This summer, protestors have been defacing and tearing down statues. In a democracy, we all have the right to protest. But one has the right to ask: Is this the most effective way to communicate your message? Marton Regg Cohn writes:
The tug of war over public statues keeps exposing our blind spots — not just our blinkered view of history, but of democracy in all its complexity.
Unpopular statues, like unpopular governments, ought not to be toppled in a democracy — just put in their place, placed in context, or put in storage.
The latest statue to come down was in Montreal. But, in our small town, there is a statue of Macdonald, outside the public library. The statue has historical significance. Macdonald practiced law in our town pre-Confederation. It has been covered with paint twice this summer and protestors have stood on the sidewalk, demanding that the statue be removed. Cohn writes that:
The controversy over Macdonald is complicated — and in many ways intertwined with the debate over Egerton Ryerson, whose statue at Ryerson University was covered in pink paint by the same protestors this summer. As one scholar looking into Ryerson’s relationship with residential schools noted, his name is “incorrectly linked to the ‘architect’ label;” instead, wrote Sean Carleton, “Macdonald must be understood as its architect.”
And he asks:
Shall we remove the monument to Mahatma Gandhi at Carleton University, given latter-day criticisms of the Indian independence leader for harbouring anti-Black views? What about the monument in Toronto’s Riverdale Park to Sun Yat-sen, the revered leader who brought China into the modern era?
As a high school student, I was taught that Macdonald's role in Confederation was no mean feat. But I was also taught that some of his best speeches were delivered after he had been thoroughly lubricated. There was no halo around his head.
There are many reasons to protest. But decapitating John A.'s head in Montreal accomplishes nothing. One of my favourite anecdotes about Macdonald is about his meeting an opponent on the street. "I will not yield the sidewalk to a liar and a drunk!" said the man.
"But I will!" was Macdonald's response. And he stepped aside.
We would do well to consider that response.
Image: CountyLive.ca
12 comments:
Times change and so do our perceptions of our forbears. It's worth considering why the statute was erected in the first place and by whom. Most of the Confederate statues in the US, for example, were erected by white supremacists to glorify those who fought for their cause. If we find their cause repugnant, there's no reason to tolerate the statues.
Maybe Plutarch was right when he said, "I had rather men should ask why my statue is not set up, than why it is."
Cap
'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.'
There are a number of Iterations of the above and as we observe the actions of various leaders world wide I believe we are well on the road to repeating some of the worst of our past 'mistakes'. Destroying historical reminders of our former influential figures does nothing to eliminate future excesses, a better response to folks concerns would be to update public information shown at such sites to reflect ALL sides of those actions both good and bad.
I agree that we can honour the wrong people, Cap. And there are places for such statues. But the basic problem is that we try to turn the people represented by the statues into saints. Very few of us are saints. And when we tell their stories, we must tell the unsavory parts.
I agree unreservedly, Rural. We deserve the whole story -- not some bowdlerized version of the truth.
Owen, there seems to be a significant element of copycatism is Canada these days. Black lives do matter, but the historical significance of their abuse is not the same in all parts of the country.During my growing up years, in a prominently anglosaxon neighbourhood, there was some racism, but it was mostly unfairly leveled against indigenous people. The level of disrespect was exacerbated by the institutions, politicians, businesses and the media of the day. RG
There is -- beyond a doubt -- systematic racism in Canada, RG. Our treatment of indigenous people has been particularly egregious. But the situation here is far different than it has been in the American South. Having lived there, I can confirm that Nathan Bedford Forest's spiritual children have never disappeared.
One must ask, is it racist if it doesn't bother white people? "People" can not comprehend how "others" are insulted by the mere presence of a statue. I watched "redskins" scroll across my TV for over 40yrs, didn't bother white people at all. Hey, Ron McLean, what did you think of that racist rant? Double thumbs up! In other news, Canada proudly not as racist as the US. 60's scoop Ray,FW were my initials before I was taken from my family and given to a white family to adopt. RH(initials given to me by my white family) F.W.(my original first nation initials)
I see your point, FW. We've been vicious and arrogant in your treatment of First Nations people. Americans have also treated native Americans viciously. They have also treated African Americans abominably. Most importantly, we have to see the record for what it is -- and seek reconciliation.
If I were a racist - and I am not - I would be quite pleased to see demonstrators wasting their energies by attacking statues, something that makes them look a bit mad and with some comic undertones. After all they are attacking a lump of metal representing someone who has long been a pile of dust. A simple letter to an MP attacking someone alive would be more effective. Those dead people are a ship that sailed long ago.
Defunding the police is a most unrealistic goal, especially since they are so eager to demonstrate why we need the police.
I agree there are big problems in how these different groups relate to each other but these demonstrators have not thought out their precise goals or how to attain them effectively.
There is a lot of anger out there, ffd. And angry people tend to lash out indiscriminately.
Hello ffd,
that makes them look a bit mad and with some comic undertones. After all they are "defending" a lunp of metal. Those dead people are a ship that sailed long ago. Funny, I don't picture over 3000 dead,murdered and missing Aboriginal women as sailors. And Mr Gray, I will humbly submit that most of the anger comes from right wing politicians and their supporters. FW(my original First Nation initials before I was taken from my family and given to a white family to adopt)
I agree, that there's a lot of noise from the right-wing, FW. Perhaps it has something to do with the general conservative take on things. They would wish to go backwards. The focus should be on remedying the mistakes of the past -- not on returning to it.
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