Great piece. We don't have to think exactly the same as our ancestors, but we should respect what they believed in as worthy of remembrance. They may be wiser than us.
I wonder if we could "future proof" our memorials by not elevating or magnifying the likenesses. We should look Sir John A in the eye as we read the contextual plaque that gives us the highs and lows of his humanity. None of us is perfect. We should not expect historical figures to be giants or angels. We should not portray them that way, but rather as remarkable, often fallible and perhaps relatable humans.
Dan, I am all for it. I grieve the assaults on Sir John, Egerton Ryerson and the offense to Terry Fox and the National War Memorial by the occupiers in your fair city. The continuing cult of the Lost Cause permeates the American experience but we are not Americans. Perhaps I have spent too many hours in cemeteries including Beechwood to pretend indifference. I note that the great Louis St. Laurent made sure his memorial was smaller than his father's. For good reason. This is an eternal demonstration of Canadian proportion and so is that of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. He is one among many in the family mausoleum.
An interesting example Dan. A Memorial to John Howard was also erected in the Ukraine after his death. https://curiologist.com/tag/ukraine/
What a remarkable people.
Great piece. We don't have to think exactly the same as our ancestors, but we should respect what they believed in as worthy of remembrance. They may be wiser than us.
I wonder if we could "future proof" our memorials by not elevating or magnifying the likenesses. We should look Sir John A in the eye as we read the contextual plaque that gives us the highs and lows of his humanity. None of us is perfect. We should not expect historical figures to be giants or angels. We should not portray them that way, but rather as remarkable, often fallible and perhaps relatable humans.
Dan, I am all for it. I grieve the assaults on Sir John, Egerton Ryerson and the offense to Terry Fox and the National War Memorial by the occupiers in your fair city. The continuing cult of the Lost Cause permeates the American experience but we are not Americans. Perhaps I have spent too many hours in cemeteries including Beechwood to pretend indifference. I note that the great Louis St. Laurent made sure his memorial was smaller than his father's. For good reason. This is an eternal demonstration of Canadian proportion and so is that of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. He is one among many in the family mausoleum.