“The good is oft interred with their bones.”
So, let it be with Sir John A. Macdonald. How often must we decry the stupidity, the ignorance of those who want to destroy the records, the mementos, the reminders of the heroes of our past? Why can we not just recognize their accomplishments? Is there no forgiveness for the errors of their times?
So writes Peter over at babelonthebay
and I must agree with him for if we destroy the reminders of the
past, both good and bad, how are we to avoid the same mistakes in the
future or improve upon the way we do thing in the future.
Can anyone say that the statues and
monuments we erect today will not remind our ancestors of all the
mistakes those now in a position of power and influence have and will
make in these troubled times. History is important for it does let us
look back at the good and bad so that we may learn from both that
which improved society and decisions that we do not want to revisit.
A better response for those who are
'offended' by a monument to an influential figure from the past than
hiding or destroying the object would perhaps be to update or add a
plaque outlining the facts of the figures life, both good AND not so
good. Hindsight is easy, who here can say that their life is perfect
and every decision will be glorified long after they are no longer
with us.
To the south of us the rabid right are
showing how
little they have learned from their own
history.
Display our history, all of it, that we
may learn from our mistakes.
