The bill in question would give the city the option to add a plaque to the monuments, explaining their atrocities:
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...ith-monuments/
Quote:
The bill would require the city to remove works of art on city property that depict a person who owned enslaved people, directly benefited economically from slavery, or participated in systemic crimes against indigenous people and humanity.
The bill also suggests if the statues aren't removed, an explanatory plaque next to the work of art would be needed.
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I, personally, don't have a problem with the statues, one way or another. The bigger issue is why YOU care if they're removed. Giving you all the benefit of the doubt, I'm going to say it has everything to do with America not having a culture prior to the formation of its government. For that reason, an inordinate amount of the country's national identity is tied to its founders.
You ask an Italian, what it means to be Italian, or a Frenchman what is to be French, and they'll tell you about their food, their music, their language, their art...their CULTURE. Italy's current government has only existed since 1948. France's dates back to 1958. Even in our neck of the woods, Canada's constitution only dates back to the 80s. Because of that, they do not uphold their "founders" as demigods to be eternally revered.
America's identity is tied to it's founders and their ideas and beliefs. Therefore, when we question those men, a certain subset takes that as an attack on America and what it means to be American. I don't give a fuck about those guys. They were not infallible, and their vision is not unimpeachable. We can and should view them holistically and many of them were shit human beings. We can love this country without upholding their myths. They are not that important.
George Washington
