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"The only true free-thinker is he whose intellect is as much free from the future as from the past. He cares as little for what will be as for what has been; he cares only for what ought to be." GK Chesterton - What's Wrong With the World
We get that it's a part of this country's history....the problem is...is that the naming of streets, embracing the stars and bars, and creation of statues for public display "honors" them as some form of patriotism, respect and gallantry, when the confederacy is completely void of anything patriotic, gallant or respectable.
It's a dirty part of US history that cannot be erased...true...but keep that kind of stuff to be learned from in museums and history books as opposed to public display for being normalized and acceptable.
Some things can be works of art regardless of their subject. Nude paintings and sculptures aren't generally seen as obscene. But it would probably depend on a few things, such as: is it primarily artistic, or is it primarily a piece of reverence for that being depicted?
It could be plausibly argued that ALL societies were built -- to a degree -- on racism, oppression and atrocities. Just because the victims didn't get to write the histories, does not make this less true.
We are all guilty of having benefitted from the oppression of others. Isn't it time to acknowledge this fact, eschew the holier-than-thou attitude that currently informs part of the debate, and move on with a sense of contrition and humility?
There is no other rational path. The alternative is endless recrimination, hatred, and violence.
"Plausibly argued?" Not much of a stretch there if you ask me...
Nothing you are explaining really addresses what sorts of symbols are acceptable for public display, and/or the controversy about what can stay and what needs to go. I doubt anyone doesn't know our society is built on the back of many a wrong doing, whether we go back to taking the land from the Indians, from the Mexicans or slavery all the way back to the beginning. No one is debating that truth that I am aware about...
Oh it did something. For starters, it didn't GLORIFY OR DEIFY those who espoused that disgusting ideology. The vast majority of Germans today are repulsed by neo Nazi ridiculousness.
MOST AMERICANS are repulsed by neo Nazis. How many do you think there are in the U.S. Not many at al, it is an infinitesimally small movement, as is the KKK. Nobody in the U.S. glorifies them.
"The only true free-thinker is he whose intellect is as much free from the future as from the past. He cares as little for what will be as for what has been; he cares only for what ought to be." GK Chesterton - What's Wrong With the World
"We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
Some things can be works of art regardless of their subject. Nude paintings and sculptures aren't generally seen as obscene. But it would probably depend on a few things, such as: is it primarily artistic, or is it primarily a piece of reverence for that being depicted?
I wish it were that simple when it comes to confederate "art," but I'm afraid it isn't...
MOST AMERICANS are repulsed by neo Nazis. How many do you think there are in the U.S. Not many at al, it is an infinitesimally small movement, as is the KKK. Nobody in the U.S. glorifies them.
True. About 400 members in the largest Neo-Nazi group in America, but I suspect the problem or issue is not so much the number of Americans who "glorify" these people or their agenda. The problem is how many Americans are either indifferent or tolerant of the racism that still persists in this country, aggravated by the likes of these hate groups and how even our POTUS may or may react to the likes...
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