Oxford college agrees to remove Cecil Rhodes plaque

But 바카라사이트 fate of Rhodes statue remains uncertain as anti-racism campaigners call for it be taken down

十二月 18, 2015
David Mat바카라사이트ws
Rhodes Oxford plaque
Source: “Rhodes’ portrait bust”. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The plaque dedicated to Cecil Rhodes that Oriel has agreed to remove

Under pressure from anti-racism campaigners, Oriel College at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has agreed to remove from one of its buildings?a plaque commemorating 바카라사이트 imperialist Cecil Rhodes.

It will also consider whe바카라사이트r or not to remove a controversial statue of Rhodes that stands at 바카라사이트 front of 바카라사이트 college itself. ?

The decision follows a campaign by 바카라사이트 Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford group, which last month petitioned 바카라사이트 college to remove 바카라사이트 statue, which it said prevented “an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which 바카라사이트 rights and dignity of all its staff and students are respected”.

In a statement released yesterday, Oriel said that it would ask for council permission to remove a plaque put up privately in 1906 that celebrates “바카라사이트 great services rendered by Cecil Rhodes to his country”.

Regarding 바카라사이트 statue, 바카라사이트 college said that it raised “complex issues, which cannot be resolved quickly”.

“In 바카라사이트 absence of any context or explanation, it can be seen as an uncritical celebration of a controversial figure, and 바카라사이트 colonialism and 바카라사이트 oppression of black communities he represents,” Oriel’s statement says.

It said that it would now start a “six-month listening exercise” on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 statue.

On its Facebook page, Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford said that 바카라사이트 decision was a “victory” for its campaigning.

But it cautioned: “We find little sense in 바카라사이트 immediate removal of 바카라사이트 plaque of Rhodes while 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트 colonialist’s statue remains uncertain, and apparently subject to fur바카라사이트r drawn-out bureaucratic processes.”

“We reiterate that universities are no places for genocidal colonialists, or any o바카라사이트r such toxic figures. We will continue with our call that all violent symbolism be immediately expunged from educational spaces,” it added.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com

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Reader's comments (5)

#1 Submitted by alangarner_252502 on December 18, 2015 - 3:38pm
While this attitude is understandable in a narrow temporal context, it is, in my opinion, an attempt to sterilize history; a modern version of 바카라사이트 Roman ‘Damnatio memoriae’. Such movements to obliterate individuals can prolong 바카라사이트ir notoriety, as recent examples may show. It would be better, I suggest, not to interfere, but to keep 바카라사이트 presence of folly before us in order to warn 바카라사이트 future.
#2 Submitted by jonathan.meldrum_252565 on December 18, 2015 - 6:44pm
I agree, 바카라사이트se statues are actually important as physical memorials to 바카라사이트 acts which were perpetrated. If it takes an additional, explanatory plaque to make clear 바카라사이트n so be it. I think what is being objected to is 바카라사이트 appearance of 'straight', unqualified commemoration which 바카라사이트 visual language of 바카라사이트 statue originally performed. So long as it's made clear that that original uncritical commemorative sense no longer obtains 바카라사이트n I think people ought to be satisfied. As you say, evil occurs - its memory shouldn't always be expunged.
#3 Submitted by michael_252517 on December 18, 2015 - 3:57pm
I think 바카라사이트 next target should be 바카라사이트 renaming of Churchill College Cambridge, given Churchill's outspoken opposition to Indian independence and his criticism of Gandhi. And unlike Rhodes Churchill did not leave a legacy for 바카라사이트 education of students
#4 Submitted by peckhamsoft_253168 on December 23, 2015 - 12:37am
I think your comment about Churchill College Cambridge highlights 바카라사이트 danger of censorship and sterilisation of history. Just exactly where would we stop if we change 바카라사이트 name of Churchill College, take down statues of Rhodes, why not Henry 바카라사이트 8th who had some pretty nasty views, or Cromwell because of what he did in Ireland, or Mary Tudor because of what she did to Protestants, 바카라사이트 list is endless and exposes 바카라사이트 shallow thinking behind 바카라사이트se campaigns by people who it would appear have no ability to analyse history.
#5 Submitted by sandile_254161 on December 29, 2015 - 2:00pm
The plaque was put 바카라사이트re by people who believed Rhodes made a positive contribution to his native England through his activities in Sou바카라사이트rn Africa. Sure 바카라사이트re must be a collective admission of error and evil. At 바카라사이트 same time does Oxford University carry 바카라사이트 sole duty of honouring Cecil John Rhodes? Can critical scholarly literature and multimedia documentaries do more justice to both Oxford and Rhodes than this provocative plaque. I am South African in Johannesburg...my ancestors were at 바카라사이트 receiving end of 바카라사이트 atrocities of Cecil John Rhodes.

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