Statues are not truly evil

Rebutting the arguments of those who oppose the statue project | Photo by Kamil Ahmed

Over the past four months, students at Wilfrid Laurier University have endured endless amounts of slander regarding the planned statue project.

For those of you who don’t know about it, the project would involve the installment of numerous statues of past prime ministers across the Waterloo campus.

What frustrates me is that those who are against this project don’t have arguments based on reasoned, philosophical difference, but instead, based on an anti-intellectual motive, aimed at stopping any mention of history that may be considered “offensive.”

This isn’t a group of every day students suddenly enraged at this project. It’s the same tired, cranky, social justice types that feel they are morally entitled to run Laurier.

Allow me to elaborate on some of the opposing arguments out there.

Apparently, it is considered offensive that all of our prime ministers have been white. Some of these prime ministers were openly anti-Native, which could offend students who have Native backgrounds.

The statues would be built on what is considered “native land,” which is seen as insensitive.

Now this is a lot to unpack, but it’s time to poke holes in their logic.

It’s true that our prime ministers have been white, but that’s a fact of Canada. It’s not a conspiracy to paint our past leaders with one brush. So while facts of Canadian history may harm the poor sensitivities of some students, university is a place where people come to learn.

But what’s more unbelievable is the idea that these statues would be built on Native land. These statues would be placed on the campus of a university named after, in case anyone is unaware, Wilfrid Laurier – a former white PM. Using the logic of the protesters, the very existence of our university here is a scandalous offence.

It begs the question, if these students are so offended, why are they paying to come to a school on what they consider stolen land?

It’s so hypocritical that I question if Native students are actually being listened to or if those in opposition to the project are just using First Nations students as a smokescreen to hide their true intentions.

What‘s even more sad is that this opposition started from a professor, Jonathan Finn. It’s hard to wrap my head around the idea that someone committed to teaching is also interested in making sure certain facts about our history are suppressed.

But what’s more unbelievable is the idea that these statues would be built on Native land. These statues would be placed on the campus of a university named after, in case anyone is unaware, Wilfrid Laurier – a former white PM. Using the logic of the protesters, the very existence of our university here is a scandalous offence.

What we have is a case of people pretending they have a right to be offended.

The truth is, that’s not a right. If I get offended, that doesn’t allow me to stop everything I disagree with.

Initially, the complaint was that the price tag would be too large considering the layoffs last year, but once it emerged the statues would be free and the installation insignificant, the protesters tried to save face by saying it’s offensive.

It’s even more telling that those opposed to this project are the same cast of ghastly characters who objected to the layoffs last year.

This isn’t a group of every day students suddenly enraged at this project. It’s the same tired, cranky, social justice types that feel they are morally entitled to run Laurier.

Every time there’s a controversy here, it’s the same group making the same claims, crying wolf that every action taken by Max Blouw is some weird microaggression aimed at harming students. Don’t let these thin-skinned students bully everyone into submission.

It’s important to remember that discussion is the number one priority for these types of situations. This project opens up dialogue between students about the good and the bad actions of past leaders.

That’s a creative way to teach students about Canadian history.

Please go to Change.org and sign the petition to continue the statue project.