Blovertis
Active Member
So long Alexander Wood, it was nice knowing you.
What??So long Alexander Wood, it was nice knowing you.
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One does not rewrite history or pretend it is not there, you explain, apologise and try to make amends. https://www.blogto.com/city/2022/04...toronto-removed-and-destroyed-without-notice/What??
I would say that it was a lost opportunity to EXPLAIN the past and not simply put unwanted facts into a dumpster and hope nobody notices. Wood was active in a volunteer society - under the patronage of the Anglican Church and with many (other) prominent citizens - that tried to 'civilise the natives' and convert them to christianity. He was far from alone in this kind of activity (and it continues today in other societies/countries) and is clearly an idea put forward by those who think they are somehow 'superior'. Wood (or, at least, this aspect of his life) should NOT be celebrated but he is part of our past and it would have been far better we learned from him and the ideas he promoted and did not pretend he (and they) did not exist.It was the right thing to do.
That's what books are for.I would say that it was a lost opportunity to EXPLAIN the past and not simply put unwanted facts into a dumpster and hope nobody notices. Wood was active in a volunteer society - under the patronage of the Anglican Church and with many (other) prominent citizens - that tried to 'civilise the natives' and convert them to christianity. He was far from alone in this kind of activity (and it continues today in other societies/countries) and is clearly an idea put forward by those who think they are somehow 'superior'. Wood (or, at least, this aspect of his life) should NOT be celebrated but he is part of our past and it would have been far better we learned from him and the ideas he promoted and did not pretend he (and they) did not exist.
For some people pictures (or statues) are better than 1000 words and I was not saying that Wood's statue should have remained where it was, only that destroying it was/is a lost opportunity to use it as an educational tool.That's what books are for.
You have a great point on this, but I think we just have a different way of looking how we can learn from this.For some people pictures (or statues) are better than 1000 words and I was not saying that Wood's statue should have remained where it was, only that destroying it was/is a lost opportunity to use it as an educational tool.
They're finished.Saw today that the Pizza Pizza at Church & Wellesley has the windows papered up and a sign saying they're closed for renovations.
So long Alexander Wood, it was nice knowing you.
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A very thoughtful piece that reminds us how dangerous and foolish it is to judge our 'ancestors' with the eyes and opinions of today. Wood probably did not 'deserve' a statue a decade ago but his story is important to remember and, as the statue existed, it should have been retained and explained. Throwing his statue (and memory) into a dumpster does not remove him from our past; keeping it (somewhere) and using it to educate would have been a mature reaction to the (rather belated) realisation that he was a man of his time - and one who may, or may not, have been gay.
It’s still being worked on. Presumably they’ll be ready for Pride week.They're finished.