Current Affairs The Landmarks of Slavery;

[Tubey]

It was erected in 1895, long after he had died and was predominantly paid for by two organisations that have largely completely ignored his role in the slave trade.

Interesting bit on him here:

Renamed and shamed: taking on Britain's slave-trade past, from Colston Hall to Penny Lane

Buildings, streets and statues across Britain commemorate men who may have been philanthropists, but also owned and traded slaves. Now a number of cities are starting to face up to their histories

www.theguardian.com

Which is interesting in itself, no? That the society that erected it cared so little about the way he made his money that they honoured him regardless?

 

[Tipp blue]

you get that Ireland removed get removed the Victoria statue ? I’m my opinion a completely understandable move and any statues of Cromwell in the country wouldn't last long . the black community in this country are British citizens complaining about their oppression in this country . There is absolutely an argument though to have Cromwell statues removed here , given my heritage and identify I would certainly vote to have it gone . .

Yea and that the IRA blew up nelsons column in Dublin, and now parts of Irish history are gone. I am still of the option that all history good and bad needs to be remembered, it's the history of all of us, good and bad has shaped the world into what it is today, and I'm fully aware that in the future what is happening right now will be part of history and in 200 years time people will be learning about this and as far as I can see there will be 2 ways they'll look at it.
1. It's great that they did this these statues of evil people should have been removed.
2. It's a pity they did that, it would be great to be able to see these statues in remembrance of more primitive times.
Plaques at these statues explaining in detail what the person did both bad and good is in my opinion the logical way to go.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

DESTROY THE PYRAMIDS

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

You're comparing iconography of genocidal despots to individual statues. One permeated entire societies and perpetuated a cult of personality, the other didn't.

There's also a time element to it - Germany not revering Hitler in the immediate aftermath of WW2 makes a lot more sense than the Mexicans obliterating El Castillo at Chichen Itza because they are horrified at the idea of human sacrifices.

Colston oversaw a company that lobbed 19,000 slaves over the side into the Atlantic as they had the temerity to get ill from sitting in their own faeces, crammed into a small hold that maximised the return of the traders.

And yet here’s you claiming he didn’t commit genocide.

 

[Tubey]

Colston oversaw a company that lobbed 19,000 slaves over the side into the Atlantic as they had the temerity to get ill from sitting in their own faeces, crammed into a small hold that maximised the return of the traders.

And yet here’s you claiming he didn’t commit genocide.

Here's the difference mate - by the context of his own era, he didn't. He simply traded commodities.

Hitler gassed millions of Jews. In his own era, he was guilty of it.

Again, that bold sentence sums up why you can't grasp this - you cannot and should not apply 2020 sensibilities to 17th century society. Instead you should learn from how society has evolved to the point where we now wouldn't build a statue of him or tolerate what Colston did.

Tearing down statues in a bizarre attempt to say "there, racism's gone now!" is... well, as I say bizarre. Indeed, it's something you'd expect the Tommy Robinsons of this world to do - "there, we've got rid of the statues, will you shut up about racism now, there's no more statues, see? Everythings fine!"

 

[roydo]

It was erected in 1895, long after he had died and was predominantly paid for by two organisations that have largely completely ignored his role in the slave trade.

Interesting bit on him here:

Renamed and shamed: taking on Britain's slave-trade past, from Colston Hall to Penny Lane

Buildings, streets and statues across Britain commemorate men who may have been philanthropists, but also owned and traded slaves. Now a number of cities are starting to face up to their histories

www.theguardian.com

Bloody hell, Bristol has never shied away from the slave trade;we were taught all about it in primary school ffs. Same with tobacco. There was a massive factory for years and years, and the bonded warehouses are still a prominent feature.

Go away.

 

[Tubey]

DESTROY THE PYRAMIDS

You know how you're joking and said that off hand?

British anti-racism protestors call for destruction of Giza Pyramids - Egypt Independent

British anti-racism protestors called for the destruction of Egypt's Giza Pyramids on Sunday, after tearing down a statue of a slave trader in the city of Bristol and throwing it in the Avon river, CNN reported Monday.

www.egyptindependent.com

 

[Jebus_lives]

Which is interesting in itself, no? That the society that erected it cared so little about the way he made his money that they honoured him regardless?

I'm not sure it was society so much as two influential organisations. It does raise a discussion about who owns it as if it's the council and those pulling it down go to court, they would effectively be the ones saying they didn't consent to the property being damaged.

You maintain the rule of law but reputationally its a no win position.

They should've really done more sooner to address the learning available from and framing of the statute.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

You know how you're joking and said that off hand?

British anti-racism protestors call for destruction of Giza Pyramids - Egypt Independent

British anti-racism protestors called for the destruction of Egypt's Giza Pyramids on Sunday, after tearing down a statue of a slave trader in the city of Bristol and throwing it in the Avon river, CNN reported Monday.

www.egyptindependent.com

Wait until people hear how many were murdered building a wall in China that's now celebrated as a tourist attraction.

Don't get me started on this arena in Rome...

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Colston oversaw a company that lobbed 19,000 slaves over the side into the Atlantic as they had the temerity to get ill from sitting in their own faeces, crammed into a small hold that maximised the return of the traders.

And yet here’s you claiming he didn’t commit genocide.

Technicality I know, but that isn't genocide.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Bloody hell, Bristol has never shied away from the slave trade;we were taught all about it in primary school ffs. Same with tobacco. There was a massive factory for years and years, and the bonded warehouses are still a prominent feature.

Go away.

Not quite sure where I've said that. I was sharing it in the context of why it was built and who by.

Surely the points you've raised there just serves to highlight how useful, when framed in the correct way, discussion and learning can be.

Unlike, ironically, your reply to my post.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Here's the difference mate - by the context of his own era, he didn't. He simply traded commodities.

Hitler gassed millions of Jews. In his own era, he was guilty of it.

Again, that bold sentence sums up why you can't grasp this - you cannot and should not apply 2020 sensibilities to 17th century society. Instead you should learn from how society has evolved to the point where we now wouldn't build a statue of him or tolerate what Colston did.

Tearing down statues in a bizarre attempt to say "there, racism's gone now!" is... well, as I say bizarre. Indeed, it's something you'd expect the Tommy Robinsons of this world to do - "there, we've got rid of the statues, will you shut up about racism now, there's no more statues, see? Everythings fine!"

Your moral compass is way off beam here imo. I’m ashamed to admit that until this week I didn’t realise that there’s many thousands of U.K. citizens who bare the slave name apportioned to their fore bearers when landed as slaves. They can therefore only ever trace their background to that point. You ever considered how they might feel seeing statues on the streets of our Cities in 2020, that honour the memory of slave traders? Doesn’t sound like it.

 

[Tipp blue]

That statue wasn’t erected until 175 years after the man’s death, and 60 years after slave trading had been ended. So there’s your context.

And the statue wasn't erected to commemorate his outstanding achievements and dedication to slave trading. You must also consider the context of why it was erected in the first place.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

And the statue wasn't erected to commemorate his outstanding achievements and dedication to slave trading. You must also consider the context of why it was erected in the first place.

Go on then, why was it erected, given that they knew fine well the part he played?

 

[roydo]

Not quite sure where I've said that. I was sharing it in the context of why it was built and who by.

Surely the points you've raised there just serves to highlight how useful, when framed in the correct way, discussion and learning can be.

Unlike, ironically, your reply to my post.

I was referring to the Guardian mate, not you. Inferring Bristol woke up on Monday and realised Edward Colston didnt just trade in silk and cotton.

edit. And you are correct, the wider world now knows, which is good. All it had to do was ask.