By Gabriel Princewill-
Winston Churchill can be celebrated for his strengths, while being aware of his weaknesses and flaws. He was fallible like everyone of us and espoused some flawed views consistent with his exposure and some of the promoted ideologies of his time .
The former prime minister may again become a talking point now that his statue has been uncovered ahead of the visit of the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
Some of Churchill’s comments during his time as prime minister were deplorable, but that does not warrant his statue being removed as protesters supporting the black lives matters movement would like to see.
One of Churchill’s most notorious comments was not so much his depiction of the white race as the superior race, but also the presentation of this uncorroborated value judgement as a justification for the historical enslavement of other races. That was poor, inexcusable, and avowedly deplorable.
Nonetheless, Churchill’s indiscretion and racist proclivity does not mean this grotesque misjudgement completely erases every other positive thing he stands for. Churchill is revered for his many attributes and somewhat ethereal qualities that marked him out from his predecessors.
Churchill can be understood in the fullness of his individuality which embodies both ends of the positive and negative spectrum of his character. The fortitude of his character cannot be denied, neither can his imprudence be obscured.
Although his unarguable shortcomings pertaining to race relations were glaring, he should be judged proportionately when considering his achievements , and criticising his indiscretions.
Churchill told the Palestine Royal Commission that he did not admit wrong had been done to Native Americans or aboriginal Australians as “a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place”.
One of his most notorious comments was not so much his depiction of the white race as the superior race, but also the presentation of this uncorroborated value judgement as a justification for the historical enslavement of other races. That was poor, inexcusable, and avowedly deplorable.
Nonetheless, his indiscretion and racist proclivity does not mean this grotesque misjudgement completely erases everything else he stands for.
It is worth also noting that there exist statues of Africans and Indian men of old who committed serious atrocities to their own people in their time of history, yet have statues erected in memory of their exploits. Should their statues also be defaced and removed, or is it different because the harm they inflicted was done to their own people?
All truth is parallel and honesty must be integral to any objective assessment we conduct of serious matters.
Examination
Historical and present issues of race relations can be discussed, appraised, and a framework for change presented for examination and implementation. Protests are many times necessary and legitimate, but it is also important that they are proportionate.
The period of the slave trade was selfish and inhumane, and every effort should be made to rectify any ongoing consequences of that dark time in history.
However, it must also be noted that inhumane activities at different levels abound in many countries on earth today. Leaders of many countries maltreat their own people with impunity, and so do its citizens. This does not ofcourse mitigate the reproachable actions of former colonial masters. Context, legitimacy, and purpose is key to progress and reflection.
Change
Pushing for change and accountability is not unreasonable by any stretch of the imagination, but this must be done proportionately.
The clamour to remove statues of Sir Winston Churchill and other pioneers of the slave trade is understandable, as it is unpalatable for a lot of black people who have to endure a sight that reminds them of the past. Notwithstanding, how black people view the existence of these statues vary across a wide spectrum.
Not all black people believe it is necessary for Churchill’s statue to be removed, while a large number do. A survey on what proportion of black people object to statues of remaining
Logical
The issue of racism in the UK and other parts of the world can be discussed in a sober and logical manner, it is the most efficient way to achieve any type of change. The inhumane killing of George Floyd appears to have sped up such necessary discourse, but it must be done correctly and reasonably.
Significant
Churchill is considered by many Brits as one of the 20th century’s most significant figures- a victorious wartime leader who played an important role in defending Europe’s liberal democracy from the spread of fascism
Apart from being prime minister, Churchill operated in many capacities .In 1917, he returned to government under David Lloyd George and served successively as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War, Secretary of State for Air, and Secretary of State for the Colonies, overseeing the Anglo-Irish Treaty and British foreign policy in the Middle East.
Churchill who became prime minister in 1940, oversaw British involvement in the Allied war effort against the Axis powers, resulting in victory in 1945.
His campaign warning of an “iron curtain” of Soviet influence in Europe was followed by the promotion of European unity. He was an extremely patriotic and nationalistic leader, so much that he sought to put his race on the highest pedestal conceivable.
Given how revered Sir Winston Churchill is in British history, as symbol of British history, I would argue the call for the removal of Churchill’s statue is not proportionate with the overall objectives of its purpose.
Commission On Racial Equalities
British prime minister, Boris Jonson has promised to set up a commission on racial inequalities in an attempt to redress some of the racial inequalities that has blighted the prospects of ethnic minorities in the UK. It is a welcome move that should not be pre-empted until fully exhausted.
The British public should be united in condemning some of the flawed philosophies the Winston Churchill held, while appreciating the superlatives without trying to excuse them.
What we must not do is descend to appalling lows in protest against some of the reprehensible wrongs of British Colonial masters of old.