The UCT - Cecil John Rhodes Statue Thread

[Sinbad]

Has that student been arrested yet?

 

[dualmeister]

Statue will be removed paving the way for others to follow like Jan Van Riebeeck's in Cape Town.

Country has reached a new low

 

[Scooby_Doo]

They will never be happy, their demands will only get more and more extravagant.

 

[Pitbull]

Statue will be removed paving the way for others to follow like Jan Van Riebeeck's in Cape Town.

Country has reached a new low

It's better it be moved than destroyed.

Who ever the moron was that got his nuts in a twist now achieved what exactly? because they wanted it destroyed

 

[ngwe23]

Statue will be removed paving the way for others to follow like Jan Van Riebeeck's in Cape Town.

Country has reached a new low

Let's not be too dramatic. It is the removal of a statute of a person that held racist ideas who has long lost relevance in today's society.

 

[Sinbad]

Let's not be too dramatic. It is the removal of a statute of a person that held racist ideas who has long lost relevance in today's society.

It's also a person who threw human faeces around in public getting what he wanted...

 

[Albereth]

Let's not be too dramatic. It is the removal of a statute of a person that held racist ideas who has long lost relevance in today's society.

You are probably right. Nobody really seems to care about nationhood, of building something great. Far better to think parochially and to burn it all down.

 

[ellyally]

Let's not be too dramatic. It is the removal of a statute of a person that held racist ideas who has long lost relevance in today's society.

Exactly, so why not focus on and address real issues in the country... rape, poverty, crime, corruption, education, eskom, and the list goes on...

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Has that student been arrested yet?

No. UCT refused to press charges because (a) it wasn't technically vandalism [apparently they were advised throwing excrement is not vandalism because it is not like paint which does permanent damage to a statue] and (b) charging him with bringing UCT into disrepute (management thought no-one would associate that student with UCT).

And yes, I feel Council will no doubt bow down to the mob. Hopefully the votes aren't as comprehensive as the Senate's vote.

UCT Council members: http://www.uct.ac.za/about/governance/council/members/

 

[Sinbad]

No. UCT refused to press charges because (a) it wasn't technically vandalism [apparently they were advised throwing excrement is not vandalism because it is not like paint which does permanent damage to a statue] and (b) charging him with bringing UCT into disrepute (management thought no-one would associate that student with UCT).

And yes, I feel Council will no doubt bow down to the mob. Hopefully the votes aren't as comprehensive as the Senate's vote.

UCT Council members: http://www.uct.ac.za/about/governance/council/members/

So there's no law against throwing human waste around? Seriously?

 

[ngwe23]

It's also a person who threw human faeces around in public getting what he wanted...

Suggesting that the statue's removal is down to someone flinging poo is being to simplistic. There are a lot more nuances than the actions of the protesters.

 

[Sinbad]

Suggesting that the statue's removal is down to someone flinging poo is being to simplistic. There are a lot more nuances than the actions of the protesters.

Tell me that the simple people of South Africa are going to consider all the nuances, or are they going to now see that throwing **** at something is now the way to get attention?

 

[ngwe23]

You are probably right. Nobody really seems to care about nationhood, of building something great. Far better to think parochially and to burn it all down.

What do you mean "burn it all down"? Again let us not be too dramatic here. I would also suggest that you are being narrow minded by not recognising that a significant potion of the population want a statute of someone who one once described them as "barbarians of South Africa" removed. That does seem like an unreasonable request to me. Is it to you? If so, why?

 

[ngwe23]

Exactly, so why not focus on and address real issues in the country... rape, poverty, crime, corruption, education, eskom, and the list goes on...

It think you missed the point- by a mile. It is precisely because he has lost relevance that his statue should be take down. If this is not a "real issue" for you, then by all means let those who are affected by this issue raise their voices, and you can reserve your right to be silent on the matter.

 

[etienne_marais]

"barbarians of South Africa"

Rhodes' buddy Milner also described Boers as such. Although I agree that statues should not be removed I am not going to miss Rhodes, nor the horse memorial should something happen to it as it was the British who hacked cattle and horses legs when plundering the farms.

 

[dualmeister]

Let's not be too dramatic. It is the removal of a statute of a person that held racist ideas who has long lost relevance in today's society.

Whether it is positive history or negative history, it is still a part of history. What is next. Burning some library books because it offends certain people?

 

[Albereth]

What do you mean "burn it all down"? Again let us not be too dramatic here. I would also suggest that you are being narrow minded by not recognising that a significant potion of the population want a statute of someone who one once described them as "barbarians of South Africa" removed. That does seem like an unreasonable request to me. Is it to you? If so, why?

Frankly, the number of people wanting to tear it down are most certainly not a significant portion of the population, and not one of them was ever described as a barbarian by Cecil John Rhodes. You want to raise questions about who is being dramatic? Follow your nose.

 

[ellyally]

It think you missed the point- by a mile. It is precisely because he has lost relevance that his statue should be take down. If this is not a "real issue" for you, then by all means let those who are affected by this issue raise their voices, and you can reserve your right to be silent on the matter.

If its not relevant, how can people have an issue?

 

[Albereth]

If its not relevant, how can people have an issue?

Because idiots with matches have reasons.

 

[ngwe23]

Whether it is positive history or negative history, it is still a part of history. What is next. Burning some library books because it offends certain people?

Go tell the Germans to erect a statue of Hitler. I wish you knew how ridiculous your first statement sounds. In Iraq the first thing they did when Saddam's rulership was bring the statues down because of what they represented. In SA we have been far too tolerant of these things.

It is just a statue of someone who has long lost relevance. His view, while popular at that time, are now archaic and primitive and have no space in today's society. How you equate that you someone calling for library books to be burned is beyond me, unfortunately.