Meatloaf had a hit song several years ago titled “I Would Do Anything For Love. (But I Won’t Do That.”)

You may have heard it. If not, look it up on YouTube. It’s a classic that I believe you’ll enjoy.

I’ve thought about that song a lot over the years, especially in the recent weeks. What would I really do for love? Or more to the point, what would I be willing to give up for love?

I can only say what I personally would be willing to do. Every individual has to make that determination for themselves.

I realize that what I am about to share will be controversial. I speak only for myself.

What would I be willing to do for love? For love and peace?

Anyone that knows me knows I’m a history buff. The History Channel is one of my favorites. Most of the things I write about are events from the past that have had an impact on my life. I tend to weave past experiences with current events that are taking place around me. I’m a firm believer that those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. History cannot be changed. Nothing in our past can. Who and what I am is a result of what has happened in the past. I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors. But perhaps we could make a few changes that may alter our future. We can learn from some of our past experiences and use them to move forward.

Now to what has been troubling my mind these days; I’ve watched as people of all races protest against the injustices that have happened in the past and in recent weeks. I must agree with them that something must change if we are to live in harmony and keep our country united. Deep down I believe we are our brothers keeper. We can do better than we’ve been doing. All of us.

As much as I love history I don’t believe we can keep hanging onto some of the things from our past in the same way we’ve been doing. Whatever our ancestors did 150 years ago was important to them at that moment in time. The Civil War ended. It’s over. The dead were honored and most of them were respectfully buried. Thousands of graves with men dressed in blue and grey cover America’s landscape. Monuments and statues were erected. National battlefields were set aside to remind us of what happened. Some people have made and continue to make a lot of money off of a war that ended a century and a half ago. That’s alright with me. I have been to a lot of those historical sites purchased souvenirs and soaked up the history.

But I feel there is a place for all of that. Places set aside where people that enjoy that aspect of the past can go and learn from it.

However, having monuments still sitting in public forums has probably seen its day. We are no longer the same peoples our ancestors were. Most of us have grown intellectually to the point we don’t want our friends of different races to be uncomfortable walking by a piece of history that is hurtful to them. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you like seeing something every day that made you feel uncomfortable, inferior? I don’t think you would.

I’m not talking about the battlefields, museums or cemeteries. I’m referring to the isolated monuments or statues that are still sitting on main streets or in front of courthouses across America.

We don’t have to take a wrecking ball to them and throw them in a scrap heap. Why can’t we relocate them to a more appropriate place where we honor people of the past. Places like national cemeteries or small town cemeteries with veterans of those conflicts rest. Places where we put things that are no longer alive or serve a productive purpose.

We have grown beyond the day where we need to be constantly reminded that our nation was once divided. Keeping reminders of our past division in public forums doesn’t seem to be helping us move on. If it’s offensive to our friends and neighbors do we really want to keep those memories of the past where they must traverse by them every day. I don’t think it’s necessary.

This is just my personal point of view. You are entitled to your own opinion.

Meatloaf’s song, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) really hits home to me concerning this subject. I would do anything for love. And yes, I’d even give up seeing a few old relics from the past that have been sitting around for over a hundred years if it means showing my neighbors I really care about how they feel.

The smoke of cannon fire drifted away with the wind 150 years ago when the war ended and the last shots were fired. Maybe it’s time to clear the air one last time.

Sometimes I wonder, Will there monuments and statues in heaven? War heroes? Politicians? Entertainers? I don’t think so.

Fishermen? Fishers of men monuments? Maybe. I don’t know.

But I do know this much. He gave everything for love. He did do that.

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Rick Algood
June 8, 2020