If we are to be honest about what some are attempting to do regarding the Civil War monument, then we must face the reality that there are those who obviously want to punish the past for not measuring up to the standards of today. This is far worse than silly, as it is bordering on mania.

When Islamic extremists become the majority power anywhere in the Middle East, they raze, destroy and obliterate all prior religious symbols, and any other artifacts, or objects which do not directly correspond to their belief systems. The Taliban once destroyed ancient Buddhist carvings on a cliff side with artillery shells as an illustration of this point.

Unfortunately, for a number of years, we have had otherwise good-intentioned people who are dangerously close to imitating this very troubling brand of extremism. Good intentions aside, it is often said that the road to

hell can be paved with good intentions. There have also been books which are no longer on student reading lists because they fail to meet complete and absolute approval. Are these books to be banned and burned next? This was done in Europe in the last century, and was only the prelude to further horrors which were previously unimaginable.

As a young man, my late father knew both Charles Strahan and Harry Castello, who were on opposite sides in the Civil War. Mr. Strahan was a Confederate soldier, and Mr. Castello was a Union soldier of Company D of the 10th Rhode Island Volunteers, who marched in the victory parade in Washington, D.C. in May, 1865. My father knew both of them as honorable and upstanding citizens active in island affairs, and of the highest character. Mr. Strahan and Mr. Castello were both good Americans, and had long since put aside their differences many years before their deaths in 1931 and 1937, respectively.

Hopefully, more reasonable thoughts will prevail concerning the fate of the monument and its plaques.

Michael F. Fontes

West Tisbury