Here in the UK we love our statues. It doesn't matter whether you've been dead for centuries- numerous Kings, fought in a bloody colonial war- numerous Generals, were responsible for the needless death of hundreds of thousands- Douglas Haig, or actually defeated the British in a battle- Geoge Washington. If you're dead and famous we'll commemorate you.
Take a walk through any town in the UK and just as sure that sooner or later you'll get rained on, is the certainty that you'll bump into a large stone memorial of one of the town's favourite sons- sorry ladies but it's nearly always men.
One such town that was keen to celebrate one of its most famous alumni was the town of Denbigh in Wales, whose council plan to erect a bronze statue of famous explorer Henry Morton Stanley. Stanley, born John Rowlands, was an illegitimate child, who lived in a workhouse before emmigrating to America. It was from there while working as a journalist that Stanley embarked on a expedition to Africa to search for David Livingstone another explorer who'd been missing for some time. Stanley would find Livingstone in Tanzania with the immortal words "Dr Livingstone I presume?" Following this triumph, Stanley would later go on to help King Leopold of Belgium claim the Congo before returning to England to become an MP.
The reason many are opposed to a statue being erected of Stanley is due to accusations that during his expeditions he kept his many African porters in line with draconian methods, which included summary executions for deserters. Stanley himself was once quoted as saying: "The savage only respects force, power, boldness and decision."
One of the statues opposers Selwyn Williams, a lecturer at Bangor University said: "If you look at the historic records of what Stanley did, he should be the last person on Earth that we celebrate.
"It's diabolical to turn the clock back and glorify a twisted and sadistic man.
"He has so much blood on his hands from the mistreatment of the people of Africa and he certainly doesn't deserve a dignified bronze statue in his memory."
However some have argued that Stanley deserves his memorial Richard North, 58, an expert on social affairs, condemned the statue's critics labelling them "silly".
Mr North said: "There is no doubt that Stanley was an extraordinary figure and I'm all for the citizens of Denbigh erecting their statue to encourage an illuminating argument of his character.
"Sometimes we are not allowed to remember and enjoy extraordinary characters and they shouldn't be hidden.
"To his critics I would agree Stanley was a controversial man but it is silly to hide him in a box of disdain and villify him.
"At the same time, he was an extraordinary explorer who worked out how the River Congo worked whilst helping clarify how the Nile worked.
"It is quite possible that his travels in Africa helped with the anti-slavery campaign, and they were - at least ambigiously and nervously - supported by the Anti-Slavery establishment.
"His adventure, his courage and his role in history in helping to describe and opening up Africa should be remembered.
North's argument was supported by Local councillor Mr Neville Hughes who said: "It's terrible that a local hero is being misrepresented in this way and there is no doubt in my mind that the statue's rightful place is here in Denbigh in his home town.
Others have also argued that many statues in Britain, are of men who committed questionable acts in the name of the 'Empire.'
Whether the campaign to stop the statue succeeds remains to be seen, but the question is would you want such a controversial figure represented in an iconic way as one of your home town's favourite sons?
Interesting question Justin.
If it becomes the norm not to commemorate controversial people and acts, than we might as well also break down the entire city center of Amsterdam that was built during the ‘golden century’. A century in which the Dutch earned mega bucks transporting slaves.
Besides this, in the days of Stanley, conditions and views were completely different. We can not project our modern day morals on people who lived a long time ago. So as far as I am concerned he can have his statue. Also so we don’t forget the ‘wrongs’ he did.
It’s a valid point Johan, almost every statue in London has some form of controversy attached to it, at least in terms of modern day morals. I agree the statue could serve two purposes, a reminder of the ‘wrongs’ and to satisfy the number of Denbigh residents who want to remember him for his acheivements.
Yeah, I can quite understand where you are coming from, Justin.
It’s like recently in Poland when we had huge protests over the late president’s burial in the Wawel Castle alongside Polish Royalty:
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/lech-kaczynskis-funeral-burial-wawel-cathedral-protested-2605422.html
since we still don’t know if Kaczynski didn’t put pressure on the pilot to land causing the crash of the airplane…
I’ve recently started a college course in Denbigh and have also been a resident of the Denbighshire area all my life. It turns out that the inadequite council rougues have given the go ahead for the statue and in doing so (in my opinion) wasted funds that could have been pooled into something other than a bronze statue of a man whom i believe half of the residents of denbigh never knew came from their hometown, and in doing so have glorified a man not worthy of that kind of public recognition. And as for the fact that the folks of Denbigh will also be reminded of the terrible acts he commited in Africa by this statue is a joke, It will clearly just glorify his acts as this is why people usually errect statues isn’t it?. No one puts up a statue so people can walk past and think “oh yeah remember that murderous power feind? what a terrible man he was” it just doesn’t happen. I am sure that more than the petty 50 or so signatures on the opposing petittion for this statue actually dissagree with what has been arranged for Denbigh and by the time that most actually found out there was a petittion ..it was too late, and what use is it anyway when their minds were already made up before the petittion was submitted. The council say the objective comments hold little or no weight in the argument which doesn’t make sense to me as you need a for and against in any argument,and to me suggests that their decision making skills out weigh those of anyother human but what makes them so wise? because from what i know councilors are human too. I think that the already suggested exhibition or museum would be a more productive use of the funds as this could educate people about the two sides to the story here and not just cater for the appealing idea of a statue.
I think statues of men like Stanley don’t belong on a square or on the streets, but in musea. Where the context is explained, where people who made history - good or bad - are in the right place.
In Belgium you can find many statues of King Leopold as well, and I myself am always ashamed when I see one.
Student-driven learning methods are based on the concept of active learning. So that you better understand that term, picture a continuum.
The primary student-directed teaching/learning methods for use inside the classroom include open discussion, learning, role-playing, case studies, and student presentations.
We need to upgrade students’ perceptions of their responsibilities as learners. When we are strategic teachers and they are strategic learners, the teaching/learning experience is incomparable in its efficacy.Apostille