In a Different Light

Not only do memorials honor the lives of certain people, but they also tell a narrative of the past, whether it's inspiring or tragic. However, these memorials often only produce specific perspectives that may not uncover the entire history. For instance, the Christopher Columbus Monument presents Columbus as a heroic and brave figure who changed the trajectory of the United States forever. But it forgets to mention that he enslaved the indigenous people of Central and South America and brought them deadly diseases. Similarly, Mount Rushmore encourages praise for four leaders that it believes improved and expanded the nation. However, these 60-foot sculptures don’t tell the story of stolen Native American land by the government, who simply wanted riches.

Although many monuments and memorials inspire reflection, build appreciation, and educate generations who didn’t experience the past, they can easily create ignorance for mistakes in history. The importance of recognizing various perspectives has also been emphasized in the children’s book “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Jon Scieszka. The classic, original tale of the Three Little Pigs involves the Wolf as the villain. However, Scieszka shows the perspective of the Wolf, who is innocent and faces hatred from his three neighbor pigs. Neither story is necessarily wrong, but each obviously perceives the events differently. While a town that hears the classic tale may build a bronze statue honoring the survival of the Three Little Pigs, a town that hears Scieszka's version may build a space for reflection and empathy for the Wolf, who was neglected. Having a full understanding of events prior to memorializing them prevents a false or incomplete presentation of history.