Home Categories About
argument top image
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
Debate Mini Map

How do we think about taking down controversial statues in the UK?
Back to question

We have every right to take the statues down

(1 of 3) Next position >

The controversial statues venerate evil people

We do not put up statues to denigrate, but to celebrate. As society progresses, our definition of what is morally acceptable changes. Celebrating statues of people associated with evil acts create a narrative unfitting of 21st-century values.
Roderick Lynch Elaine Bagshaw The Museum of London Docklands
< (3 of 11) Next argument >

The Argument

Those in favour of controversial statues being removed from public spaces have every right to demand their removal. These statues celebrate some of history's greatest infamies against humanity. Recent pushbacks against displaying statues of perpetrators of evil were brought to light during UK Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. In Bristol, anti-racism protestors controversially toppled slave trader Edward Colston's statue into the harbour. This opened the conversation on when and where it is appropriate to display statues of people commended for acts of evil. People are asking if it acceptable at all.[1] On the same day, demonstrators united over the crane-lifted removal of slave-owner Robert Milligan's statue outside the Museum of London Docklands. The Museum itself denigrated Milligans' crimes against humanity. They also reiterated society's ongoing systemic problem of whitewashing history, as per its celebration of racist statues.[2] The two examples above highlight significant backlash against the celebration of statues linked to people who commit acts of evil. Anti-racist activists understand that the slave trade can be remembered without glorifying its perpetrators in public spaces.[3] In the 21st century, the acts of evil people should be denigrated, not celebrated. For this reason, these statues should be removed.

Counter arguments

Some people in opposition of removing controversial statues feel it is an attempt at erasing history. Statues can be seen to teach us about the attitudes and standards of the past, which may have been acceptable then, but are by no means acceptable now. They argue it is wrong to judge people from the past by today's standards.[4] While figures like Edward Colston are linked to acts that are undeniably evil by modern standards, history is complex, and no one is inherently or exclusively evil. Colston's philanthropic nature and generous charitable donations greatly benefited his home town of Bristol.[5] This suggests that there is a valid argument for controversial statues to remain.

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52965665
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52977088
  3. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/edward-colston-statue-bristol-slavery-robert-milligan-tower-hamlets-a9555846.html
  4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52965665
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-42404825

In the Wild

This page was last edited on Saturday, 3 Oct 2020 at 00:59 UTC

Explore related arguments