ChatterBank1 min ago
I'm No Royalist
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I do abhor the damaging of the statue of our Queen. She had NOTHING to do with what seems to have sparked the protest. I have no doubt she will be horrified at the discovery. But blame cannot be laid with her, who in my view, has been an exemplary monarch.
However, I do see that this was probably an angry reaction to the finding of a mass grave of indigeneous children from the 1800s. Whilst that is absolutely no excuse for criminal damage, I do empathise with the people horrified by such discovery. It has shades of genocide about it. If not genocide, it is probably infanticide on a great scale.
Unfortunately, the whole "let's be angry about the past and try and wipe it out" thing is wrong. We are viewing events of the past through present eyes. This will never work. In the past kids went up chimneys and down mines, women were routinely raped and beaten by their husbands, men could not vote unless they owned land (never mind women) - the world a 100 years ago was different, 200 years more so - etc. As a genealogist, I have spent years trying to see their world (my ancestors) through my eyes. It is difficult.
Toppling statues does nothing - its an empty gesture of anger and futility. Understanding why it happened and ensuring it never happens again is what is needed.
There are some areas of England's past that I cannot be proud of. But I will not apologise. But I will try to understand and learn.
However, I do see that this was probably an angry reaction to the finding of a mass grave of indigeneous children from the 1800s. Whilst that is absolutely no excuse for criminal damage, I do empathise with the people horrified by such discovery. It has shades of genocide about it. If not genocide, it is probably infanticide on a great scale.
Unfortunately, the whole "let's be angry about the past and try and wipe it out" thing is wrong. We are viewing events of the past through present eyes. This will never work. In the past kids went up chimneys and down mines, women were routinely raped and beaten by their husbands, men could not vote unless they owned land (never mind women) - the world a 100 years ago was different, 200 years more so - etc. As a genealogist, I have spent years trying to see their world (my ancestors) through my eyes. It is difficult.
Toppling statues does nothing - its an empty gesture of anger and futility. Understanding why it happened and ensuring it never happens again is what is needed.
There are some areas of England's past that I cannot be proud of. But I will not apologise. But I will try to understand and learn.
JNO, I am just reading about it now and yes, I agree, it did happen on her watch. I had not researched it enough. She is the symbolic head of state and as it happened on her watch I can understand why people are angry and have torn those statues down. Whilst I still do not think tearing down statues is the answer, I cannot call those people morons when faced with the knowledge and the anger at the mass graves of many children.
Indeed, were the Irish to tear down statues of the Pope given the revelations in recent years of abuse in childrens' homes, the infanticide of illegitimate children and the general cruelty to unmarried mothers I would not call them morons.
I do find it strange that objection is taken to the tearing down of monuments but I cannot find a post on here concerning the mass grave of infants.
Indeed, were the Irish to tear down statues of the Pope given the revelations in recent years of abuse in childrens' homes, the infanticide of illegitimate children and the general cruelty to unmarried mothers I would not call them morons.
I do find it strange that objection is taken to the tearing down of monuments but I cannot find a post on here concerning the mass grave of infants.
Barmaid, yes, I agree her position as head of state is symbolic. But then so is pulling down statues (unless people are really upset about what's going to happen to the lead/stone/tin in them).
I have no idea if she's been an exemplary Queen of Canada, but Canadians have every right to think not. The recent discoveries have been appalling, but as you say, people are more upset over dead statues than dead children.
I have no idea if she's been an exemplary Queen of Canada, but Canadians have every right to think not. The recent discoveries have been appalling, but as you say, people are more upset over dead statues than dead children.
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