Oxford's Rhodes statue and the bogus argument against its fall | Letters

Martin Platt says history not censored by the removal of monuments, while
Richard Pantlin of the Oxford Zimbabwe Arts Partnership expresses his disappointment over Oriel College’s decision
‘The statue does not record history; that is in archives, documents, imagery, books and minds,’ writes Martin Platt. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters
‘The statue does not record history; that is in archives, documents, imagery, books and minds,’ writes Martin Platt. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters
Letters
Mon 24 May 2021 13.14 EDT
Last modified on Mon 24 May 2021 13.16 EDT
Here we go again – the bogus argument that removing statues is “censoring history”, as parroted by Gavin Williamson and some bloke at the Policy Exchange thinktank (Oxford college criticised for refusal to remove Cecil Rhodes statue, 20 May). Let us remind ourselves why statues and monuments are erected – to celebrate a person or an event. That is why Rhodes’ statue is on the facade of Oriel College. It does not record history; that is in archives, documents, imagery, books and minds. History persists and is not censored, erased or changed by the removal of a few statues.

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