They've had to put up boarding around some of the statues in London. They now look like big grey tower blocks. It must feel quite embarrassing for some of the protesters. It's the equivalent of putting child proof locks on something. Hopefully it might make some realise how bratty they're being.
Again, I've said this before. I have sympathy for some of the younger activists. It's very easy to get whipped up into idealism when you're young. It's only natural to be rebellious and politically outraged over perceived injustices. The older people and the ring-leaders though, ..jeez. It's frightening that some of these people are actually in positions of power and influence.
Of course, online the arguments often descend into debates about the historical person in question. "He was a racist!" "...no he wasn't!" However, for me all that is missing the wider point. These statues are part of our heritage regardless of that. They have a cultural, historic, aesthetic, and dare I say it, even a monetary value. They belong to us all. They are our collective property.
In the civilised world we don't just vandalise art. I've just replied to one iconoclast on Twitter by pointing out that just because I disagree with the politics of Caligula doesn't mean I think trashing ancient Roman busts and statues would be a good idea. Thankfully plenty of sensible people are beginning to make this point. The usual one being that the pyramids were said to have been built by slaves and we're not knocking them down.
Hopefully these arguments win out before any more damage is done.
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