As a tot travelling around the South from my home (as of the age of four) in Southern California, I marveled at all those Confederate statues. In Newton, NC, three blocks from the first house my wife and I bought stood one and I can't say I ever gave it much thought. If I, as the great-great-great grandson of a Confederate veteran who served in the war's most bloodied NC 26th Regiment, survived Pickett's Charge and was surrendered by Lee at Appomattox knows those statues should never have been erected then it should be clear to everyone that it is past time for them to go.
(Aside: my ancestor had done all that before he met his wife. So, what do you suppose the odds are that I ever was born?)

I've never had any sympathy for the generals, politicians nor the monied slaver class for whom the Confederacy fought. I've completely come 'round on my views of the Confederacy and applaud loudly NASCAR's (of all people) decision to ban the battle flag from their grounds.