Statues are usually put up to commemorate someone's good deeds usually ignoring any passed indiscretions and reflect a view of the individual at that time.
Views and perceptions change over time, in my humble opinion, which accounts for sod all, statues should remain and where perceptions change a plaque explaining the good and bad should be affixed, both educating and letting people form their own opinion.
As Dave W and Graham point out the statues issue is very selective, where does it end? The Colosseum, the pyramids, dig up the A2/A5 formerly the Roman road Watling St, anything built by Irish Navvies? More modern history has structures such as the bridge over the river Kwai. Using todays logic it gets pulled down. Sports stadiums being built in preparation for the next World Cup are a current issue.
We are on very thin ice when we are being told what to think rather than being allowed to make our own minds up.
