Is this going a bit too far?

[Blue3]

The revision of history is not new the Egyptians, Romans would change the heads of statues if the previous likeness was deemed unfavourable, Shakespeares Ricard the third portrayal as a hunched back which almost all historians dismissed as Tudor propaganda until his remains were discovered, the dam busters had a black Labrador they named N****r a memorial the the dog is being removed and revised which is being portrayed as a rewriting of historical facts which tarnish the heroic exploits of the dam busters and the term N****r will be removed and this some how should be accepted today as written then.

The term N****r was offensive then and it's worth remembering that many foreign nationals served in the RAF many from different ethnic backgrounds it was racist then and it's racist today

The truth of the story is somewhat darker the dog was regularly feed litres of beer until it collapsed for the fun of it and was dead before the raid even took place killed after running into the road and being hit by a car, the dam busters were heroes but some were guilty of animal cruelty and neglect my view is that we would never have heard of this dog were it not for its portal in the film which using a large dose of artistic license had the dog sitting crying for the lost heroes when in reality it was already dead, it's monument should reflect all of this as it tells a more rounded story a revision of history

 

[rogersix]

Fishing thread that you ignored? Hypocritical bell end.

You've made a fool of yourself again, haven't you

Like I say, no self awareness

 

[rogersix]

Are we no longer able to call a spade a spade?

It depends on context and intent

 

[Hamilton]

Are we no longer able to call a spade a spade?

It's the thinly disguised veil of supposed humour like this that is demonstrative of why we have to work as hard as we can to eradicate racism. I am sure that you would claim to not be racist but to eradicate racism you have to do all you can to eliminate it. That means not using cheap humour.

I do object to the phrase you've used because in the search of a quick laugh you've used a term that is incredibly hurtful and perpetuates the idea that it's ok to just laugh about these matters. It's not. Racism is real and not a matter for joking about.

 

[Bry Nylon]

FFS.

I bet if Guy Gibson could hear this he'd wish he'd just called the bloody thing Nigel.

 

[GT49er]

FFS.

I bet if Guy Gibson could hear this he'd wish he'd just called the bloody thing Nigel.

I think maybe he's be more likely to wish he'd just called off the bloody dam busting!

 

[happypig]

It wasn't an offensive word to most people in 1943 when racism was rife. It was a bit "racy" when the Major used it in Fawlty Towers 32 years later.
40 odd years later it's very offensive to PoC (and many of the wider community) and they've done the right thing by removing the word from the memorial for Gibson's dog.

It's not like VAR, we still won the war (and the Dambusters raid still killed 1000 Russian slave labourers).

 

[KZNSeagull]

I watched the film about 2 weeks ago on Film 4 and I am sure it was the original which included a warning at the beginning about language of the time that some may find offensive.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

removing statues to slave traders and dodgy headstones makes a statement about the future- and that is where we are headed.

I think the future is part of the issue. Some seem absolutely shit scared of it and will fight change and progression.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

OP is on a wind up and he has reeled a lot in. Nothing new has been said on this thread but the OP gains some comfort from a familiar topic being rehashed.

 

[el punal]

With tongue-firmly-in-cheek, would the film dog character’s name “Lassie” offend those of a different sexual persuasion?

 

[wellquickwoody]

No wind up, no ruse, just actual interest in seeing what the group opinion might be.

Seems some do not share in the majority view like they thought they would.

 

[rogersix]

It wasn't an offensive word to most people in 1943 when racism was rife. It was a bit "racy" when the Major used it in Fawlty Towers 32 years later.
40 odd years later it's very offensive to PoC (and many of the wider community) and they've done the right thing by removing the word from the memorial for Gibson's dog.

It's not like VAR, we still won the war (and the Dambusters raid still killed 1000 Russian slave labourers).

that term has always been racist, it wasn't offensive because most people were racist

 

[rogersix]

No wind up, no ruse, just actual interest in seeing what the group opinion might be.

Seems some do not share in the majority view like they thought they would.

bullshit

 

[Saunders]

I think that if we were to re-write the past we would be unable to learn the errors of our ways to correct the present and change the future for good.
Leave it, learn from it and eradicate all forms of prejudice and oppression.

Its a memorial to a dog, how is this "re-writing history"?

 

[theboybilly]

Will they try and change the name of the village of "Blackboys" next ?

They tried to change the name of The Black Boy pub in Fishbourne a few years before it closed but it was pointed out that 'Black Boy' or 'Blackboys' in a name is a corruption of an old English place-name from our French heritage - 'Black Bois' after a nearby wood or forest. There is absolutely no need to change those names. But it won't stop some from trying no doubt

 

[Saunders]

They tried to change the name of The Black Boy pub in Fishbourne a few years before it closed but it was pointed out that 'Black Boy' or 'Blackboys' in a name is a corruption of an old English place-name from our French heritage - 'Black Bois' after a nearby wood or forest. There is absolutely no need to change those names. But it won't stop some from trying no doubt

Loads of pubs got name changes to be in with the kids nobody gave two shits about it. Why should this be any different.

 

[The Clamp]

Hasn’t this fishing thread from one of the boards notorious bigots been slung into the Gammon pit by now?

Still, at least we have been spared Sydney’s tales of his time in Rhodesia as Viceroy to The Lord High Poobar of Upper Buttcrack, or whatever it was he did that means he can’t be accused of racism.

 

[Dick Head]

Does history need to be erased?

Please, no fighting or slanging, just polite and non aggressive debate.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53436447

OP is a WUM.

 

[pastafarian]

No one thinks it will end racism, it's about causing offence. As has already been noted, what type of person gets irate about a statue they have only learned, exists

Just because you did not know until today a gravestone/plaque (its not a statue) to the dog ****** even existed, its no reason to presume others were unaware. Anyone who has a great admiration of the skill and bravery of the Dambuster pilots, acknowledges the incredible determination of Barnes Wallis and knows the overall story will be fully aware there is a memorial to the dog where it was hit by a car. ****** is an integral part of the legendary Dambuster Story,If you cant understand why then its your loss.