We have been discussing the destruction of public art and history monuments by mobs who are often allowed to carry out such acts without police intervention, a problem that pre-existed the current protests (here and here and here). It was particularly alarming to see statues defaced or destroyed in London, including (bizarrely) a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The response in London and Paris is strikingly different but, in this tale of two cities, it is London that seems to be surrendering to the hysteria of the moment.
Protesters often faced no intervention in London as they defaced public art and later London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that he would yield to demands to take down statues of imperialist figures and create a commission to “review and improve diversity.” In his statement, Khan said that he no longer wanted to see “statues, road names and public spaces reflect a bygone era.” He declared “The Black Lives Matter protests have rightly brought this to the public’s attention, but it’s important that we take the right steps to work together to bring change and ensure that we can all be proud of our public landscape.” To that end, he said that the city would replace historic statuary with representatives of the black and Asian minority ethnic communities, as well as women, the LGBTQ community and disability groups.
I have previously discussed my love for London and its rich history. As a history nut, walking around London is an overwhelming and inspiring experience. To see the response of Khan to this destruction and his plans to remove historical monuments is terribly distressing. I have long supported adding to historical monuments to bring greater context and diversity. This however seems like a pledge to remove history, literally, from the streets of London.
Over in Paris, the response has been very different from French President Emmanuel Macron who vowed to stand with history and resist efforts to down statues of controversial or colonial-era figures. Macron showed incredible courage in refusing to rewrite the history of France and declared “the republic will not erase any trace, or any name, from its history … it will not take down any statue.” Instead, he insisted that “We should look at all of our history together with lucidity.”
I would not only say lucidity but logic. Paris and London are magnificent examples of the history of civilization, struggling with our best and worst motivations. The public art is a reminder of that history. We should work together to understand it, not rewrite it. Yet as discussed today, we have professors and teachers leading the mob in tearing down monuments and public art.
I have been highly critical of Macron for his anti-free speech efforts. However, he deserves praise for this principled stand, which must be very difficult for him in Paris where mobs have demanded the destruction of public art and monuments.
So there you have it. Two cities and one profile of courage. As Charles Dickens wrote:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
The German government defaced every Nazi swastika off every public building. They do not glorify their Nazi heritage. Regrettably, there are still some Germans who will never forgive the Jews for the Holocaust like many Trumpists who will not forgive blacks for slavery.
If the Children of the Corn in Blackface are allowed to be anarchists, with no punitive action taken against them, what do you think is going to happen??? Anyone??
There is a Brit named Jack who lives in NY and has four wives, all American whom he married legally in four different states. They each have children and collect food stamps and cold welfare. One of the kids wears a tee shirt which says: Jack Wives Matter.
I meant to spell “child” welfare not cold.
This time the channel can’t save the poor, suicidal Brits.
Excellent critiques of the Democrats who want to destroy statues, and history. You give good reasons. Plus the alternative of:
“adding to historical monuments to bring greater context and diversity.”
We need more history, to get closer to a more complete truth.
Not less.
Those who want less history want more people to believe in more lies — with less evidence to show the lies.
Excellent that you point out how you disagree with Macron on some of his anti-free speech junk, but support him on saving history.
Too bad that you’ll be a bigger and bigger target, as honesty becomes a bigger target by the Democrats.
Tho in Europe it’s “Liberals”, or “Labour” in the UK. Same drive in US Democrats.
No, “the Brits” did not destroy a Lincoln statue; it was done by a single idiot, or perhaps a few.
Are you going to be the single idiot who reciprocates in the manner you have described?
“It was particularly alarming to see statues defaced or destroyed in London, including bizarrely a statue of Abraham Lincoln.”
– Professor Turley
_______________
Abraham Lincoln was the criminal who established the communist inflection point in American history. The implementation of the current communist status of America began with Lincoln’s fundamental dictatorial elimination of the slave class and classes in general from American society. Abraham Lincoln backed into the presidency by winning 1860 with 38.9% of the vote and stealing 1864 with insidious military intervention.
Every act of Lincoln and his successors was unconstitutional. Secession, which has occurred throughout world history, is not precluded by the Constitution and is fully constitutional. Lincoln’s denial of secession, brutal, murderous uncivil war, suspension of Habeas Corpus, mass confiscation of private property and the “Reconstruction Amendments” of Lincoln’s successors were all unconstitutional. The “Reconstruction Amendments” were improperly ratified and forced through in an environment of barbarous coercion under the duress of brutal post-war military occupation and intimidation.
Upon the issuance of the emancipation proclamation, the legal status of slaves changed from that of “property” to “illegal alien as the Naturalization Act of 1802 required citizens to be “…free white person(s)…” in turn requiring slaves to be immediately deported.
Lincoln fraternized with communist adherents of Karl Marx who were forced to evade German authorities and immigrated to Illinois. Lincoln espoused the communist principle of a classless society and unleashed it on America.
No nation in history used war to end slavery. Slavery should have been ended through the application of the economic and free market tools of free speech advocacy, boycotts, divestiture, etc.
Lincoln commenced the process of nullification of the “manifest tenor” of the Constitution and the implementation of the principles of the Communist Manifesto extant in America today.
Going back to the Enlightenment The French screwed up their chance when they tried to copy the original Constitutional System. It took the USA a bit longer and so far absent a certain Madame Guillotine and the English waited until they were outvoted in their own country. Must be a lesson in their somewhere such as
Even though the philosophers of that period failed to find the final answer it was solved in the mid 1900’s by a refugee from Russia. By then the French system of screwing things up had taken root big time in the USA so instead of objective thinking to guide moral values we got Schumerist Pelosism
No problem we still cross fingers haven’t seen a Guillotine and the repairs to the false turn of 1909 are being repaired as fast as possible.
What I do not understand is why are these jerks being allowed to destroy public property? Why are the police or the citizens letting this minority of people do this?
Yes there has to be a better way of protecting our public artworks from fanatics
We should destroy states that used to allow slavery, too.
Did that not already happen during the invasion of the Southern Confederates by the Federals?
Let’s just throw up our hands and replace all statues with statues of Stacey Abrams.
Maybe something dynamic, like her doing chin ups in the gym.
“That’s the ticket”, but not to replace, nor remove, place the Abrams statue it beside the statue in question. You will have to pay a ‘pretty penny’ for it .That way we may come to our own conclusions.
Young….LOL…or pole dancing??
Why would Mr. Khan have any regard for UK or London history? Muslims do not generally respect their conquered territory. See, e.g. Barack Obama.
In destroying and/or removing the Confederate statues one must remember that they were put in place mostly in the 20’s to remind Blacks of “their place”. In that context, yes historical but maybe in their own way even worse than the Confederate era. Some perhaps should be placed in a museum with appropriate messaging to explain.
I see too many people overreacting to the reasons why these statues and “works of art” are being torn down. In the case of confederate statues and monuments they really have no place on the public square. A museum perhaps, but tearing them down in no way is erasing history. They will always be in history books. Statues are meant to glorify and glorifying former traitors whose ideals revolves around the right to own people as property was proper.
Please provide a list of those statues that would be appropriate for public display, that way we can create some for the public tastes. Taking down creative artworks without the permission of the artist (Aguste Saint Gaudens is only one of thousands of renown artists) is a criminal offense. Too bad none of the creators or benefactors are still alive. In fact too bad every last veterans who fought for what they believed in are gone too. That would be a most interesting debate if they were still with us!
‘My statue offends you’, well that is your opinion I love the statues, like the way it looks, don’t care what it means. I’m that way, not a politically expedient bone in my body.
Mr.’s Mayor, Governor, Senator wants to score points with a volatile and clamorous throng, well if you would post a letter or put up fact filled signage, and slogans, I would choose to read it. You see I love discourse and debate, we may reach agreement or an impasse. But I love my statues and monuments….especially if you add new ones!
You got your wish then; victory, then all the people in bondage have been released. Yet you need to keep punishing us? We who served in this terrible bloody conflict left 750,000 dead on the battle fields, We reserve the right to honor our war dead and (your war dead) as we need to. All the wives, sisters, mothers and daughters – fathers, sons, uncles and brothers feel a tremendous need to leave some thing behind.
Therefore commissions awarded to craftsmen, stone masons and sculptors to create in their memory such as the statue on the monument was very common. There was no “glory” to be had in this massacre of a generation of young men. This cenotaph was created for those relations and the general public to contemplate, admire and discuss for posterity. The idea for this commemoration was to heal the fractures, remember the horrors and plan a better road for a new American future. Remember these were constructed during the ‘golden age’ of American Public Statuary in remembrance not in ‘politics’. 1880’s to 1930’s.
The physical abuse thereof by reckless disregard in defacement or removal should not be tolerated. When the statue is taken away, what remains in it’s place that previously drew people in (a hope for the future) is an empty dark hole filled with unanswered questions and a lingering despondency as too what and why it was there. What ever happened to clemency or exoneration?
Who doesn’t love a beautiful statue, especially when the arduous handiwork is so superb! apparently someone does not feel that way. I also like to infer my own conclusions about meanings, please do not remove that from me. The rift healing has to continue on.
Thanks for your opinion, but it is of no use whatsoever.
There is this idea of the rule of law. It’s not hard to see how tearing down statues should be frowned upon. I recently inquired about tearing down the local IRS office, but found that to be really frowned upon.
Nice to know you garner the knowledge and authority to decide what is art, and what is not. The fact that these pieces generate strong feelings basically indicate they are legitimate pieces of art. Believe it or not, you don’t have to like them, appreciate them, or even look at them. But they do invite rigorous discussion. I know “discussion” is generally frowned upon in lieu of authoritarian dictates among you types, but there are still some of us who relish spirited debate.
These pieces reflect the human condition, and if you can demonstrate any artwork that is free of weaknesses of such condition, I would be glad to see them.
Take solace, you can always go out and get a deeper connection of your impotent visceral person by taking part in one of the many animalistic mobs in order to realize and soothe your righteous limbic system.
Svelaz, really, you have swallowed hook line and sinker the democratic thought police about destroying one of the most important events in American history – The Civil war and why it was fought, and why a President was assassinated over it. Social media thought police want to remake America into institutional socialism, believing their lives will be better without having to work for it. They just don’t know when YOUR money will run out. The clearly stated goal of Black Lives Matter is to build a grassroots, antiracist movement to defeat capitalism altogether and it’s not going to happen at the ballot box.
BLM says Capitalism is an anti-human system. What the hell does that mean?
Black Lives Matter’s core message is ‘retelling of the American story as one of oppression and racism’.
Total social upheaval, AND “systemic change is the goal of BLM.
The question is are you a part of it or not?
I doubt I want or need ‘appropriate’ messaging from you or anyone else.
Outside (and sometimes within) science and medicine every person rating a statue did something to somebody. Are the Aborigines of Australia the only people who never fought, robbed, raped, displaced other groups? History is a record, however imperfect, of humanity’s convolutions and the progress that followed. Were we to display a realistic statue of a primitive woman in the square, how many of today’s emoters would be indignant over her stooped, dirty and perhaps festering appearance. Whether arrogant conqueror or pitiable victim, the figure on a pedestal is stone-cold dead and serves indispensably as a reminder of the long and violent evolution of ourselves. No one worships the graven image of Jefferson Davis, for example, but all are reminded of the issues and tragedies of that time in American history by the simple expedient of a statue.
Doesn’t the Lee statue in Richmond date from 1890?
Sgtsabai. You must be really well educated. With someone else’s opinion, as you are likely about 100 years old. Since social media and the thought police have said they are ‘journalist’ in order to get favor for their socialist opinion – for which they know oh so little about.
So, pray tell us, how do you know the origins of statues and specifically of those “to remind Blacks of their place”? I went to a junior high school named after Luther Burbank, a great Botanist and Horticulturist. His statue is there to ‘woke’ the ignorant about the contributions of Americans to America!
The Civil War was a terrible time in the US costing about 620,000 lives. What would be your motivation and thought process to do away with the American Civil War story told in oh so many ways – mind you which was fought to get rid of slavery – which the Democrats fought to keep – even to current times!
Why not have statues for people to learn about the history of this country, Hmmmm?
I think you are a fool, but then again you must be a journalist!
Londonstan is no longer part of England. It’s Lord Mayor is a joke.
If he can make sad, fascist pricks with daddy issues laugh, then being a joker is worth it, I say.
You’re a Brit you’re a Brit..
You’re a dork all the way!
From your first stupid queen..
To your last lying ways!
Are you five years old?
Anonymous – he would have to be at least high school, that is where they do West Side Story. 😉
Paul C ….I think I’ve asked this, but did you see the Hamish MacBeth episode where his community theater tries to put on a production of West Side Story? Classic!
Cindy Bragg – I have watched Hamish MacBeth, however I do not remember that particular episode. It is now on AcornTV so I can watch it again.
The ‘Burghers of Calais’ in London is perhaps the best representation of heroism, colonialism, despotism, war, human atrocities, etc. The Burghers were going to sacrifice themselves to save the inhabitants of besieged Calais. The people were suffering in those times because of the egos of kings. The victor was to have his spoils and victory in hanging the Burghers. But, the victor recognized the sacrifice and let them live. The good and bad are represented. No statue should be biased in anyway. Statues of slaves representing their misery should accompany any statues representing the Confederacy. And so on. Res ipsa loquitur.
Yes there are several public outdoor copies of “The Burgers” sculpted by Rodin. It is not easy to look at. The Burgers are in chains and ropes on their way to a miserable but sacrificial death. Thanks for elaborating on those statues. The idea of placement of ‘counter viewpoint sculptures is prescient and should be done. The holdback is that it is exquisitely difficult to imagine then create then place works like this in a public sphere. I am certain money would flow in like a tsunami from certain sources for a project like the one you just mentioned. And that would be the most appropriate response.
Frank George McCarthy-Olivia – there is a copy of The Burgesses in LA at the Norton Simon Museum.
The Brits destroyed a Lincoln statue. Let us destroy all photos, icons, etc of the old queeny and her husband weeny.