"Holding Court" John A. Macdonald Statue

Tell us what the Holding Court statue means to you?

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  We should review the past by today's standards

  by Andreas Kratschmer, over 3 years ago

  We should review the past by today's standards, that's how we evolve and make sure that we don't repeat the past's mistaken views.

  I'm original of German background and I wondered, would anybody find it acceptable if there were Hitler statues in Germany? One could argue that he did some good things as well...

  I say get rid of the statue, we should not glorify people that clearly were in the wrong and send the wrong message
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  Balance

  by Megan Richards, over 3 years ago
  i would prefer not to see the figure of john a mcd but to leave the courtroom stage and the seat and a plaque explaining who he was and ALL of what he is responsible for in Canada. this courtroom image would serve to imply a continued quest for justice while at the same time bringing the canadian past into the present. i think an acknowledgement that we need truth and reconciliation (and, i would add, restitution) to play a strong role in the recognition and honouring of both settler history achievements and atrocities.

  alternatively, if he must stay, then... Continue reading
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  Perspective

  by ba-mason, over 3 years ago
  I would like to see it stay. He’s a very important figure in the history of this Country. That being said, I’d like the other side, the dark side to be told as well. Whether a second statue in his shadow ( the dirty secret), or an additional plaque telling the story.. it is important to have a “scale of justice”, weighing out what was acceptable practices at the time, and how we’ve grown, and that the journey continues still to this day....
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  Keep it

  by Sami Lester, over 3 years ago

  I don't usually post public opinions, but I do want to share that while Sir John A's statue deserves the red paint dumped all over it, he is a part of our history and erasing everything from memory that has been a national shame is not the way to go. We have to remember the last to not repeat the past.
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  Our past is our shame

  by Kelvin Wannamaker, over 3 years ago
  Let's just admit it, most of our ancestor's mine included were "given" land by the King of England after the American Revolution and we call ourselves United Empire Loyalists for this reason. We flourished in this land, land taken from the native inhabitants, and continue to this day. Honesty around what we did to the native people of this continent hasn't been a strong point of White society until very recent times. I'm 64 years old, completed my secondary education here in the Belleville area, and moved on. History, Canadian history was an important subject taught those many years ago... Continue reading
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  Take it down now.

  by Sofia Faga, over 3 years ago
  Historical figures like Sir John A. Macdonald should not be celebrated. This statue commemorates someone who was personally responsible for the genocide of thousands of Indigenous people. Take it down now. It is an offensive affront to the Indigenous survivors who are our neighbours (forced onto reserve and off their traditional territory by The Indian Act). He created the Indian Act which he stated was to force ‘Indian’ people to assimilate into settler culture and renounce their heritage and rights. It was the basis on which residential schools were instituted, stripped Indigenous women of their status rights, and continues to... Continue reading
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  Get the full story.

  by Marc Seguin, over 3 years ago

  I believe that presenting the history of any person or event, warts and all, is the best way to go. Rather than applying only current feelings and outlooks onto our imperfect past, let’s present the whole story, as best as we can, based on ALL of the evidence available to us. Let’s not make things up about our history that are not true. Lets not erase the history that can be documented as fact. Let’s add to our history and celebrate a fuller view of our past.

  I am commenting here on Sir John A. Macdonald in general, and about... Continue reading
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  History Lessons

  by Michael Brooks , over 3 years ago
  Everyone seems to jump on any parade float moving through society. What I don't understand is no one wants to learn from past misdeeds. Tearing down statues, or symbols of past or present misdeeds doesn't erase those misdeeds. We need to learn from mistakes from the past. All Canadian history, both good and bad should be part of the curriculum taught in schools. We should learn from the past, not tear it down. Place a new placard at the statue containing both the good and bad deeds of Canada's first Prime Minister.
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  Who really can cast the first stone?

  by john cavanagh, over 3 years ago
  The statues that are erected for our historical leaders should not be removed. There was a reason they were immortalized. If you want to dig deep enough you can probably find 'dirt' on any historical figure. A lot of the things that we now consider "bad' may have been normal at the time and/or had a legitimate reason for the actions that were taken. As for the Picton statue, it should be left where it as, as that location is meaningful to the town, itself.
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  Decision makers

  by Emery niles, over 3 years ago

  History makes us better decision makers. We can only learn from the past if able to see what happened and use it to move forward.