom ever being wrong about something so they get angry online about people taking away the pedestal that all of these historical figures stand on and accidentally opening up the very insightful discussion about what we all know.

[@Nick-mc2hy]

"Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana

[@DistrustHumans]

When everyone is a "hero", then no one is a hero.

[@davidstoyanoff]

Only perfect people can be heroes in today's world. And only until the definition of perfection changes again.

[@mauritiusdunfagel9473]

There would be no monuments if everyone was perfect!

[@johndonohoe3778]

So Ona Judge is more important than GW?

[@mabelurena8311]

Why have statues at all?

[@squirehobbs6754]

Tired of this sick crap...

[@billybarnett2846]

You can't just go around destroying stuff. Everybody in history has done something to offend. You can't judge history by today's standards. History exists for us to learn cause if you hide or ignore it there is a chance of repeating the same mistakes again.

[@michaeld.williamsiii9026]

Lots of these monuments are “controversial” nothing heroic about them. When they’ve owned slaves and we’re hardcore racists. So much “history” has also been White-washed and wrapped up in a pretty little ribbon to make it sound “educational and nice” This is my opinion. You want to see the historic monuments put them in a museum and honor “your people” lots of ignorance here and deflections.👎🏽🇺🇸😐 Love that statue of the man tragically murdered while going to vote we should have more progressional monuments going forward...

[@davidstoyanoff]

No statues for my people? Then no statues for your people. Maybe then we'll realize that we are all one people

[@satyr_9]

People who are saying that these historical figures weren't bad people for owning slaves or denying black people an equal status at the founding of this country are being ridiculous. That wasn't just the way things were. White people, white propertied men, the founders of this country knew what they were doing. They knew that owning other people wasn't morally right at the time, and even discussed the possible freedom of black people, but justified it because they were in power and they didn't want to lose that power: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal." The founding fathers were hypocrites, and knew they were hypocrites. To put them on a pedestal and pretend that they never did anything wrong is frankly ahistorical, and that is what these monuments encourage. To say "people were just like that back then" is to not have a full and nuanced understanding of the history of this country because there were people contemporary to figures like George Washington who knew slavery was wrong like John Jay who was also one of the founding fathers. We can't hold people in history to the same antiracist standard of today, but we can hold people in history to the highest moral standards of their day. So when we have accounts from someone like Bartolomé de las Casas, a Dominican priest in the 16th century telling the Spanish king that the encomienda system is wrong, and that the Spanish are committing genocide in the Caribbean of the native peoples, and to turn around and say that Christopher Columbus was not a bad dude, and should be a symbol for Italian-Americans is willful ignorance in the worst way. Like, that's genocide denial, it's as simple as that.To deny this understanding of historical figures does a disservice to the people who had to fight to be treated equally in this country, and to get something as simple as the right to vote. Who lives, who dies and tells your story? The people in the present living today get to decide to be better than this. We should correct the faulty historiographical mythology of our founding fathers because this country is more than moneyed white folk.

[@markwilson2805]

you spent all this time writing this????? LMAO

[@larrysouthern5098]

Hitler and Stalin would love this piece....what's next the Iwo Jima memorial where the soldiers were raising the American flag???..come on... .

[@rr7firefly]

During the French Revolution many statues on Gothic cathedrals were vandalized or destroyed. In November 1793 the cathedral was plundered by anti-Catholic mobs. Almost everything inside was looted aside from its bells.

[@danthomas6587]

Hmmm...sounds vaguely familiar.

[@immobilien]

Very dangerous to take Washungton's statue down. This is a very dangerous time. It leads to all out Civil War....

[@patriciamartin9635]

so they destroyed one of their own monuments dumb

[@nghtwtchmn129]

A BLM-inspired mob in Madison, Wisconsin even toppled and decapitated a statue of Hans Christian Heg last summer. And he was an abolitionist who died fighting for the Union.

[@superdaveozy7863]

I guess these people don't appreciate living in our amazing, developed nation. Where you can get food and gas whenever you want. Water is always available. Founding Fathers were perhaps the most brilliant men to ever exist.

[@BLAISEDAHL96]

Put the confederate statues in a museum. We can still observe and learn from history, without trying to alter it to your liking.

[@edamundson743]

Mo is the best! Let's have a Momonument!!

[@pkattk]

Honestly, we should stop having statues. Don't make idols out of mortal men.

[@Lyon_Cyborg]

Hmm, you have a fair point.

[@aurorithusshadowstar8303]

So what's left to inspire your curiousity of where you came from?

[@Lyon_Cyborg]

@@aurorithusshadowstar8303 history books

[@LiveAboard]

History is History and Historical People were not perfect. What was acceptable in their lifetime but isn't now doesn't take away from the good they did. Leave our History ALONE!!! Learn to find confidence in yourself and forgive our ancients.

[@pdegle]

Terrible interview. What's the credibility of these people being interviewed? No proof of their authority on the topic. @morocca, you have done better work. This isn't.

[@Gruppetstudios]

Leave Mo alone

[@dawnd.5290]

We don't need statues. We need to teach our children about educators, innovators, philosophers, inventors, engineers, peace makers , etc....

[@cherylcarlson3315]

The greatest,most enduring monument is to be remember for what you have done. Ephemeral words endure longer than bronze in human history.

[@JDC352]

Happy Columbus Day!

[@joycedallas4262]

I won't celebrate this day I celebrate indian day

[@marcopolo7604]

@@joycedallas4262 bye Felicia

[@Higgins8]

Joyce Dallas you do you, traitor.

[@TheCristallo83]

Learning history isn't the same as celebrating it. You can learn history without the use of monuments and statues.

[@davidstoyanoff]

Tear them all down and build no more ever

[@galengalbreath1051]

"A brilliant navigator"? Who wrote that line? Shame on you, Mo!

[@katharinesantana7147]

Leave them alone. Education is what needs reformation, schools need to teach all History, including warts and all. ”who gets to be at the top of that History?” - sounds like envy, vengeance, and taking power.

[@raelchai]

contextualize, add a statue of ona judge facing down washington, don't deny or deface.

[@jessicasmith7102]

No, this is art. Make new monuments. It's important to remember history in order to make different choices in the present and future; otherwise history repeats itself. Slavery has ALWAYS existed in some parts of the world; it's important to know that TRUTH.

[@battlefield4andworldofwars36]

Why wasn't a representative or the Sons of Confederate Veterans interviewed for this report?

[@sounderglintiii8691]

ALMOST 220K DEAD! BUT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR THAT FROM THE GOP! GOD REST THEIR SOULS!

[@A.K.Walker-kk4du]

The ghoulish MACABRE history of American white supremacist COLONIALIAL-SETTLER

[@davidpaolinellie8085]

You know it is very sad Martin Luther was a peaceful man of God, who sought liberty and equality for all. The monument to him in Washington looks ironically very Lenin-esque.

[@battlefield4andworldofwars36]

Why wasn't a representative of the United Daughters of the Confederacy interviewed for this report?

[@ShlisaShell]

Time for national growth. Like personal growth only we all _grow_ together whether we realize it or not. Time to move forward and continue to better ourselves. Let's grow together as a nation in unity.

[@markwilson2805]

Quit whining and just leave.

[@AnnaDee-xr1xd]

Its time to heal

[@jaydibernardo4320]

Cancel culture is a double edged sword. I can only imagine 100 years from now the everyday ho-hum things we do, things we say & things we own will be vilified as barbaric & inhumane. Proving once again there are no moral absolutes in a complex world.

[@SteveSmekar-ll6ln]

Black Lives Matter is a Marxist group.

[@aurorithusshadowstar8303]

You can't judge history through modern eyes. Slavery was wrong, Washington knew this, but also an economic necessity at the time to see the revolution through. Tackling slavery along with independence would surely have failed. Washington knew this. If the revolution had failed, Britain would have been in control and had no reason to abolish slavery at all. You have the freedom to suggest taking down monuments of Washington because of Washington. The man earned every statue of his likeness and then some. Try reading original sources instead of just trusting what some professor told you. Washington did. And there are monuments to him everywhere.

[@grayj7441]

People change. I understand the ideas that run theough both sides. But i also believe that people want to do better. What was at one time acceptable, is no longer. We must listen to the will of the people.

[@angelm.bouchard3722]

Ignore the polls and trolls! Vote too big to rig! Vote country over party! Vote too save Democracy In America! Track your ballot! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸Biden/Harris 2020🇺🇸🇺🇸

There’s a reason it’s called history...it’s the past, get rid of it if it is negative history...his-theory of historical memories...No reason to remind us of pain that will reverberate throughout the victim’s life. The American revolution was an escape from the harsh taxation of landlords and the oppression of the Kings and upperclassmen of England; America was also a place to banish criminals from England as well... eg, madam Mal Flanders was banished for her crime. American history has now shown what path the country has chosen when it turned around to do the same thing it has accused someone else of doing as the case in Israelis(Jews ) and Germany 🇩🇪 to subjugate and deprive Palestine and the entire Middle East of basic human rights and self governance by proxy through the Israelis America alliance 🇵🇸 , and the financial support, military support , strategic support of America is an outright HYPOCRISY ,and for America to support and aid in this outright apartheid is unconscionable.

[@youp9546]

Not anti or pro Christopher Columbus but as far as I am concerned he did not "discover" America. He "discovered" the Bahamas and Hispaniola.

[@rosendomarco153]

Columbus intention was not to discover anything. His intention was to discover a faster sea route to Asia.

[@faragar1791]

Cristopher Columbus was NOT a "brilliant navigator". He messed up his mathematical calculations and thought that the earth was half as big as it actually was. From that, he believed that he could sail from Europe to India by crossing the Atlantic ocean. Christopher Columbus basically got lucky. He was fortunate enough to make it all the way to central and south America where he raided native tribes.

[@markwilson2805]

Thank God more and more statues of him are going to be going up everywhere on private land.

[@Higgins8]

yeah, why didn't columbus just use google maps... what an idiot

[@vjr5261]

That’s pretty much it.

[@conradfinos6840]

7:48 that hit me in the feels very very hard.

[@525Lines]

On the big list of problems to fix, this BS about statues doesn't seem to be the most helpful place to start. How about those web pages that do nothing but post videos of black on white violence? There's a few major ones. Shutting those down would be time well spent.

[@nghtwtchmn129]

Should videos of white on black violence also be censored?

[@525Lines]

@@nghtwtchmn129 Right now, I'm talking about taking down the web sites like I described.

[@nghtwtchmn129]

@@525Lines To be clear, you support censorship?

[@525Lines]

@@nghtwtchmn129 In cases where violence against the innocent is extolled, yes. In that case, I do support censorship. If the issue about statues is to stop putting bad guys on pedestals, starting with web pages that do that is a great place to begin.

[@danielclawson5113]

Tearing down and defacing statues. Punks all. Grow up and get a job and do something constructive and productive.

[@kevink.7597]

Jesus did not condemn slavery. He did exactly the opposite. Even his disciples supported slavery in their writings. Yeah, I'm seeing a break-down of social norms that are going way past who did what and when. Let's tear it all down because no one is perfect... Perfect.

[@battlefield4andworldofwars36]

Why wasn't a representative of the Sons of the American Revolution interviewed for this report?

[@suezbell1]

Problem? Solution? Perhaps we could remove ALL statues and sculptures of people from outdoor venues -- limit people sculptures and statues to indoor venues such as private buildings and/or museums. Understand that for that solution to fly, new outdoor sculptures and /or statues of people must also be prohibited --AND -- that would mean the removal of Mt. Rushmore carvings, Stone Mountain (Atlanta) carving in Georgia AND the MLK STATUE, also in Georgia ... downtown ATLANTA. ALL must include ALL or ... NONE -- except, of course, by agreement of the voters in the state in which the statues stand: SO: Cue massive state boycotts.

[@donush9139]

Thank You for The History Lesson. I never New This. Happy Columbus Day.

[@goldenrule4064]

Yeah, a white Jesus.

[@nicholaswilkowski632]

Columbus was rad.

[@michaelmele4888]

Disgusting.

[@EagleRockers]

Take them down, put them in a museum for all to see with a lengthy bio about them for all to read. The times they are a changin'.

[@mc-cc8xl]

Columbus was a brilliant navigator?

[@johnreynolds5407]

I wonder what the Chinese leadership thinks about these arguments.

[@honestbusiness1371]

John Reynolds silly, they don’t care and they don’t have these debates in oppressed countries.

[@markwilson2805]

You mean the Chinese communist party funding all this madness???

[@pinksapphire.2262]

I think that’s where the human being cannot dissect and separate. And I believe that it has worsened. The educational system has failed us with history lessons . that said I didn’t give a crap about it when I was in K through 12. My beautiful wonderful smart aunt taught me to love history . Because of our progression toward wealth and freedom we have developed a notion that everything should be wrapped up neatly by category are tied with a Ribbon.

[@pinksapphire.2262]

And tied with a ribbon.

[@markwilson2805]

Thank God most colleges and universities will be closed and or bankrupt in the next 5 years.

[@thatsminger9433]

This is just silly

[@vjr5261]

The constitution is monument enough. I don’t need to see a memorials all over the place.

[@marystinson7]

Listening to what you’re saying You’re In DIRE Need

[@dianeharvey3951]

No, keep history, come on!

[@Pius-XI]

Well we all know what Lionel Bunch will do lol. He'll just put up black statues

[@carefullbob8136]

Watch, Newsmax,OANN,Sky news Austrialia. Use BING.

[@farrelro]

Everyone wants their 5 minutes, at the expense of history, and the truth.

[@FCm-tq2ho]

Happy Columbus day everyone 👍😁❤️

[@tribemayamex]

if they want to keep the white leaders monuments. built them a history and monument including the left out ones that suffered by them.

[@johnlocke4695]

"Monuments should reflect today's values" yeah, he would know if someone destroys MLK statue in 2050 or something.

[@ascii7085]

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This seems to runs counter to the ideas and behavior of many people now.

[@marge3157]

👎👎👎👎👎

[@FullyAdamatic]

Does every city need an MLK Boulevard? Is that the road to take when I cheat on my wife?

[@danthomas6587]

Dang...truth hurts

[@nghtwtchmn129]

MLK Boulevard is the road to AVOID if you want to stay safe. Just like you don't want your children enrolled in a school named after MLK.

[@markwilson2805]

Abortion clinics are the answer...48% abortion rate is not enough!!

[@ShlisaShell]

It is tough for me to celebrate some of these holidays. My ancestors were living here when the white man saw an uncivilized nation/s and try to fix or help them. It saddens me. My grandmother was found on a box car. Abandoned baby. She was of the Cherokee nation.

[@deborahbrown1615]

It’s part of our history it should not be removed

[@davanmani556]

Oh please, we are just an Independent commonwealth of England. Put the statues of King George.

[@sharpaycutie2]

Whi still celebrates Christopher Columbus day? I been learned in middle school thT he didn't discover America

[@sharpaycutie2]

@keikonei au I thought he landed in the carribeans. And called them Indians.

[@aurorithusshadowstar8303]

Is this the same school that taught you spelling and how to type?

[@paulwarren796]

DAMN IT ! GIVE THEM A TRILLION TO GO TO WEST AFRICA'S COASTLINE . PWW

[@markwilson2805]

They are moving in droves to Ghana...lets help them pack.

[@chitlinsfooyung5959]

Just make the statues small in size...

[@dawnd.5290]

Thank you CBS Sunday Morning. Truth allows for growth!

[@Lyon_Cyborg]

Jesus isn't even perfect. Tear it down.

[@jennyredbeans]

PRESENTISM

[@nancycornett9949]

Excellent!

[@susien7323]

Yep

[@danthomas6587]

It was a different time then.Yes it was wrong. But early America also decimated an entire culture. Almost an entire race of indigenous people were eliminated and even still indigenous people are having to defend what little they have. Why are they not tearing down statues? Personally I think one event in American history far outweighs the other.

[@markwilson2805]

Conquest and conquer soy boy.

[@danthomas6587]

@@markwilson2805 whats with the hostility? Try a nice enema, you'll feel better.

[@carmelcapricorn7701]

I won't.

[@nghtwtchmn129]

WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH.

[@markwilson2805]

Diversity is our biggest weakness

[@Monica-ie6nn]

Having statues of men everywhere is weird anyways

[@debbyjohnson6546]

monumrmts honarably discharged because of dishonor

[@oogrooq]

And Jesus wasn't even real.

[@AnnaDee-xr1xd]

Take it down take it down!!!

[@angelm.bouchard3722]

Ignore the polls and trolls! Vote too big to rig! Vote country over party! Vote too save Democracy In America! Track your ballot! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸Biden/Harris 2020🇺🇸🇺🇸