The UCT - Cecil John Rhodes Statue Thread

[LazyLion]

Sunette Bridges protests over Paul Kruger statue

Pretoria - Controversial Afrikaans singer Sunette Bridges says her protest action at the foot of the statue of Paul Kruger in Church Square, Pretoria was against the vandalism of all statues in the country.

Bridges threatened to chain herself to the statue if the mayor of the City of Tshwane Kgotsientso Ramakgopa did not collect a petition to protect heritage sites and symbols.

Bridges said a representative of the mayor's office obliged on Wednesday, which meant she would not have to spend the night with 'Oom Paul'.

"We are here against the absolute vandalism and destruction of statues, monuments and heritage," Bridges said on Wednesday morning.

"This first started when Jacob Zuma got onto a podium and said all the problems in this country started when Jan van Riebeeck landed in the country."

She said this was part of an unyielding attack on Afrikaner heritage and the minority group.

Bridges said more than 12 000 people had signed the petition.

The statue of Kruger and two bronze sentries in Pretoria was defaced with green paint over the Easter weekend.

The FF Plus laid charges against the EFF which admitted to being behind the defacing of the statue.

Close to a hundred people representing Afrikaner political parties including the Front Nasionaal Party, the Boer Vrou Liga and the Freedom Front Plus gathered from 09:00.

Some of the protesters held placards reading "Hands off our heritage. This is genocide!" and "If colonial statues aren't safe. Are we?"

Ockert de Villiers, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sunette-Bridges-protests-over-Paul-Kruger-statue-20150408

 

[AchmatK]

Of course they are a significant portion. If they were insignificant this issue wouldn't be public discourse. CJR described blacks as "barbarians" in his attempts to justify a cruel and oppressive stance on blacks, so again you are wrong.

Wonder what your opinion is of the racist Ghandi and having his statue removed as well.

http://www.gandhism.net/southafricanblacks.php

 

[Sinbad]

People are striking/protesting at cosmo city. Destruction is the way to get what you want in SA.

 

[sox63]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

 

[EtienneK]

Wonder what your opinion is of the racist Ghandi and having his statue removed as well.

http://www.gandhism.net/southafricanblacks.php

It's a point that has been made repeatedly: dig enough and you can find bad things about any of our ancestors and heroes.

I can only imagine what will happen if the first Mandela statue gets defaced in retaliation to this.

So much hate and destruction at the moment I wish we could all just focus on building and not destroying.

 

[Sinbad]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

UCT campus isn't public land though is it?

 

[EtienneK]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

Why stop at his statue? Why not destroy everything he touched and was apart of? Start with the Mandela-Rhodes scholarships. All the buildings bearing his name. Etc.

Let's not stop! Let's destroooooy! /sarcasm

 

[sox63]

UCT campus isn't public land though is it?

Since when is UCT a Private University? Was the land not given to UCT?

 

[zippy]

A whole lot of words but so much nothingness. Which Shaka's views are you referring to? Removing a statue is NOT "erasing" history. We are simply choosing not to honour those that where responsible for the oppression of blacks. Hardly complicated, is it? The history itself is still there - recorded in books.

You dont know the history behind Shaka ?

You just made my point.

Maybe this will help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka

As Shaka became more respected by his people, he was able to spread his ideas with greater ease. Because of his background as a soldier, Shaka taught the Zulus that the most effective way of becoming powerful quickly was by conquering and controlling other tribes. His teachings greatly influenced the social outlook of the Zulu people. The Zulu tribe soon developed a "warrior" mindset, which Shaka turned to his advantage.

Shaka's hegemony was primarily based on military might, smashing rivals and incorporating scattered remnants into his own army. He supplemented this with a mixture of diplomacy and patronage, incorporating friendly chieftains, including Zihlandlo of the Mkhize, Jobe of the Sithole, and Mathubane of the Thuli. These peoples were never defeated in battle by the Zulu; they did not have to be. Shaka won them over by subtler tactics, such as patronage and reward. As for the ruling Qwabe, they began re-inventing their genealogies to give the impression that Qwabe and Zulu were closely related in the past.[citation needed] In this way a greater sense of cohesion was created, though it never became complete, as subsequent civil wars attest.

 

[LazyLion]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

Did you fill in the form?
http://allafrica.com/stories/201504080429.html

 

[Seriously]

A whole lot of words but so much nothingness. Which Shaka's views are you referring to? Removing a statue is NOT "erasing" history. We are simply choosing not to honour those that where responsible for the oppression of blacks. Hardly complicated, is it? The history itself is still there - recorded in books.

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

That's the conundrum Africa, not everyone is a brainiac.

Shamepies

 

[LazyLion]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

Do you mind sharing with us (for our own edification), just what in particular angered you about the man?

 

[ellyally]

You dont know the history behind Shaka ?

You just made my point.

Maybe this will help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka

Indeed... lets 'celebrate' him and erect more statues to 'honour' him

When Shaka's mother Nandi died for example, the monarch ordered a massive outpouring of grief including mass executions, forbidding the planting of crops or the use of milk, and the killing of all pregnant women and their husbands.

 

[Sinbad]

Since when is UCT a Private University? Was the land not given to UCT?

That's what I'm asking? Is it public land like a park? Or is it owned by a trust? Privately owned? I honestly don't know. Is there a right of admission reserved sign anywhere? Can anyone in the public go onto campus freely?

 

[sox63]

Do you mind sharing with us (for our own edification), just what in particular angered you about the man?

The speech he gave as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony while selling the Glen Grey Act to that parliament. His disdain for Black people and referring to them as not quite citizens but an ample supply of labour

 

[Albereth]

A neighbour has had her Praying Lady statue stolen from outside her house. Isn't that taking things a bit far?

 

[ngwe23]

Why stop at his statue? Why not destroy everything he touched and was apart of? Start with the Mandela-Rhodes scholarships. All the buildings bearing his name. Etc.

Let's not stop! Let's destroooooy! /sarcasm

Not a bad idea at all.

 

[LazyLion]

The speech he gave as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony while selling the Glen Grey Act to that parliament. His disdain for Black people and referring to them as not quite citizens but an ample supply of labour

Do you have a link for me so I can read it as well?

 

[Seriously]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

How you must hate to see a white skinned individual everyday knowing about all the pain and infuriating deeds they committed under apartheid. Why not waste your energy on something beneficial for all by getting your gods in the ANC and EFF to extradite all the white skinned settlers that reminds you of the past. That will be the best for both of us.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I have never been one to really be interested in history, simply because its that painful and infuriating, so I never really read up on Rhodes until today after seeing all manner of defenders of his legacy. The man is just simply one of the worst things to happen to inhabitants of Southern Africa.

I also now join the voices that any monument of his should be removed from public land. If those that admire him want to see his monument, then they can do it on private land. So IMO remove that ****ing statue and give it to those that want to remember him. And with regards to the "what about our history crowd", removing a statue does not erase the ****ing history. Making descendants of people he considered "most despicable specimens of human beings" have to be reminded daily of the atrocities he instigated on us is just cruel IMO. Tear the ****ing thing down

Thoughts on someone like Shaka, especially in light of all the honorifics he's getting?