Rewriting history could save statues

Re: “Has Orwell’s 1984 finally arrived?” letter, Aug. 22

I can only agree with Paul Baumberg ’s observation that those in positions of influence are becoming extremely sensitive about criticism. Free speech is only tolerated when it reflects the opinion of those in power.

See Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s outburst labelling a woman’s question about illegal immigration hate speech. It has become very popular to attach labels to anyone who dissents. If you criticize Israel, you are anti- Semitic. If you dislike homosexual practice, you are homophobic. If you question the validity of man-made climate change, you are a climate-change denier. It goes on and on, and new labels are being invented again and again.

In George Orwell’s book 1984 an entire department was dedicated to revising past history and bringing it “up to date” by denying that a certain event ever happened. In the case of Sir John A. Macdonald, we may rewrite history and claim that he never allowed residential schools but that it was done by someone else. It would save the expense of having to remove a statue, and would keep his image untarnished Hans G. Kusche, Cochrane