The Danger in Removing Statues and the Purging of History
Last week Dennis Prager posted a powerful article on the present push to destroy statues and to erase the "evils" from America's historical past. You can find the article at: www.patriotpost.us/opinions/71421-will-jewish-and-christian-schools-teach-the-truth-about-america-and-racism. Allow me to share just a portion of that article. I highly recommend that you read it in its entirety. Dr. Prager begins his article by quoting from Exodus 23:2, "Do not follow the majority to do evil." Dr. Prager writes: "At the time Rabbi Schneerson [note: he was one of the most influential rabbis of the 20th century] described America as a 'country of kindness,' the southern half of America enforced immoral and degrading Jim Crow laws, and racism was common in the North as well. I have noted the anti-Semitism in American life at that time. And gays were often ostracized and degraded.
"But the Torah teaches us that we are not to compare the past with the present. That is why Noah, the man God saves from the Flood, is described in Genesis as righteous 'in his generations.' If Noah were to be compared with people in later generations, he would be found wanting. Abraham, the man chosen by God to be the father of His People, had a concubine and lied about his wife to save his own life. But only fools - like all those who want to tear down monuments to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson - would dismiss Abraham's greatness. Jacob, the man God renamed 'Israel,' owned slaves. Should Jews cease calling themselves the 'children of Israel'? Should the State of Israel change its name?
"That is what Jewish - and all religious - schools should be teaching when discussing Washington or Jefferson having slaves. If we are to dismiss the greatness of two of the founders of the freest country in human history - not to mention the best non-Jewish country Jews have ever lived in - then we should do likewise to the Jewish patriarchs. Moses had a fellow Israelite executed for publicly violating the Sabbath. Should his sculpture be removed from the Supreme Court? Will Jewish day schools start dismissing the greatness of all our ancestors? If they start doing this to Washington and Jefferson, they should be consistent.
"Or should they do what the Torah does? While never ignoring the flaws of giants, remember why they were giants. Will Jewish and Christian schools - there is no hope for wisdom in secular schools - teach that every society in world history, including African, native American and Arab societies, all practiced slavery? If not, why not? Isn't it morally and factually dishonest to teach only about slavery in America?
"What should be taught is that America's and the Western world's uniqueness did not lie in having slaves. Slavery was universal. Therefore, the morally serious person asks who abolished slavery, not who practiced it. But the left - as opposed to liberals and conservatives - is not now, nor ever has been, morally serious.
"When you ask the only morally significant question - who abolished slavery? - the answer is America and some other Western countries. And then you should teach the reason: because of Western values rooted in the Bible." To that I will say a hearty "Amen!"
This past Monday, Ryan Moffatt, a journalist based in Vancouver, British Columbia, posted an article at The Epoch Times website. You can find it at: www.theepochtimes/com/erasing-historical-statues-a-monumental-mistake_3396123.html. This is a long article so I will only highlight portions of it. "Arbitrarily removing monuments in a symbolic gesture to address the complex history of racism and colonialism can have damaging unintended consequences that are irreversible if taken too far. What may start with the removal of confederate generals will in the end swallow the culture whole, leaving a void readily filled by even less noble traditions." Friends, this is a powerful statement. If we remove the reminders of the past, if we fail to have a dialogue about the past, then another philosophy or ideology will fill that vacuum. And, to quote Jesus, the end will be worse than the first.
Mr. Moffatt writes, "Destroying national heritage is a fundamental communist tactic used to indoctrinate societies with Marxist ideology as a prelude to revolution. One of Marxism's primary aims is to sever a population's link to the past. The longer and richer the history, the more resistant a nation is to the influence of foreign ideologies." The author then shares the 10-year power struggle within China, called the "cultural revolution," whereby Chairman Mao destroyed every vestige of Chinese history. He writes, "After 10 years of brutality and destruction, China was rendered wholly disconnected from its 5,000-year history. The goal was achieved: the fear-ridden populace was readily assimilated to Marxist ideology. As a result, present-day Chinese are unable to understand the value of their past, the richness of their culture, or articulate a vision for a future removed from authoritarianism."
Finally, Mr. Moffatt writes, "Before renaming streets or removing statues that have stood for hundreds of years, there needs to be debate and public consultation. If there is sufficient rationale for changing a historical landmark, then that case should be made on its merits rather than because the mob demands it. Public debate would clarify both sides of the argument and result in a necessary free exchange of ideas. The consequence of failing to protect this cornerstone of democratic discourse is too great to be casually cast aside because of political pressure. A symbolic erasing of these representatives of history as a reckoning of their misdeeds does not facilitate the necessary debate around their place in history. One could readily make the argument that the dichotomy of these monuments is the most compelling reason to keep them intact, to serve as sobering reminders of the imperfect nature of our humanity - neither wholly good nor wholly bad but nonetheless capable of remarkable feats. All of history is stained with blood and sin, a fact we should keep in mind when weighing the virtue of our own ideas. Moral and material development do not progress in a linear fashion, and developed nations are not above regressing into tyranny. Without the material culture of our historical roots to keep our moral compass intact, we fail to not only honour mankind's progress of ideas but cast aside the traditions of our shared humanity."
Friends, these are two powerful articles that need to be read and pondered. We are seeing today a concerted effort to destroy Western civilization as it has been known since the civilizing of the barbarians who inhabited Europe in the 3rd and 4th centuries. This is a civilization that was founded upon the moral and ethical values inherent within the Judeo-Christian culture. There was a right and there was a wrong. There was value in laws. There was a moral code that people, whether they were the privileged of society or the underprivileged of society, embraced. Yes, there were times when those moral codes were challenged. Yet, they were never destroyed. The most recent attempt at destroying the foundations of Western civilization are based upon the teachings of Karl Marx. In 1917 we witnessed the effectiveness of these teachings as the Russian culture was systematically destroyed by Communism. As one of the prominent activists in the BLM organization has stated, "We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories."
Friends, what is happening in America and, for that matter, around the globe, is not related to the death of George Floyd. His death was just the match that ignited the kindling that has been gathering for decades. The question becomes: will this be a fire that will burn itself out rather quickly, or will this be a fire that will cause the demise of the free-world as we have known it? If I am studying the prophetic biblical texts carefully, I believe that the latter question is the one that will be answered. There is a growing cry today for universalist leadership. [Note: the problem with President Trump is that he has interrupted the movement toward that globalist-universalist leadership]. And, we know from Scripture, that there will be a universalist-globalist government in the future led by a person known only as the Antichrist. Personally, I believe we are seeing the stage being prepared for his coronation. However, and joyfully so, the Bible also tells us that his reign will be of brief endurance - a mere seven years. Yet the Bible also tells us that those seven-years will be among the most horrific of any years the world has ever seen.
This is a time to awaken out of our spiritual slumber. This is a time to put on the armor God has provided for us. This is a time for us to enter into the battle, to do as Jude challenges us, "to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints."
"But the Torah teaches us that we are not to compare the past with the present. That is why Noah, the man God saves from the Flood, is described in Genesis as righteous 'in his generations.' If Noah were to be compared with people in later generations, he would be found wanting. Abraham, the man chosen by God to be the father of His People, had a concubine and lied about his wife to save his own life. But only fools - like all those who want to tear down monuments to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson - would dismiss Abraham's greatness. Jacob, the man God renamed 'Israel,' owned slaves. Should Jews cease calling themselves the 'children of Israel'? Should the State of Israel change its name?
"That is what Jewish - and all religious - schools should be teaching when discussing Washington or Jefferson having slaves. If we are to dismiss the greatness of two of the founders of the freest country in human history - not to mention the best non-Jewish country Jews have ever lived in - then we should do likewise to the Jewish patriarchs. Moses had a fellow Israelite executed for publicly violating the Sabbath. Should his sculpture be removed from the Supreme Court? Will Jewish day schools start dismissing the greatness of all our ancestors? If they start doing this to Washington and Jefferson, they should be consistent.
"Or should they do what the Torah does? While never ignoring the flaws of giants, remember why they were giants. Will Jewish and Christian schools - there is no hope for wisdom in secular schools - teach that every society in world history, including African, native American and Arab societies, all practiced slavery? If not, why not? Isn't it morally and factually dishonest to teach only about slavery in America?
"What should be taught is that America's and the Western world's uniqueness did not lie in having slaves. Slavery was universal. Therefore, the morally serious person asks who abolished slavery, not who practiced it. But the left - as opposed to liberals and conservatives - is not now, nor ever has been, morally serious.
"When you ask the only morally significant question - who abolished slavery? - the answer is America and some other Western countries. And then you should teach the reason: because of Western values rooted in the Bible." To that I will say a hearty "Amen!"
This past Monday, Ryan Moffatt, a journalist based in Vancouver, British Columbia, posted an article at The Epoch Times website. You can find it at: www.theepochtimes/com/erasing-historical-statues-a-monumental-mistake_3396123.html. This is a long article so I will only highlight portions of it. "Arbitrarily removing monuments in a symbolic gesture to address the complex history of racism and colonialism can have damaging unintended consequences that are irreversible if taken too far. What may start with the removal of confederate generals will in the end swallow the culture whole, leaving a void readily filled by even less noble traditions." Friends, this is a powerful statement. If we remove the reminders of the past, if we fail to have a dialogue about the past, then another philosophy or ideology will fill that vacuum. And, to quote Jesus, the end will be worse than the first.
Mr. Moffatt writes, "Destroying national heritage is a fundamental communist tactic used to indoctrinate societies with Marxist ideology as a prelude to revolution. One of Marxism's primary aims is to sever a population's link to the past. The longer and richer the history, the more resistant a nation is to the influence of foreign ideologies." The author then shares the 10-year power struggle within China, called the "cultural revolution," whereby Chairman Mao destroyed every vestige of Chinese history. He writes, "After 10 years of brutality and destruction, China was rendered wholly disconnected from its 5,000-year history. The goal was achieved: the fear-ridden populace was readily assimilated to Marxist ideology. As a result, present-day Chinese are unable to understand the value of their past, the richness of their culture, or articulate a vision for a future removed from authoritarianism."
Finally, Mr. Moffatt writes, "Before renaming streets or removing statues that have stood for hundreds of years, there needs to be debate and public consultation. If there is sufficient rationale for changing a historical landmark, then that case should be made on its merits rather than because the mob demands it. Public debate would clarify both sides of the argument and result in a necessary free exchange of ideas. The consequence of failing to protect this cornerstone of democratic discourse is too great to be casually cast aside because of political pressure. A symbolic erasing of these representatives of history as a reckoning of their misdeeds does not facilitate the necessary debate around their place in history. One could readily make the argument that the dichotomy of these monuments is the most compelling reason to keep them intact, to serve as sobering reminders of the imperfect nature of our humanity - neither wholly good nor wholly bad but nonetheless capable of remarkable feats. All of history is stained with blood and sin, a fact we should keep in mind when weighing the virtue of our own ideas. Moral and material development do not progress in a linear fashion, and developed nations are not above regressing into tyranny. Without the material culture of our historical roots to keep our moral compass intact, we fail to not only honour mankind's progress of ideas but cast aside the traditions of our shared humanity."
Friends, these are two powerful articles that need to be read and pondered. We are seeing today a concerted effort to destroy Western civilization as it has been known since the civilizing of the barbarians who inhabited Europe in the 3rd and 4th centuries. This is a civilization that was founded upon the moral and ethical values inherent within the Judeo-Christian culture. There was a right and there was a wrong. There was value in laws. There was a moral code that people, whether they were the privileged of society or the underprivileged of society, embraced. Yes, there were times when those moral codes were challenged. Yet, they were never destroyed. The most recent attempt at destroying the foundations of Western civilization are based upon the teachings of Karl Marx. In 1917 we witnessed the effectiveness of these teachings as the Russian culture was systematically destroyed by Communism. As one of the prominent activists in the BLM organization has stated, "We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories."
Friends, what is happening in America and, for that matter, around the globe, is not related to the death of George Floyd. His death was just the match that ignited the kindling that has been gathering for decades. The question becomes: will this be a fire that will burn itself out rather quickly, or will this be a fire that will cause the demise of the free-world as we have known it? If I am studying the prophetic biblical texts carefully, I believe that the latter question is the one that will be answered. There is a growing cry today for universalist leadership. [Note: the problem with President Trump is that he has interrupted the movement toward that globalist-universalist leadership]. And, we know from Scripture, that there will be a universalist-globalist government in the future led by a person known only as the Antichrist. Personally, I believe we are seeing the stage being prepared for his coronation. However, and joyfully so, the Bible also tells us that his reign will be of brief endurance - a mere seven years. Yet the Bible also tells us that those seven-years will be among the most horrific of any years the world has ever seen.
This is a time to awaken out of our spiritual slumber. This is a time to put on the armor God has provided for us. This is a time for us to enter into the battle, to do as Jude challenges us, "to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints."
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