Our history is fleeting

Re “California puts Reagan on a pedestal,” April 16

Replacing a statue of an earlier California historical figure in the U.S. Capitol with one of President Reagan might seem trivial, but in fact it says much about our society.

How on earth are we going to have any visible history if, every 50 years or so, we change things? We do it with streets, towns, ships and buildings.

I do not know anything about Thomas Starr King. Of course, I have clear memories of Reagan. I liked him because he was pleasant, but I do not see that he did anything of particular value for the United States or humanity.

Removing a monument to someone many people considered especially worthy is wrong.

William Brady

Reseda

An orator who prevented California from becoming a separate republic during the Civil War; an organizer of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, which provided medical supplies and care to wounded Civil War soldiers; an in-the-trenches churchman who advocated spiritual development through good works ... or a guy who removed financial regulations and is thereby culpable in the greatest worldwide financial turmoil since the Depression?

This doesn’t appear to be a relevant or sensitive replacement. O pioneers! Where have you gone?

Patricia Butler

Los Angeles

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As the great-great-granddaughter of Thomas Starr King, I, along with my family, tried to rally friends, colleagues, historians, Unitarians and others to overturn the results of the campaign to replace his statue with one of Ronald Reagan.

Of course, I feel that there is no comparison between King and Reagan, especially from a historical perspective -- King had a much more powerful influence in and on the state of California. It’s a shame that his story has not been told in most of the state’s elementary, junior and senior high schools. His name graces several.

I have a T-shirt with a photo of me in front of King’s statue in the U.S. Capitol. A caption should read, “My great-great-grandfather proudly stood here for 78 years, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.”

Ginny King Supple

Los Angeles