聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Sir John A. Macdonald is considered the founding father of Canada: he united Upper and Lower Canada along with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to consolidate into a single country and after doing that became the country鈥檚 first Prime Minister.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There is narrative currently focused on the removal of the statue considering his involvement in colonialism and residential schools. In Saskatchewan two groups, Colonialism No More and Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism, were/are looking to have the Macdonald statue 鈥� at Victoria Park 鈥� removed. In Ontario the Elementary Teachers鈥� Federation passed a motion to 鈥渆xamine and rename schools and buildings named after Sir John A. Macdonald.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The focus on the statue comes after the Charlottesville rally regarding the Confederate military leader Robert E. Lee. Although the protest in Regina is to remove a statue, while the one in Charlottesville was apparently 鈥� they had no pamphlets or information on saving the statue, so I don鈥檛 know if that鈥檚 necessarily their true reasons of being there 鈥� to protest its removal the same questions come to mind: why do we erect statues and what does it mean when they鈥檙e taken down?
Statues have been around for the past 30,000 years and were created by numerous cultures around the world. Years after they鈥檙e created they may cause discussion like the Moai 鈥� the Easter Island human figures, which when first discovered were thought to be heads, but upon excavation-included bodies.
Overtime it can be difficult to know exactly what a statue is meant to symbolize, but the statues that have been erected in the past 100 to 200 years are still quite well known.
Statues are built as an effigy to an influential person or to commemorate a historical event. In American history, General Lee, is quite a prominent figure as he fought for the 麻豆视频 during the Civil War 鈥� a time when brother fought brother and families were divided based on what they believed was right. Looking at the battles he won, General Lee was a great military strategist until his surrender.
Paul McIntire, the man who commissioned the statue of General Lee in Charlottesville in the early 1900s also financed a George Clark statue who served in the American Revolutionary War, a 鈥淪tonewall鈥� Jackson statue 鈥� another Confederate general, and a statue of Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea.
So, although the Civil War isn鈥檛 the most positive historical event, it is a major event of the United States and the statue marks this time period. More importantly than having a statue, is what the teachings are surrounding the statue.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This is similar in a sense to Macdonald as although there is controversy, it was a different time. Today we are much more tolerant in society than what we once were. Colonialism was a part of the time period and there鈥檚 lots of countries/people that have done great things, but also have black marks if we attribute our current standards to them.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Although George Washington the first President of the United States is a forefather of the USA, he once owned slaves 鈥� and although in his will he left directions for the emancipation of his slaves, he was a slave owner.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Does that, a product of the time, mean that statues in his honour should also be removed?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I think statues of the past should be left, they create discussion, and teachings surrounding the person or event can be fleshed out fully. They serve as a reminder of our history.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In certain instances, like when Sadam Hussein鈥檚 statue was toppled in Iraq, there were more semblances to it because it was a country tearing down tyranny. Since then there鈥檚 been mixed feelings, however, and one individual - 鈥� who helped tear it downtold the BBC in 2016: "When I go past that statue, I feel pain and shame. I ask myself, why did I topple this statue. I'd like to put it back up, to rebuild it. I'd put it back up but I'm afraid I would be killed"
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, what is right? Can statues be left as symbols to learn from even if they鈥檙e controversial figures?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Prime Minister Trudeau said there鈥檇 be no renaming or removing John A. Macdonald statues and I do agree with this, as good or bad 鈥� it creates discussion.
