A well thought-out piece, but the sad fact of the matter is that modern discourse doesn't seem to involve the ability to contextualize.  People seem intent on either suppressing the past outright or adhering to a heavily politicized version of it.  Both are ahistorical, both damaging.

In my view, the Confederate officers who make up the disputed statuary betrayed their oaths to their country in order to assist in preserving an appalling way of life.  Are they historically important? Absolutely. Are they worthy of celebration?  They are not.  

Moving the statues to a museum makes perfect sense and strikes an appropriate balance.