You're being phony. Not only can I think of several people who were more important than Beauregard in the development of New Orleans, and who aren't so similarly memorialized, but if this statue was supposed to honor Beauregard's civilian contributions then why wasn't he depicted in civilian attire?
Bullshit. For the same reason Lincoln offered him the position of head of the union army. He was thought and later proved to be a great general. He was known to be a leader of reconciliation and revered by many in the north and south. He was a military man all his life and it's fitting he be remembered as one. Your narrow bigoted view blinds you. I guess you feel white guilt and figure we haven't paid enough for our manifold sins.
You're being deliberately blind to the mores of the 19th century. Andrew Jackson was president yet he's memorized as a general. Though I guess you're for pulling his statue down as well.
Well, a statue of Jesus would never be offensive. . . . . . What? You are kidding? Do you really think so? Oh, sorry!
Good lord.... Andrew Jackson is memorialized as a general in Jackson Square BECAUSE HE LED THE MILITARY DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS against the British. Seriously? You get more disingenuous with each post. You think New Orleans memorialized Lee in a Confederate uniform because Lincoln offered him the head of the Union Army? Seriously? Get outta here.... you're just scrambling for excuses.
At the time of the battle of New Orleans the war was over. Neither the British or the American armies knew it though. With today's communications the battle would never have been fought. Even if the British had won and occupied the city they would have had to give it back. Jackson did own slaves, as did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Should the Washington Monument and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial be torn down the way ISIS destroys any historical artifact that doesn't jibe with their 9th century fanaticism? You are being a deliberate troll. Either that or you really are that stupid. You know damn well that Winston never stated nor implied that the people of New Orleans erected a statue of Lee because of anything to do with Lincoln. You have no concept of the mindset of the citizens of the south and most of the rest of the country during that time period. Most people still believed that the United States was an association with the member states for the common good but that the individual states were free to govern themselves as their own citizens saw fit. The USA was viewed as a confederacy of sorts and it naturally followed that the states were free to disassociate themselves from that confederacy if and when their own interests diverged from the prevailing interests of the other states. Part of the reasons for the Civil war was defense of slavery but the bigger issues were economic and the right to freely govern themselves. The people had no belief that the role of a national government was to act as a nanny for everyone from cradle to grave. With that in mind the people in New Orleans chose to honor a man who fought brilliantly and valantly in defense of their right to free will. The fact that Lee's wife was a slaveowner is irrelevant to his conduct as an officer and a gentleman.
You really are whacko. Bet you want to put up a statue of Obama. You know what he did? He proved that no matter how successful a black man becomes he still lives in Gvt Housing. Go play in the traffic troll