Belgium's King Leopold II has a 21st century nemesis. He's 14 years old

[conuly]

"I feel belittled, because it is people of my origin and community who were killed," explained Noah, the statue of Leopold II towering above him. "For me when you put a statue of Hitler in Berlin, for me, that is like putting up a statue of Leopold in Brussels."

You all have given me a history lesson today, so I'll return the favor. I first heard about that evil man as a child or adolescent, and yeah, the comparison to Hitler is apt and not at all hyperbolic. He was just bad. Pull down all the statues, nobody will shed a tear.

Comments

[wpadmirer]

Thanks for sharing that.

[blueswan]

Leopold is the example I use for explaining how statues do nothing to educate. Most people have never heard of the monster and his actions in the Congo. Looking at a statue of him does nothing to increase the knowledge of what he did. That is what books and history classes are for. Either pull the statues down or store them in the basement of a museum (if you can find one with storage room).

[tcpip]

That man deserves only a plane of hell named after him.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-12/king-leopold-ranges-renamed-amid-black-lives-matter-protests/12349532

[conuly]

Why on earth would you even... no, nevermind, I can't even.

(Meanwhile, the articles on the sidebar are distracting.)

[conuly]

Just melt them and repurpose the metal to make something useful.

[blueswan]

An even better idea!

[silveradept]

It would be excellent if the statuary to terrible people all came down and better things appeared in their places. Wherever in the world those things may be.