More Spineless Authorities....will There Be Any Statues Left?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11834965/baden-powell-statue-removed-black-lives-matter-poole/
Gawd help us, How was Baden-Powell involved in slavery? time to stand up to mob rule. As far as I know no one even complained about this one, they just thought they'd join in with the group hand wringing that's going on at the moment.

[iluvmargie]

The mob do this in our country because they know they can, governments and authorities are totally spineless. It's gone too far now I fear, mob rule will always win and they know it!

[dannyk13]

I don't know how they came to the conclusion that Baden-Powell had a connection to the Nazis, but that is the reason given for the removal in order to protect it.

[ToraToraTora]

So now mob rule has moved on to anyone who ever said the "wrong" thing about the Nazis. Obviously all the statues of Eamon De Valera will have to come down in Ireland.

[Peter Pedant]

what did baking powder ever do:

Baden-Powell admired Benito Mussolini early in the Italian fascist leader's career. In 1939 Baden-Powell noted in his diary: "Lay up all day. Read Mein Kampf. A wonderful book, with good ideas on education, health, propaganda, organisation etc. – and ideals which Hitler does not practise himself."[11]:550

TTT is not a great reader but my god he blaaaaarts to make up for it

[naomi24]

People from a different age, everything they ever did that was good condemned to be forgotten. Where’s the sense in this? I see none.

[Gromit]

// The sculpture was made possible by the efforts of Brian Woolgar, Chairman of Poole District Scout Council, and the generous donations of individuals, businesses and local Scouts, including Dorset County Scout Council and Poole District Scout Council. The unveiling of the sculpture on 13th August 2008 represented the culmination of over three years of hard work fundraising, obtaining permissions from the Borough of Poole and Poole Harbour Commissioners and garnering the support of the many interested parties. The figure was sculpted by David Annand, a Scottish artist with extensive experience in producing public artwork. In addition, his experience as a Scout in his younger days was a major ‘tick in the box’ in selecting him from the many applicants interested in the project. //

Agreed. The Council capitulated too easily in removing this statue. Apparently, the police advised removal. They should be protecting public property, not telling the public of Poole what they can and cannot see.

[jno]

In 1937, he told the Scouts' international commissioner that the Nazis were "most anxious that the Scouts should come into closer touch with the youth movement in Germany." Baden-Powell met with the German ambassador in London and was invited to meet the Führer himself, though the war prevented him from visiting the Third Reich. But he continued to admire Hitler's values, writing in a 1939 diary entry that Mein Kampf was "a wonderful book, with good ideas on education, health, propaganda, organisation etc."

Just imagine if Jermey Corbyn said that, we'd never hear the end of it.

[Peter Pedant]

// People from a different age, everything they ever did that was good condemned to be forgotten. Where’s the sense in this? I see none.//

does not have a main verb in it. I cd have written it.
I thought the Poole decision was sensible
The waters of Poole harbour are too pure to take the remains of a statue (*) and so it was put in store
For saner times to arrive

(*) The air of England is too pure for a slave to breathe - the black man must be discharged Lord Mansfield Somersett;s case 1762

hey look at that readers ( those on AB who can or do read) a slavery allusion in law

[Peter Pedant]

// that the Scouts should come into closer touch with the youth movement in Germany."//
any historians around ?
that was because the corrsponding movement Hitler Jugend was different to the scouts ( personal allegiance to one Aydolf H ?) and they were keen to say they werent young thugs but German scouts helping little old ladies [kleine alte Damen' cross the road

Occupied Poland - I daresay some on AB wd say Liberated Poland [befreite östliche Länder] - the scout movement was declared a terrorist organisation - see the silver sword tressailer

[naomi24]

Jno, //Just imagine if Jermey Corbyn said that, we'd never hear the end of it.//

Had Baden Powell lived to see the outcome of WWII he may well have become wise after the event. The same can’t be said for Jeremy who, despite having the benefit of experience, continues to rub shoulders with some rather questionable friends.

[tiggerblue10]

I have a middle ground on a lot of the events happening in the UK at the moment. Certain aspect are probably best placed in a museum but you can't change the whole history of Britain to suit a single group of people.

This lady talks some sense.

https://twitter.com/dominiquetaegon/status/1270721849400258567

[jno]

removing statues isn't erasing history. The history still happened, but we can choose decide whether slavers are the best people to set in stone. British history is full of good people. It's been barely 10 years since a statue of Babbage and Lovelace went up, for instance. I'd sooner children grew up admiring them rather than slave traders.

[tiggerblue10]

I agree Jno, there are more worthy people in British history that deserve to be admired and remembered.

[Peter Pedant]

how do I get AB's name changed to - - Aryan Bank ?
note - no need to change headed ( or in this case be-headed) paper as it is the same initias

as for a flaming cross - we cd get one of the Frenz of AB to one of the inky potato numbers ( engraving it on a potato stamp or something)

[Old_Geezer]

Some seem not to understand the expression, "erasing history". Past times don't actually change, but awareness of it does.

[retrocop]

//I'd sooner children grew up admiring them rather than slave traders//
If there were no statues of slave traders then children will grow up as slave trade deniers. They sure as hell will not be taught about it in today's schools and I doubt if the same schools would stock books in the library referring to it. Such is rampant fascist propaganda.
Meanwhile I expect many a rational, grateful adult of whatever hue may,as a child,have had their lives prolonged after walking out of the portals of Guy's Hospital.

[zebo]

//How was Baden-Powell involved in slavery? //
Because those 'of colour' say so, that's all that seems to matter.

[woofgang]

I genuinely don't get how its erasing history? yes public statues of people who were thought to be admirable and were not should maybe be removed. Yes films and TV programs that are now offensive should fade away...but surely a part of what these genuine protestors are protesting about is that history has sidelined and forgotten THEM. They are wanting history to be expanded to include more facts...not erased?

[bednobs]

times just change. Rolf harris did a lot of good things, Jimmy Saville did a lot of good things for charity. However, I presume that if there were statues of those people erected, they would now be taken down, given what we now "know"