Soviet Monuments

[Valenki]

I do not really understand why cities would want to remove Soviet-era monuments particularly the ones that commemorate Soviet liberation. If imposing statues of Lenin or Stalin stick in the throats of Capitalist dreamers I can understand they'd want them out of sight but those reminders of sacrifice afforded by fallen men and women who faced the Nazi war machine must certainly be an honourable endeavour?

My wife is from Košice and - pretty much in the centre of the town - stands a monument to the young Soviet men who lost their lives while liberating the city during WW II. Well, a few years ago the city planned to bulldoze the thing in order to widen the road, but there must have been enough protest to stop it, thank goodness.

I've been along the eastern parts of Belgium where German is the mother tongue. These places changed sides as the border was moved first this way then the other way. In the villages there are war monuments to the dead of two world wars, some fought for one side others fought for the other. I doubt removing any of those monuments were ever considered. War is war and there is no denying that men and women lose their lives on both sides of the confrontation. Isn't it fair to honour their passing no matter what uniform they wore? They are all victims.

A link to the monument in  Košice on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274927-d10330810-Reviews-Monument_to_the_Soviet_Soldiers_the_Liberators-Kosice_Kosice_Region.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=394919978

[rosco]

Time delivers new generations of self centred youths, all with short memories and an ambition to remove anything that may cause offence. It's a modern day tragedy and elected officials, who are supposed to be reasonably intelligent, should be the ones reminding everyone of the human cost war took, each time some idiot suggests removing a monument. Then there's the group who want anything nodding to colonialism and its profits removed. Their lives are damaged beyond repair and the distress a monument burdens them with is inconsolable.

I'm starting to lose faith in humanity, with the objecting to xmas decorations, the banning of clapping in Universities and men in dresses being allowed to use female toilets or become champions in ladies sport. Common sense is in the bin so that the modern ignoramus can thrive.

It's a shame we can't convey the real cost war brings so that these people wanting to demolish our gory past, live just a bit of the horror. It's been said before, treasure the good, bad and indifferent otherwise we all forget.

[Valenki]

Time delivers new generations of self centred youths, all with short memories and an ambition to remove anything that may cause offence. It's a modern day tragedy and elected officials, who are supposed to be reasonably intelligent, should be the ones reminding everyone of the human cost war took, each time some idiot suggests removing a monument. Then there's the group who want anything nodding to colonialism and its profits removed. Their lives are damaged beyond repair and the distress a monument burdens them with is inconsolable.

I'm starting to lose faith in humanity, with the objecting to xmas decorations, the banning of clapping in Universities and men in dresses being allowed to use female toilets or become champions in ladies sport. Common sense is in the bin so that the modern ignoramus can thrive.

It's a shame we can't convey the real cost war brings so that these people wanting to demolish our gory past, live just a bit of the horror. It's been said before, treasure the good, bad and indifferent otherwise we all forget.

I agree with you and I figure it's all of this political correctness what's to blame. National soul-searching is fine but soul-invasion does no good.

One of the worst examples was at Bassingbourn Barracks where a monument to commemorate the Americans who billeted there during the last World War was removed (perhaps only disguised) so as not to “offend” Libyan officers who arrived for special training a few years ago. You remember what took place there, I'm sure.

I don't like political propaganda shoved down my throat, that is a fact and nationality of the fallen is only a footnote – or ought to be – and those who paid the ultimate price should be remembered.

[AvHdB]

There are two issues involved here. Monuments to leaders such as Hitler, Churchill and Stalin, who are responsible for the deaths of millions of civilians. And monuments to the actual soldiers who died, often in vain.

If history was explained with out political correctness than I would say remove the monuments to the 'leaders' and remember those who died on the battlefield irregardless of which 'side' they were on.

[Valenki]

There are two issues involved here.

That's what I said.

If history was explained with out political correctness than I would say remove the monuments to the 'leaders' and remember those who died on the battlefield irregardless of which 'side' they were on.

I can agree with that.

Monuments to leaders such as Hitler, Churchill and Stalin, who are responsible for the deaths of millions of civilians. And monuments to the actual soldiers who died, often in vain.

Well, yes. But I include George Bush Jr. - John Kennedy - Lyndon Johnson - Tony Blair - Barrack Obama - Leonid Brezhnev - every leader who sent his men to the illegal invasions of Irak, Vietnam, Grenada, Cuba, Syria, Iran, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc. etc. etc.