We must learn from history, not rewrite it

From the outset, the circumstances surrounding the death of George Floyd in the US were barbaric and have no place in a civilised society.
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With every action comes a reaction, and unfortunately necessary protests and campaigning have been at times hijacked right across the globe by extremists on both sides of the political divide.

Black lives clearly matter, and I would suggest that anyone with the Netflix streaming service watches both ‘13th’ and ‘LA 92’, which look at the extent of the issue and how far goes back it goes – not just in America but right around the world.

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Will the death of George Floyd bring on seismic change in our world? Hopefully, yes. But at the cost of rewriting history?

The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London,  was covered for protection following the protests earlier in June (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London,  was covered for protection following the protests earlier in June (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)
The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London, was covered for protection following the protests earlier in June (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

When the protests reached the UK, baying mobs, not rational protesters, targeted various statues.

To be fair, the Edward Colston figure in Bristol had been the subject of heated debate for many years, with Bristol City Council perhaps almost desperate to find a way to move its location.

But the targeting of Winston Churchill’s statue is an entirely different matter.

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We live in a civilised, democratic society because of men like Sir Winston Churchill.

Yes, he was flawed, we all are, but overall his positive contribution to this country cannot be questioned.

Are the people calling for its removal doing so for the right reasons?

History continues to educate us every day of our lives, that is why it must not be rewritten.

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If they take down Churchill, there would be an argument for memorials to Mandela and Gandhi following.

Change must come, but change for the right reasons, not to pander to noisy minority.

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