The questions about British memory of Afra Hirsch are, obvious , good intentionated . Two problems are the obstacles to see this documentary as one real interesting.
- the first - each fact from past must be seen in the context of period. It is one of basic rules of honest historical analysis. So, admiral Nelson or Winston Churchill or Edward Colston are the men of their time .
- second big problem is the pledge for the political correctness. Or, this war against statues is childish to dumb. A museum for the Churchil prejudices about Indians or Africans ? Real ? Germany as example ? The tempt to modelling public memory about british heroes ? Serious ?
The purpose of history studied in school was the developpement and encouraging of patriotic spirit. And this is just fair. To determine the fall of monuments for illusory justice is not a wise action.
Sure, we lived in multicultural societies.
But the past remains the same. And the perspective about it, the recognition of virtues not being destroyed by the exposure of the mistakes or sins of our national heroes.
Sure, I saw it as a good intentioned reevaluation but only good intentioned. Because the perspective of lady Hirsch is very, very, very supperficial.
I saw this documentary as Romanian and as history teacher, with indulgent smile about hard try of actress to convince her public.
