Claiming that removing statues of historically controversial figures somehow erases history is frankly highly intellectually disingenuous.
Taking down a symbol that for many people represents a dark chapter of oppression and cultural genocide does not for one second erase the past — or even attempt to do so, for that matter. The move merely represents an effort to recognize and reconcile past errors and grievous injustice.
The simple fact remains — figures from Sir John A. Macdonald to generals such as Robert E. Lee who fought for the Confederate Rebels will never be erased from the pages of our history books. At least not for those interested enough to read through them.
Following the death of Stalin, the former Soviet empire was relentlessly ruthless and swift in initiating a period of what has become called De-Stalinization.
Monuments and symbols of the controversial leader — there are those in Russia who to this day still revere the man as the nation’s saviour who unified and modernized the country into a powerful industrialized adversary that repelled Nazi invaders — were felled throughout the former communist block. The former USSR did not wait more than a century to take action, either.
The same goes for Hitler — who is not quite as fondly remembered by most Germans, although even he still stunningly holds support among fringe neo-Nazi organizations who claim he was merely “misrepresented” by the Allied victors.
And yet, no one who is even remotely familiar with history has “forgotten” about Stalin or Hitler or their bloodstained legacies; regardless of the fact there are no statues or symbols publicly celebrating their brutal legacies.
While this is not to be confused by any stretch of the imagination as an attempt to paint Canada’s founding father in the same light as the fascist and communist tyrants, we must nevertheless recognize that Macdonald’s legacy was not all sunshine, rainbows and flowers.
In fact, one would very likely be extremely hard pressed to find any descendants of Indigenous people who suffered at the hands of his government that would celebrate a monument honouring his life’s work, which in large part included systemically annihilating an entire culture and its people, a deplorable policy which numerous subsequent governments pursued for decades.
We should always strive to reconcile and build bridges between peoples, and sometimes, that might mean removing controversial symbols. At best, they belong in museums.
That does not for one second mean we are erasing history, but rather attempting to learn from past mistakes and grow together in the spirit of improving the nation for all.
