"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."– George Santayana
The War Horse, Tessa Pullen, 1997 Richmond Virginia.
Historical events are immutable; however our understanding of them, their context, implications and the motivations of the participants can change over time and through scrutiny. Destroying historical artifacts, manuscripts, and books does a great disservice to future generations and all of mankind.
Erasing the evidence of injustice obliterates the opportunity to learn from it in the future.
America is certainly not perfect. Perfection is, in my opinion, non-existent where humanity is involved; but America IS exceptional and it is imperative that future generations have the opportunity to learn from American history, including the good, bad and indifferent.
Graffiti being removed from the Robert Gould Shaw & 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, Boston Massachusetts.
In the same vein, art does not necessarily have to be pleasing or comfortable to the viewer, and it is a horribly selfish act to destroy art to suit one's own agenda, whether it be photographs by Mapplethorpe or a 19th century bronze statue in Richmond's Monroe park.
If your "peaceful protests against fascism" involve vandalizing property, burning books, destroying art, and historic artifacts, I hate to break it to you but you have become what you say you are against. Instead of inflicting your Kulturkampf on others through violence, why not choose to be a positive addition to your community?
Updated June 14, 2020
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action." Ian Fleming
The defaced statue of abolitionist Mathias Baldwin, Philadelphia.
Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier Of The American Revolution
At this point, it is a great idea to look at historical patterns, and to realize that it appears that the well meaning protests have been co-opted by an attempted Cultural Revolution.
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated... [The American Crisis, by Tomas Paine, 1776]
Decapitated statue of Hans Christian Heg, a Norwegian immigrant, anti slavery politician, and Union Infantry officer who died of his wounds at the Battle of Chickamauga.
"Forward" statue, by Jean Pond Miner, a 1996 bronze copy of the 1893 copper original.
"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated... [The American Crisis, by Tomas Paine, 1776]
Updated June 24, 2020
Woke "protestors" have now destroyed two "offensive" statues in Wisconsin. I suppose they may have been too patriotic for the mob.
Decapitated statue of Hans Christian Heg, a Norwegian immigrant, anti slavery politician, and Union Infantry officer who died of his wounds at the Battle of Chickamauga.
"Forward" statue, by Jean Pond Miner, a 1996 bronze copy of the 1893 copper original.
Jean Pond Miner Wikipedia link: During the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 Miner, along with Helen Farnsworth Mears, was named an artist-in-residence in the Wisconsin Building and at that time produced Forward, a state that was "a symbol of the suffrage movement". The work was cast in bronze by the "women of Wisconsin..."
Jean Pond Miner working on "Forward", 1893
