In response to Carol Pomeroy’s “My Turn” published Thursday (“Moving ‘Fame’ could satisfy both sides”), please tell me why we continue to live in the past.  History is history and, no matter how discuss it, there is nothing we can do to change it. It reminds me of a wound that has scarred and that we keep rubbing and scratching until it bleeds again.

Yes, there were atrocities with slaves 100 years ago in the South and the North. Are you going to throw paint on the Lincoln Memorial or tear it down because it reminds us of that time in history? Do we burn our flags? Do we take a knee because we are offended? This is our history. I can list many occurrences in history that break my heart.

We look to the future and, as a recent writer who wanted an apology from our city for the part our ancestors played in a lynching of black men in Salisbury said, “We must learn from the past.” I definitely agree.

But, why do we keep pouring pure alcohol, a volatile liquid, on this irritated wound? If the healing has not taken place in over 100 years, why would moving one monument be the cure? I look at those who say a statue offends them and wonder if it offends them that people are murdered in drive-by shootings, in our churches and schools as well as that 25% of children in our schools live in poverty? That offends me.  Don’t you think we all could find a better challenge and more meaningful cause than moving a monument?

God is not in the past.  He is alive and here today. Only with his help and by his grace will we be able to forgive and love our neighbors.

Let’s talk about that.

— Sara Hill

Salisbury