Virgil Early: All have fallen short

Gov. Charles Aycock made significant contributions to North Carolina but also took actions and made statements offensive to 21st century sensitivities (“Just another statue that won’t stand test of time,” Oct. 6 Point of View). The buildings and statues honoring him were for his contributions, not for his racial attitudes.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader who made significant contributions to our country. He was also an adulterer. The countless streets and boulevards named after him were not in celebration of adultery.

Billy Graham would be the first to say that if we intend to honor someone without blemish, leave his name off the list. Those with the goal of cleansing the landscape of symbols of morally imperfect people will leave a barren field indeed.

Here’s what to do. Form a bipartisan search committee. Let’s find someone who is nonjudgmental, tolerant, “I’m OK; you’re OK,” strong but fair. Someone on the “right side of history.” No problem.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Virgil Early: All have fallen short."