07) A TALE OF TWO MONUMENTS

 

People’s Voice Editorial

 

            Just after the new federal government announced that it intends to stop throwing taxpayer dollars at the anti-communist mega-monument planned by the recently defeated Harper Tories and their fascist buddies, Heritage Canada jumped back into this mess with an online consultation on “Design Considerations for the Memorial to the Victims of Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge.”

 

            In an appalling exercise in appeasing the ultra-right groups which want Canadians to pay for this monstrosity, the Heritage Canada survey asks participants to “identify important visitor experiences of the Memorial,” to be built “on a site in downtown Ottawa that is between 200 and 500 square metres.”

 

            Not surprisingly, none of the prefabricated survey answers allow respondents to demand that zero square metres of public space be allocated for this neo-fascist project. There is a blank at the end to express personal views, and we urge readers to continue speaking out against the monument. People’s Voice will also publicize actions later this year to resist the spread of fascist ideology, such as the annual so-called “Black Ribbon Day”, another attempt to rehabilitate the reputations of traitors who sided with Hitler’s armies during the Second World War.

 

            We are, however, delighted by the news that Russian activists are requesting permission to install a monument near the US embassy in Moscow “dedicated to the genocide of American Indians.” The activists have launched a petition in support of the monument on the change.org website, pointing out that “despite assuming the position of a ‘global policeman’ the United States still refuses to accept the responsibility for killing over 15 million Native Americans.” The petition says the monument would be dedicated to “the memory of American Indians who perished as heroes in the unfair war with treacherous invaders.” Look for the petition online!

 

(The above article is from the February 15-29, 2016, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)