Don’t erase history, but don’t sugar-coat it

RE: Victoria removing Sir John A’s statue from city hall

Racism and slavery were accepted in many countries in the 19th century. “Accepted” by the ruling classes, who gave consideration only to their own judgments, while ignoring the injustices inflicted on the victims of their actions.

Historians say Sir John A. Macdonald had no regard whatsoever for our Indigenous peoples. He thought they were disposable, and at best, should be assimilated. The fact that residential schools were inhuman and immoral should, therefore, not be surprising.

Because he was a prime mover for residential schools, schools named after Macdonald should be renamed. And all statues of him in public spaces should be retrofitted with plaques that describe the culture of that time, Macdonald’s valuable contributions to Canada, and the residential schools disaster — without candy-coating.

Brian Boyd, Orleans, ON