There seems to be a fad sweeping the world at the moment to deface or destroy statues/monuments.
To begin with I thought this apparently wanton destruction was akin to book burning and other vandalistic acts performed against reminders of our history. Then I realized that the idea behind it was a lashing out, a protest, at what those items represented.
Throughout human history people have done this
- statues have had eyes and heads and limbs removed, and even ancient Egyptian
hieroglyphics have been defaced.
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| Sir John Seddon was NZ prime minister 1893-1906 - so will no doubt be blamed for something |
Even in our small city there have been calls to remove a statue of the man the city was named after, as he “represents Colonization”. And yet, Captain Hamilton’s only crime seems to have been that he led his men at the Battle of Gate Pa in the Maori Wars. He was following orders and died on the first day of fighting.
The
statue was removed yesterday by the City Council on the grounds that its forced
removal could damage the structural integrity of the underground carpark
beneath it.
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| I wonder if poet Robert Burns can be blamed for something? |
I fail to see what is achieved by all this destruction (history happened and cannot be changed), but I would much rather see a mob attack an inanimate symbol of past history than see them looting and burning and ruining the livelihoods of innocent people, which we have also witnessed lately on our News.
Sometimes I wonder what is happening to our beautiful world.
Margaret.
I could say so much about what is going on in the USA, and how it's spread out to the rest of the world. But I won't because I don't want to buy into all the bullshit that has ensued. It's wrong. End of Story. I loathe people who jump on the bandwagon and make it about them. Horrible, dreary day today outside I must say, but I do love the autumnal colours of my leaves. *smiles*
ReplyDeleteIt has been a gloomy day hasn't it. I love your leaves too, they are so pretty :)
DeleteI have to agree with you . It's wrong and not the way to go about change, but more an 'excuse' for wanton destruction from what I've seen. Very sad.
DeleteI am with you on those thoughts Margaret. There are a lot of things that are happening in protests that I really believe in, especially what they are fighting for, but the means are sometimes questionable like looting and vandalism. Of course they can do that but does it attain something other than that act itself?
ReplyDeleteStay safe dear Margaret!
I am inclined to believe there are protesters who genuinely seek a solution to their cause, but there are also many others just there for the havoc they can create - and, sadly, that never achieves anything.
DeleteI think people are angry, frightened and confused at what has been happening this year; the coronavirus pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and other events out of their control and they are venting their anger, but don't really know where to vent it; if that makes sense. As you say, as long as it's against inanimate objects rather than people and livelihoods. It doesn't make it right and it won't change anything, but I'm sure it will pass and people will resume their normal lives once again
ReplyDeleteMy son tells me history shows normal life is interspersed with violent episodes, and current events will also pass by in their own time and 'normal' lives will continue on again. I think we have to hold onto that thought.
DeleteHistory happened and it cannot be changed, as you say, but does all of it need to be celebrated with monuments? A statue of Robert E. Lee to a black person in the United States would be akin to Germans erecting monuments to Hitler and expecting the descendants of concentration camp survivors to pass by with equanimity. The Holocaust should never be forgotten but to erect statues of its perpetrators on street corners would be an affront to all humanity. That is what has happened in the United States and it is past time to right wrongs.
ReplyDeleteYou have made a good point David, it helps me understand the protesters a little more. I had a lot of trouble finding photos to use in this post as I so seldom photograph statues/monuments, they simply don't appeal to me.
DeleteThe sad fact none of us can escape from, is this should have been sorted decades ago, the toppling of the statue of Colston the slave trader, in Bristol in south west of UK, should have been sorted years ago,it has been spoken about for decades, but the local council sat on their hands. This is the problem, those who have to power do very little to change anything. We can't rewrite history, and we should never forget, but we can change futures, but 'we' don't.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a time of unrest and uncertainty. We learn as we go.
ReplyDeletePeople are very angry and I can understand why they are pulling down those statues. They represent repression and slavery and worse. After lockdown and a continuing pandemic and continuing violence on the streets they are lashing out.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there will be changes for the better. And then something else will come along and this too will go down in history as your son says.
Hope you didn't feel any earthquakes today
LOL no earthquake today!
DeleteThere are always those that try to take advantage of a situation...a lot are truly protesting.
ReplyDeleteHello, I do not understand the looting and destruction. They are hurting their own communities and businesses. I really pray for peace and respect for all. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteImagine what all that pent-up frustration could achieve for society if the energy could be directed into something positive/constructive. In the end the statues are just lumps of rock or metal - we shouldn't be sad to see their destruction if it is a substitute for the sort of destruction that destroys peoples lives, livelihoods and homes. Do you think we are less inclined to memorialize individuals in statues these days?
ReplyDeleteWe don't seem to erect a lot of statues around here - the Councils go more for sculptures and other works of 'art' that are sometimes rather bizarre :)
DeleteIt is a complicated and very vexed issue. Capt Cook's statue in London has been targeted by protestors on the grounds that he was a colonialist amongst other crimes. Without colonialism Australia and New Zealand as we know them would not exist. I shall stop there.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with looting and violence, and some is being perpetrated by subversive elements with in the protesters.
ReplyDeleteI have recently watched a video by a person of colour decrying the current movement - not supporting the police brutality, but rather decrying the fact that this 'movement' comes to a crescendo before the American elections, a claim she supported with a graphic of statistics around it. Also, she was against the 'martyrdom' of black criminals used to mobilize this movement. It was an interesting perspective.
As you say Margaret, this too shall pass, but in the meantime it is hard to watch the wanton destruction of some of our heritage in the name of a protest against 'colonialism'. Sure, it was not perfect, but neither was the society that was here before them - lets say that locally it was a society where violence and warfare were not unknown!
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
From what I understand, we can even add cannibalism into that equation of violence and warfare. That American video would have been interesting.
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