Isn't it about time we stop erecting monuments to individuals? I mean, what is the reason for these monuments anyway? I imagine they are intended to honor someone and possibly promote a feeling of pride and inspiration. When is it ever the case that one person, single-handedly made or done something that has a positive impact on an entire society. It takes more than one person, and giving recognition to one individual seems a slight to the others who have been involved in the accomplishment. Not only that, but how often do we, as a society change our views or begin to see things in a different light. The clearer understanding of Christopher Columbus is an easy example that comes to mind. Why on Earth do we have monuments to this guy in the first place. Not only was he a shitty navigator, he was a cruel and greedy man who traded in slaves and trafficked for .
I have honestly never felt any kind of inspiration when at a statue. They are just there, taking up public space. While not a huge part of the government budget, they must cost a bit to put them up and cost something to maintain. This is just one small thing I can easily see not spending my tax dollars on. Parades and fireworks can get dumped too, as far as I am concerned. What do you think?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I think a statue of the Orange Ogre behind bars would be nice, especially if he is one day convicted and serves.
EdEarl
Level 8
Aug 19, 2020
2
tipoff? Would happily scatter flowers around it while singing a lovely song!
@AnneWimsey LOL I'd like to see that.
So we should not have states then....really
Legacy Museum opens in Montgomery, Alabama, to highlight slavery
and Statues of people from the Irish Famine
Should we remove theses statues.
Why do we have to have absolutist positions on everything. Statues or no statues. What's wrong with people
"I have honestly never felt any kind of inspiration when at a statue. They are just there, taking up public space" Then you are looking at the wrong statues
dermot235
Level 7
Aug 19, 2020
0
Ok, not absolute, but who gets to decide?
@itsmedammit Maybe we should think about things more often and then decide
Is not art, much as I love some of its products, just a human vanity project anyway. The idea that some of our handcrafts are somehow, spiritually, (Meaningless word.) raised above others, is just an example of the discredited idea of human exceptionalism. Why is a mural, considered art, but a pair of boots handcrafted with skill, care, thought, and imagination by a shoe maker or a nest made by a weaver bird, with love and care, not art.
Art is another religion, albeit a none theist one. Is it not time we started to see art for the vanity project it is, and public art as just another form of environmental pollution anyway.
Fernapple
Level 9
Aug 19, 2020
1
Absolutely!
@itsmedammit Thank you. Last time I said something like that on here, all I got was into a long arguement with a dyed in the wool believer, who finished it by blocking me, I think. LOL
I think you have to be really careful in choosing, and who gets to choose because people have hidden or not so hidden agendas that don't stand the test of time. Failing that be ready and willing to and replace the offensive item.
Folks want to rename a neighborhood in my city which is named after someone famous who is no longer, how shall I put it - in favor. So of course they are picking other people to name it after. I just hope they are really careful with the person they choose or in a few decades time we may be regretting it. And honestly, even if you are super careful you can still end up screwed when formerly secret information is revealed - often after someone's death - or you get caught by moral subjectivism of future generations. For instance imagine how there could be time in our future when statues of anyone who ate meat are torn down for their participation and failure to reject the 21st Century barbarism of meat eating.
prometheus
Level 7
Aug 18, 2020
0
Yes, I agree that undesirable choices have and will be made, especially if the monument is to a single individual. My suggestion is to just stop doing it altogether.
@itsmedammit well in general I don't think folks should stop doing everything that involves risk, and might turn out to be a mistake later. How about we redefine the "it" that we stop to be "erecting statues of people without a well considered assessment of why it is being done, of whom it is being done, and the risks therefore". Kind of like how they often do extensive environment impact assessments before building large projects.
I think too often cities are approached by orgs that have the ear of one of their leadership and get railroaded or cajoled into erecting things, renaming things or places - I think we'd be shocked how often that happens just for money. Or it is done in the name of "public art" without any consideration of what it is.
My neighborhood has some shockingly crappy sculptures and statues like that littered about the place some of which were overtly sponsored by for profit orgs that clearly scammed our city.
For what its worth on the topic of public art... I think we'd do well to have cities automatically rotate public art after 5, 10, or 20 years. Move it, trade it, or sell it, and then sponsor new projects. That would probably work for statues too.
@prometheus I personally don't see the value in monuments to individuals. There are better ways to spend my tax dollars.
Cows on parade was fun and wound up making millions for charity.
Maybe we can sell of some statues.
@itsmedammit love it. Mooo!
Looking into the face of Lincoln in his memorial always tugged at my heart!
Memorials to one person have been made since the beginning of human civilization. Go to the Cairo museum! (Apparently, Pharaohs were all perfect physical specimens!) Putting a (more-or-less) human face on someone who contributed greatly to civilization can have power. I'd like to see the Susan B/Frederick Douglass statue, myself. (See below.) There's an absolutely delightful statue of Oscar Wilde in Dublin...he's wearing purple and green and he's very jolly. I think he could easily inspire a student to read his works.
And then, there's the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington....AND a similar Tomb of the Unknown at the Kremlin. I think we just need better standards about who's honored and who's forgotten.
LucyLoohoo
Level 9
Aug 18, 2020
1
Better standards, maybe, but who gets to decide that? I don't mind the memorials for fallen soldiers and whatnot. I just don't like the worshiping of any particular individual. I just don't think anyone person has accomplished huge strides in in society alone. I'd feel a little better about Lincoln if the war actually had been about abolishing slavery.
@itsmedammit I'm not suggesting ''worshiping'' someone, but those who have done amazing or world-changing things are inspiring. Ghandi, Nelson Mandella, Sacajawea....these people can make us think.
Here in Rochester we have a statue of Susan B Anthony and Frederick Douglass having tea together, which they actually did on many occasions. It's across the street from the Susan B Anthony home. The Frederick Douglass home burned down long ago. It's a little bit inspiring. I like it.
BitFlipper
Level 8
Aug 18, 2020
2
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