I just read some of your comments above...So let me add this as well. 

I don't primarily look at history as some verdict on "winners/losers", nor do I think we develop a particularly deep understanding from adopting such an approach. I am far more of the view that we as humans generally muddle forward and try to do the best we can in grappling with the bigger questions but also with the more mundane. Declaring that we have the answers ("truth"); know the winners/losers; or that their is no purpose of reflecting on history/the good/bad of our past...suggests a totalitarian mindset and leads to the illiberal politics we say today always stuck in the here/now and the winners/losers. I think history is deeply humbling and if anything points out how often the "winners" of the moment turned out to be the losers...

Grossly offensive statues that only represent clear bigotry should be removed - I doubt many would object. But the debate is not about those is it?