Dear Editor:
Having travelled the world for a large chunk of my life, working closely and amicably with people of all different races and religions, and being in a happy mixed-race marriage for almost a half-century, I am appalled by recent acts of bigotry that are the focus of so much media attention.
There seems to be a headlong rush to obliterate certain historical names from buildings, streets, statues, etc., like those in Canada who mistreated Indigenous populations, and we have to wonder where will it all end.
Remember that the Church Of England was one of the biggest slave owners in some West Indian islands. Those who toiled on the sugar plantations the church owned in Barbados had the word “society” branded on their skin.
Roman Catholic church history is equally gruesome regarding slavery and other decidedly ungodly treatment of mankind, and Christianity is not the only religion bearing similar terrible blemishes. In this age of demanding politically-correct removal of names, plaques, statues, etc., maybe certain places of worship should be shuttered or demolished in recrimination for what happened throughout history.
George Santayana said: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” but he didn’t suggest that we obliterate history.
Bernie Smith, by email
