Having a statue made of you has to be one of the biggest honors in the world — not only is it a physical place for your fans, supporters, and loved ones to go pay tribute to you, but it’s also a long lasting physical indicator of the legacy you’ve left behind you.
Not everyone who has a statue deserves one, however.
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There has recently been a lot of talk about replacing statues in the United States that celebrate historical figures who contributed to racism.
In Tennessee in particular, there has been a huge push to replace statues of Confederate generals and other statues of similar nature (like the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a general and a leader of the Ku Klux Klan) with more modern and respectable figures.
A change.org petition to replace such statues with a monument to country music legend Dolly Parton has already amassed over 5000 signatures.
“Let’s replace the statues of men who sought to tear this country apart with a monument to the woman who has worked her entire life to bring us closer together,” writes the petition’s creator, Alex Parsons, on the website.
“Dolly Parton has given more to this country and this state than those confederate officers could ever have hoped to take away.”
There are some unlikely supporters of this move, including Senator Ted Cruz.
“Now this seems worthwhile: replace statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest—former delegate to 1860 Democrat National Convention, vicious slave trader & the founder of the KKK—with the great Dolly Parton. A win-win!” Cruz tweeted .
Tennessee politician Jeremy Faison is also on board, suggesting Dolly Parton to replace the statues himself.
“If we want to preserve history, then let’s tell it the right way. Right now there are eight alcoves (in the Capitol). Seven are filled with white men,” Faison said .
“How about getting a lady in there? My daughter is 16, and I would love for her to come into the Capitol and see a lady up there.”
“What’s wrong with someone like Dolly Parton being put in that alcove?”
Honestly, I am all on board for any statue of Dolly Parton in pretty much any location. If you’re on board, you can sign the petition right here .
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
