Plaque Build Up 

Editor:

Driving down 101 from Eureka's music festival, while breakfasting at the Eel River Café in Garberville, I read about the disputes over removing the McKinley statue ("Long Road to Nowhere on McKinley Vote," Mar. 23). Why not keep the statue but add a plaque that creates a learning opportunity? Mention his alacrity in joining the Union army and if there is evidence he performed heroically in combat, include that, too. But then point out the genocide and racism, mentioning how widespread that was throughout society at the time.

Instead of burying history, learn from it. That plaque might be a whole lot cheaper than moving the statue and think of the generations that will learn something from it.

Don Gibbs, San Francisco