When is right to remove a statue?

When is it right to take down a stature?
Trump says the removal of the confederate statures is wrong.
Does he haves a point?
The statues are in many cases very beautiful works of art that enhance their surroundings and they are historical.
Activists wish to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes from Oxford university are they right?

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

You can't change history. The statues should be left in place to educate, things that happened in the past which should never be repeated.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

I think it's ok when you have a revolution or war and the dictator's statue is toppled. In times of peace it's a bit more complicated.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

It's right when your voice is louder than others, it's right when we are afraid to upset anyone about anything....."Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

- CS Lewis



Whatever you do, says or think it will offend someone. The Thought Police will track you down.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

Removal or boarding to protect them from vandalism or irreparable damage should be a last resort.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

Why is there a need for statues? We are not likely to forget history if they do not exist. No-one will forget Hitler and there is no statue anywhere for him. I have visited Washington DC and there are statues everywhere and I have no clue who they are apart from of course, Lincoln. Just as we do not need a statue of Churchill or Thatcher of even Nelson Mandela. History is sufficient.

Far more memorable is the wall for those killed in Vietnam, and the wonderful memorial for the Korean war - all unkown soldiers.

There is quite enough historical record, so a guy on a horse on a plinth is unnecessary.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

Are we to sanitise history?... Florence Nightingale wasnt a very nice lady by all accounts, I daresay some French people might think Nelson was a murdering swine..But I dont think anyone will be tearing down their statues.

Presenting a rounded and less sugar coated version of the historical figures might be a good place to start but regardless of how we feel these people such as General Robert E Lee shaped history and the way the world is today.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

Watching news now showing people stamping on a toppled statue. A young woman reported killed in incident. A spokesperson says statues are being taken to museum.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

Depends where you are.
In our former colonies statues of Nelson are not really appreciated .
( but they are there in some places)
Ditto George Washington or any one who held slaves.
Indeed Thomas Jefferson who had children with his slave housekeeper has had his statue removed because he has been called by some a 'racist rapist'.
Similarly statues of Cecil Rhodes are not popular in South Africa.

Re: When is right to remove a statue?

Folks always repeat stuff, a few statues don't change anything.