The protesting.
Yes many wrongs were commited in the past, some of it not so distant.
Gang masters have been responsible for virtual slavery toward migrant workers fron Europe.
Zero hour contracts, may not be slavery but they have very long reaching consequences.
Statues being toppled, I can understand that in the heat of the moment, but to then tip them into docks where they become a danger No.
How far will it go?
Will direct descendants be strung up?
Will estates and monies be seized?
Will our goverment (such as they are) be thrown out leaving us in chaos. After all the government of the time approved of the Slavers, possibly many members of parliament had their snouts in the trough.
Will Queen Victoria statues be removed, and every Queen Vic or Prince Albert pub be renamed. After all they were in full knowledge of these happenings
Taking it a step further will all blonde haired, blue eyed people have to prove that they are not descendants of Hitlers breeding program.
Yes , it all sounds pretty far fetched. But who could have predicted the recent scens across the world.
My grandfather was in both world wars. His view was that war should never be glorified but that it should also never be forgotten.
History is what it is. To try to sanitise it is morally wrong.
Children, and many adults, need to be able to know what happened. To know that people who are on pedestals for their ability to make vast amounts of money did not do it kindly.
Across the world there are rafts of exceedingly wealthy families. Much of this wealth comes from nefarious sources.
Many such families chose to do good with their wealth. Should they now be vilified, their history wiped from the books. How and why should they be held responsible for the acts of generations ago.
These people were products of their time and they and their acts should never be hidden from view. They should stand as a warning to future money and power greedy generations. These things must not be allowed to resurface, nor anything like them.
Knowledge is power.
Ignorance may be bliss but it can lead to unmentionable wickedness.
That's it. Soapbox away.
Stay safe.
TTFN Pam
PS. no diatribe comments please this is just my reaction to the craziness about me. I learnt about creatures such as Cecil Rhodes at school. I may despise him and his ilk but I want other children to be able to learn as well.
I think it's a feeling shared by so many, we can't change our past, we can learn from it, but sadly not every voice is listened to. Greed and power is inherent in many peoples lives, without any regard of how they get it
ReplyDeleteI have a bronze lion on wheels here, with a bearded human face. Keith bought it on a whim at an Antiques Fair. I fear I am stuck with it now as my research showed it was representing the Beast of Africa - Leopold II . . .
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I was delighted to see a very balanced statement yesterday regarding Gone with the Wind. Here it is with an explanation of the situation.
ReplyDeleteGone with the Wind has been suspended temporarily by the streaming service HBO Max. A representative told Variety: “Gone With The Wind is a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society.
“These depictions are certainly counter to WarnerMedia’s values, so when we return the film to HBO Max, it will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions, but will be presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.
“If we are to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history.”
Let's leave statues on display but put an explanation. As you have said, "Knowledge is power." The spokesperson expressed things very well.
Will they stop showing Who Do You Think You Are? on TV next
ReplyDeleteWe are having the same thing going on here in Canada. I agree we need to learn from history, but sadly many do not.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Violent acts are not the way to protest against violence.
ReplyDelete