Quote (thundercock @ Jun 11 2020 10:35pm)
I have a feeling that most Americans are not okay with the father of this country being defaced. Using her logic, it would be impossible to venerate ANYONE. But statues that went up specifically to intimidate black people? Yea, those can go and I think most Americans feel the same way.
Out here, I'd say the most influential figure is Father Junipero Serra. He was instrumental in teaching Catholicism to the savage people who once ruled these lands. Anyone who tries to take away his accomplishments should be put to the sword.
Unfortunately the bar for innocence has been set.
This is entirely consistent with how the 1619 project views history. Through those lens, it's probably
necessary that we remove Washington's statue, as he is not only emblematic, but actively complicit in a history of racial oppression.
We can dismiss Washington for the same reason that Netflix has removed Gone with the Wind. It is impossible to venerate history if it does not specifically work to end oppression (specifically and exclusively racial oppression), as to be silent is to be complicit. and by venerating Washington we are actively ignoring or excusing his positions on slavery. This is the natural consequence of approaching history through a retroactive and simplistic moral lens.