The city of Victoria, BC has removed a statue of Sir John A. McDonald from the steps of city hall. McDonald was the first PM of Canada and was the person who commissioned the establishment of Indian Residential Schools across the country. First nations' children were removed from their homes and shipped off to these schools at the age of 5 and 6. Many suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse while there. Many died.
Experiments were also run on these children into the effects of starvation. Portions of the students were refused proper nutrition and their decline was studied by doctors and reported to government. The schools were in existence for more than 100 years and have been declared a genocide by the UN and the Canadian government.
A few years ago a Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up. It came up with many recommendations including the history of residential schools becoming a part of school curriculum.
The city of Victoria decided last year that 2018 would be a year of reconciliation. They invited members of local indigenous groups to participate in discussions as to what the city could do to implement some of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations. These people met at city hall and were required to walk past the statue of the man who instituted the residential schools.
It was decided by the discussion group that the statue would be removed. The city removed it without consulting the public which has a lot of people up in arms. There is also the standard "You're trying to rewrite our history!" misinformation campaign in full swing.
To be clear, the statue was a gift to the city and it was not destroyed. It has been put into a city storage facility until such time as public discussions can be held on what should be done with it.
I listened to an interview with the mayor of the city and she made some excellent points:
1- It was a controversial decision and she knew there would be backlash.
2- The public was not consulted because the question wasn't whether the statue should go or stay. The question was "How can we further reconciliation?" and so only indigenous people were asked and one of the answers was to remove the statue, at least while the discussions continue.
3- Reconciliation is an uncomfortable process. People will get angry. People will feel threatened. That is to be expected.
You can listen to a short video interview with the mayor here:
https://globalnews.ca/video/4378437/...cdonald-statue
My own personal view is this: The statue isn't history. In 2015 25% of Canadians didn't know who McDonald was. These statues are no different than the Confederate statues in the Southern US. History isn't being rewritten nor is McDonald being removed from it. History is being broadened to include more perspective on the same events much like what happened at Custer's Last Stand Memorial when the native Americans got to tell their side of the battle.
Anyone have any thoughts on any of this?
Experiments were also run on these children into the effects of starvation. Portions of the students were refused proper nutrition and their decline was studied by doctors and reported to government. The schools were in existence for more than 100 years and have been declared a genocide by the UN and the Canadian government.
A few years ago a Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up. It came up with many recommendations including the history of residential schools becoming a part of school curriculum.
The city of Victoria decided last year that 2018 would be a year of reconciliation. They invited members of local indigenous groups to participate in discussions as to what the city could do to implement some of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations. These people met at city hall and were required to walk past the statue of the man who instituted the residential schools.
It was decided by the discussion group that the statue would be removed. The city removed it without consulting the public which has a lot of people up in arms. There is also the standard "You're trying to rewrite our history!" misinformation campaign in full swing.
To be clear, the statue was a gift to the city and it was not destroyed. It has been put into a city storage facility until such time as public discussions can be held on what should be done with it.
I listened to an interview with the mayor of the city and she made some excellent points:
1- It was a controversial decision and she knew there would be backlash.
2- The public was not consulted because the question wasn't whether the statue should go or stay. The question was "How can we further reconciliation?" and so only indigenous people were asked and one of the answers was to remove the statue, at least while the discussions continue.
3- Reconciliation is an uncomfortable process. People will get angry. People will feel threatened. That is to be expected.
You can listen to a short video interview with the mayor here:
https://globalnews.ca/video/4378437/...cdonald-statue
My own personal view is this: The statue isn't history. In 2015 25% of Canadians didn't know who McDonald was. These statues are no different than the Confederate statues in the Southern US. History isn't being rewritten nor is McDonald being removed from it. History is being broadened to include more perspective on the same events much like what happened at Custer's Last Stand Memorial when the native Americans got to tell their side of the battle.
Anyone have any thoughts on any of this?
via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/2Mv6s2s
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire