Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was born in Clarksburg, VA (now WV), and a statue in his resemblance currently stands on the grounds of the West Virginia Capitol Complex. Though Stonewall certainly was a skilled general, he also certainly was a racist and a traitor to the Union, who attacked his home state at Harpers Ferry. He died before he ever had a chance to attack the newly formed West Virginia.

Bill Withers, on the other hand, was born in Slab Fork, WV, in 1938, and grew up in Beckley. Bill also spent a few years in the military, but the rest of his life has revolved around creating brilliant music. Bill never attacked Harpers Ferry. Bill has only ever made West Virginia greater.

The year is 2020 and it is about damn time that we DO remove monuments to racists and traitors and that we DO replace them with monuments to the celebration of music, arts, science, philosophy. Bill Withers is a perfect example of a West Virginian whose work and image has positively contributed to his home state.

Therefore, we ought to replace the WV Capitol Complex's statue of Stonewall Jackson with a statue of Bill Withers. History will not forget Stonewall Jackson; so let us not fool ourselves into thinking that his memory deserves a plinth. Elevate Bill Withers instead!