>>I tolerate viewpoints - what I don't tolerate is racism and symbols of it.

Last time you said something like that, I pointed out that Washington's and Jefferson's slave ownership was racist too. You replied that they have other redeeming qualities: in which case Lee also can be a symbol of something other than racism if you let him. Certainly his statue wasn't put up in the first place because he was a racist and nor were the Confederate memorials and statues in DC. That was the point my Charlottesville buddies wanted to make, but were denied the chance because thugs from both sides decided it was all about them.

Sheesh, let the statues come down- all of them as far as I'm concerned. Pull down any statue, obelisk or memorial to anybody who ever owned slaves... but let people have their say first. You've enough divisions without creating more and who knows, people may even change their minds if it's not being forced on them.