TOPIC:

Hi there
I know there is a post relating to the Uitenhage ABW monument already. I just want to emphasize the seriousness of the situation that holds the threat of vandalism to all perceived monuments of the colonial era.
This may not just be a one-off. If people care please make your voice heard. Some links:

www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/We-set-s...-alight-EFF-20150403

www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/War-memo...-set-alight-20150402

There was a report this morning from a source within the ruling ANC that Colonial era statues and other memorials are 'part of our history' and need to be preserved. Judging from other recent events, the exceptions to this rule are statues on university campuses. Not surprisingly, the logic here is obscure to say the least. Also not surprisingly, ANC sources have condemned their political foes, the EFF, for the incident in Uitenhage. Perhaps the campus incidents in Cape Town and Durban were engineered by ANC supporters, hence the widespread support for removing the offending statues of Cecil Rhodes and King George V. I find it difficult to picture GRV in the role as a Colonial oppressor, while the Boers (aka Afrikaners) managed to put up with Rhodes' statues between 1948 and 1994, even though they had some good reasons to despise the man.

Brett

Brett,

Thank you for the update, the whole thing seems a little confusing
I agree with your statement "I find it difficult to picture GRV in the role as a Colonial oppressor, while the Boers (aka Afrikaners) managed to put up with Rhodes' statues between 1948 and 1994, even though they had some good reasons to despise the man."

Regards
Paul

Brett Hendey wrote: There was a report this morning from a source within the ruling ANC that Colonial era statues and other memorials are 'part of our history' and need to be preserved. Judging from other recent events, the exceptions to this rule are statues on university campuses. Not surprisingly, the logic here is obscure to say the least. Also not surprisingly, ANC sources have condemned their political foes, the EFF, for the incident in Uitenhage. Perhaps the campus incidents in Cape Town and Durban were engineered by ANC supporters, hence the widespread support for removing the offending statues of Cecil Rhodes and King George V. I find it difficult to picture GRV in the role as a Colonial oppressor, while the Boers (aka Afrikaners) managed to put up with Rhodes' statues between 1948 and 1994, even though they had some good reasons to despise the man.

Brett

Gentlemen,
It is very important to remember that the empire reached it's zenith during Grandpa England's reign, one mans emperor is always another mans oppressor.

coldstream wrote: Brett,

Thank you for the update, the whole thing seems a little confusing
I agree with your statement "I find it difficult to picture GRV in the role as a Colonial oppressor, while the Boers (aka Afrikaners) managed to put up with Rhodes' statues between 1948 and 1994, even though they had some good reasons to despise the man."

Regards
Paul

Brett Hendey wrote: There was a report this morning from a source within the ruling ANC that Colonial era statues and other memorials are 'part of our history' and need to be preserved. Judging from other recent events, the exceptions to this rule are statues on university campuses. Not surprisingly, the logic here is obscure to say the least. Also not surprisingly, ANC sources have condemned their political foes, the EFF, for the incident in Uitenhage. Perhaps the campus incidents in Cape Town and Durban were engineered by ANC supporters, hence the widespread support for removing the offending statues of Cecil Rhodes and King George V. I find it difficult to picture GRV in the role as a Colonial oppressor, while the Boers (aka Afrikaners) managed to put up with Rhodes' statues between 1948 and 1994, even though they had some good reasons to despise the man.

Brett

Frank
This is another point of view concerning GVR's statue at UKZN.
Regards
Brett

Morning Brett,
Just to be quite clear on this, I have absolutely no issues with Grandpa England, other that the fact he shot far too many poor birds, but, he was the King of a huge empire that really had reached it's zenith, the order was not widely questioned in the golden age, you had the father at the head of his family, the King at the head of his empire and God in his heaven.
The fact remains that if you actually look at what was happening in Ireland, India and in your case, a little closer to home, you can see that he would be regarded by a great many as an oppressor simply because of what he represented.
He had a good stamp collection though!
Kind regards and a belated happy Easter, Frank