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How do we think about taking down controversial statues in the UK? How do we think about taking down controversial statues in the UK?
We have every right to take the statues down We have every right to take the statues down
How dare they tear down our statues How dare they tear down our statues
We should approach the statues issue with caution We should approach the statues issue with caution
The statues sustain structural oppression The statues sustain structural oppression
The controversial statues celebrate evil acts The controversial statues celebrate evil acts
The controversial statues venerate evil people The controversial statues venerate evil people
The controversial statues oppress UK ethnic minorities The controversial statues oppress UK ethnic minorities
The controversial statues represent UK history inaccurately The controversial statues represent UK history inaccurately
Having controversial statues in a museum sanctifies evil Having controversial statues in a museum sanctifies evil
The controversial statues legitimise racism The controversial statues legitimise racism
The controversial UK statues destroy the intellectual health of the public The controversial UK statues destroy the intellectual health of the public
Controversial statues hide deep injustice Controversial statues hide deep injustice
The controversial statues debate shows how Britain's democratic channels have failed us The controversial statues debate shows how Britain's democratic channels have failed us
This is the revolutionary resistance we have been waiting for This is the revolutionary resistance we have been waiting for
The people tearing down controversial statues are erasing British history The people tearing down controversial statues are erasing British history
We must defend British culture against those who tear down controversial statues in the UK We must defend British culture against those who tear down controversial statues in the UK
The violent mob are race traitors The violent mob are race traitors
We have been forced to accept multiculturalism against our will We have been forced to accept multiculturalism against our will
All lives matter, so tearing down controversial statues in the UK is wrong All lives matter, so tearing down controversial statues in the UK is wrong
The police are working in the interests of the enemy when they support those who tear down controversial statues The police are working in the interests of the enemy when they support those who tear down controversial statues
Non-whites should go back to where they came from rather than tearing down controversial statues Non-whites should go back to where they came from rather than tearing down controversial statues
This is an attack on the white working class This is an attack on the white working class
The controversial statues are an attack on the UK's white majority The controversial statues are an attack on the UK's white majority
We should find ways to give more context to these controversial statues in the UK We should find ways to give more context to these controversial statues in the UK
Controversial statues have an educational purpose in the UK Controversial statues have an educational purpose in the UK
Our approach to storytelling UK statues is flawed Our approach to storytelling UK statues is flawed
The UK controversial statues debate is about the decline of the West The UK controversial statues debate is about the decline of the West
The UK controversial statues debate is an opportunity to think about how we look at history The UK controversial statues debate is an opportunity to think about how we look at history
The controversial statues are a distraction from the real issue at hand in the UK The controversial statues are a distraction from the real issue at hand in the UK
We should focus on the UK's present, not its past We should focus on the UK's present, not its past
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How do we think about taking down controversial statues in the UK?
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We should approach the statues issue with caution

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Controversial statues have an educational purpose in the UK

Statues enrich our understanding of history and the people who shaped it. We should not lose sight of that.
Louise Richardson
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The Argument

While there is no doubt that the UK’s colonial and Imperial success was grounded in racism, instead of destroying the statues of some of the men responsible, we can learn from them. Social justice campaigns can often be ineffective and sometimes even hindering in unintended ways.[1] These protests have brought needed light onto the acts of the people represented by the statues, but removing those statues may remove the reminder of the history behind them.[2] Education is invaluable to understand how and why society must make the changes necessary for a better future. [3] These people are apart of the history of the UK, good or bad. Statues can provide historical context into the values and perspectives of the people responsible for the statue, which is an extremely important part of history, and something we can learn from to keep from repeating history. [4]

Counter arguments

Statues are not an educational tool, but rather a commemoration. History is learned through things like museums, books, and other educational resources that are specifically intended to educate rather than commemorate.[5]

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/is-it-wrong-to-topple-statues-and-rename-schools
  2. https://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2020/06/the-urge-to-destroy-is-also-a-creative-urge/
  3. https://www.aes.wolverhampton.gov.uk/blacklivesmatter
  4. https://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2020/06/rhodes-must-fall-oxfords-institutional-response/
  5. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-statues-removed-down-colston-rhodes-baden-powell-racism-a9560736.html
This page was last edited on Tuesday, 22 Sep 2020 at 09:16 UTC

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