This post was about removing a specific statue, not all statues. But, I'll play along. I think it would have the same detrimental effect to society that waiving a magic wand and eliminating all fountains, all murals or other works of art would have. Statues, at their best are beautiful works of art that convey a message, often but not always of historical significance.
Okay, fair. Thanks for playing. The central argument you're making is for the aesthetic benefits of statuary, which is not the argument at hand - clearly, the subject is the reconciliation of past deeds with current mores. Here's my argument: Thomas Jefferson's legacy has withstood challenge for a couple hundred years now. There's no new information come to light that might challenge it. What we're experiencing is a new openness about the uneven impact our accepted cultural heroes have on our culture. It's not like the statue hasn't moved before: And it's not like the statue is going to be destroyed. And granted - everyone in discussion would happily trade the end of this thing for moving Jefferson into the foyer if they were given the choice. But they haven't been. Art is worth reconsidering. I feel - and feel strongly - that our culture is made up of what we revere, and if we are unwilling to rethink what we revere our culture can never advance.A final spot for the statue is yet to be determined. It was first placed in City Hall around 1834 and was displayed in several locations there before moving to the main chamber in 1915.
I don’t disagree with most of this. However, I do think that as a culture you can revere aspects of people, certain accomplishments and separate them from their shortcomings. I like that we are having this discussion. I think having these statues with the caveat of stating how immensely imperfect the subject is, is valuable. And I did read the article Re the history of this specific statue. My larger concern is where does it start and where does it end? mk made the case better below when he said, if we can only honor people in the whole, then we are trapped in a lie..
I think mk is making the mistake of applying logic and permanence to an emotional, ephemeral condition. Confederate statues are being taken down because there was no reason for them to ever be up. Jefferson is being taken down because emotions are high. If it calms emotions to move a statue, move the statue. If we as a culture still find something to value about Thomas Jefferson we won't move it far. It's not like we're blowing up the Bamyan Buddhas here.