To feel emotional at the slave trader statue

[Millicent10]

being pulled down earlier.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52954305

This says so much and the symbolism of throwing it in the river is such a suitable ending. Reminds everyone what happened to so many slaves.

Wow, people actually try to justify their racism. Still a long way to go.

@BristolProud - what are you referring to?

The 'illiberal liberal' thing is definitely real. But I'm really, really, really struggling with the idea that it's 'illiberal' to absolutely oppose racism.

BlackKite why are you so insistent on criticising the actions of anti-racists? Why is this your sole contribution to the discussion? Let me take a wild guess...

The OP started this thread to discuss the taking down of the statue. I guess that’s why we’re concentrating on it

But I'm really, really, really struggling with the idea that it's 'illiberal' to absolutely oppose racism.

why are you so insistent on criticising the actions of anti-racists? Why is this your sole contribution to the discussion? Let me take a wild guess...

Wow, slaps forehead - I think RowanTree, you're right.

The OP started this thread to discuss the taking down of the statue. I guess that’s why we’re concentrating on it

Yes, it makes no sense to be discussing the subject of the OP at all.

Glad you found a friend to tag with

Smile I think the irony of your comment is probably lost on you.

I also felt emotional watching it and have watched it a few times since. Considering that the slaves were insured if they were lost at sea but not if they starved so when weather delayed journeys and meant food shortages whole chains of slaves were thrown overboard to drown I feel the statue ending up in the harbour is very symbolic. We can not erase all the racists and slave traders from our history nor tear down everything that has been built by them but it doesn’t mean we have to celebrate them nor should we. It’s disgusting that given previous petitions to have it removed it was still standing.

Better to let the statue stand as a focus for education about the past. Airbrushing history has never turned out well.

But how has having a statue of a slave trader helped?? And who said anything about airbrushing history?

That statue should never have still been standing in any city centre in Modern Britain. If it was to be anywhere it should have been in a museum about the barbaric slave trade. Yes, I'm glad it's in the river now too, best place for it.and like you say met an end just like many slaves did.

Sometimes force is needed to bring about change.
With out force south Africa would still be as it were ,without force slave trade will still be as it was.
Mind you slave trade still exists today.
I'm glad that statue was torn down.Rightly so.

I'm in 2 minds about it ..being honest on one hand it's gone but on the other hand it should of stayed to remind people what he did and the things that happened in past history.

Sorry but the violence this weekend has just hindered their cause.

Only to people who are ALWAYS looking for excuses for a good cause to be 'hindered'.

Peaceful protests have achieved little in the fight for racial equality. Look at Colin Kaepernick's incredibly thoughtful and peaceful form of protest - what did he get? Ostracised and demonised. What the hell else are the oppressed to do when nothing else works? Good riddance to statues, they are vulgar and egotistical. We can learn from history without having a phallic altar to arseholes littering our public sphere.

Hindered their cause? What was the 'cause' again? Oh yes, it was Black Lives Matter. So what exactly are you saying? Think very carefully.

To those of you saying he did so much good - built schools & hospitals etc. - he made his fortune through the slave trade. Trading people's lives, people he saw as expendable, as merely a commodity, enabled him to act as a philanthropist at home.

it should of stayed to remind people what he did and the things that happened in past history

I think it coming down has had more of an impact on educating people and raising awareness to the history than it just still standing up there in the middle of the city?
I mean, I can't be the only one who'd never heard of him before yesterday, and I've been reading about what he did since.
History books and knowledge are still out there for people if they want to learn, why do we need a statue of someone to remember them by?
I can only imagine being black, knowing what he did and having to walk past that every day.
People usually put up statues of people they admire, it's a bit different to "erasing/whitewashing history" which some would like to think.

"I would like to support anti-racism, but this movement along with others are so permeated with half-truths and lack of scrutiny".

Then don't.

Simps!

Downton57

Exactly.

I didn't know there was one until I saw it being tossed into the River . If it was there because of its historical significance. Then why didn't they have one of Hitler to rub salt in our wounds. Democracy does not always work look at the Windrush generation they've been treated appallingly. They were invited here to fill vacancies, they didn't just come here and take jobs from people for half the wages and then be handed the freedom to stay. The same for the 50s ladies they paid in and were not forewarned they would not retire at 60 it was to late for them to make alternative arrangements. They protest peacefully but they will never win because of that reason.

...do we also condone tearing down all the other things in that city that have connotations to that slave owner. The school for example, the stones in the church...where does it end.

Those things are not the same as a statue glorifying a slavetrader. Don't be daft.