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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

So, british mumsnet, how do you feel about statues of Queen Victorian and QEII torn down in Canada?

351 replies

Evangeli · 02/07/2021 23:49

www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57693683

While we're talking about statues, curious to hear opinions on this. Are you shocked, outraged or just "meh"? I feel this is different from the slaver captain who was torn down last year (in Plymouth?) or the military/politician men who have been toppling across Canada- it feels even more iconoclastic?

Personally I'm anti-monarchist, so it's all good to me, but would like to discuss it. fwiw, I grew up in the UK but immigrated to Canada as an adult.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 02/07/2021 23:52

I literally don’t care.

SoMuchForSummerLove · 02/07/2021 23:54

Don't give a shit. I think statues should be chosen as signposts to where we want society to go, not memorials to people who had more than their fair share for no good reason.

TheQueef · 02/07/2021 23:54

First thought?
Price of scrap metal is excellent at the mo.

BathwaterBaby · 02/07/2021 23:55

I can't even imagine anyone caring about this

AlexaShutUp · 02/07/2021 23:55

Meh, they're statues. Nobody was hurt. There are so many more important things to worry about. I really couldn't care less.

HmmmmmmInteresting · 02/07/2021 23:55

Your options are qwhite interesting...'shocked, outraged or meh'. Not expecting anybody to be supportive or happy. Check your bias

saraclara · 02/07/2021 23:56

Don't care at all. Statues are just statues. And Canadians can do what they like with them..

Ickle37 · 02/07/2021 23:56

Monarchist at heart, but who cares. I agree with them. Smashing statues doesnt help, but whatever

plodalong12 · 02/07/2021 23:58

Don't care. It's not a place I personally would like to visit and this hasn't changed my mind on that.

TheSpottedZebra · 02/07/2021 23:59

Not outraged at the statues at all. Outraged at the atrocities that have been waged against indigenous peoples, and understand (as much as i can, as a Brit), the anger.

I'm very pro- peaceful protests and also a bit of a republican, for context.

TheSmallAssassin · 03/07/2021 00:00

Given the cause, and that the residential schools were still in operation until 1998, I think it's a reasonable action.

Evangeli · 03/07/2021 00:00

@HmmmmmmInteresting fair point! I think I used "shocked" and "outraged" for opposing viewpoints, but of course I have my own biases.

I am actually surprised at people saying they don't care, I would have thought there would be more shock/outrage in Britain! at least going by social media here, there are lots of heated opinions.

OP posts:
Fuckingcrustybread · 03/07/2021 00:01

You really don't want to discuss it at all. Go you.

KenAdams · 03/07/2021 00:01

I'm more worried about the masses of dead indigenous children tbh.

HeddaGarbled · 03/07/2021 00:02

I think the protesters are right to be angry and understand why they have targeted these statues.

I also feel that the Queen has had a shit year and would have preferred it if she didn’t have anything else to upset her right now.

3scape · 03/07/2021 00:03

They're statues. It doesn't matter. They're Canadians. I don't think they'd give a fuck what I living in the UK might think.

lockef · 03/07/2021 00:05

I think it's the right thing (although even fewer statues of females is not great) but I would prefer no Monarchy - just keep the palaces and trappings for the tourists and nostalgia.

Wearywithteens · 03/07/2021 00:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

ARudeTerriblePerson · 03/07/2021 00:06

The statue of slave trader Edward Colston was toppled in Bristol. Read up about it. I agree with KenAdams and similar comments. Politics is life and death.

cushioncovers · 03/07/2021 00:06

Don't care.

July2mebabywouldJuly2me · 03/07/2021 00:08

It just seems over dramatic and silly to me. Like they don't care about the dead indigenous children, they just wanted some aggro.

LemonFantaGin · 03/07/2021 00:09

And still the statue gets more recognition that the indigenous children.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 03/07/2021 00:09

Can't get excited about QV. Feels a bit odd at the statue of QE2 because she's alive and has no real power. Also feels like displacement over the people who made the policies that led to those children dying.

Sparklesocks · 03/07/2021 00:10

I don’t care personally. I don’t have any attachments to statues.
Like many others I’m appalled and upset by the discovery of the graves of indigenous children, so I understand why tensions are running high.

Saisong · 03/07/2021 00:11

I'm more outraged at what happened to those poor children. I can barely imagine the anger their First Nations must feel. Toppling a couple of statues hardly figures does it?

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