EDITORIAL: Curt's place in history
Removing statues is not removing history: destroying them is.
If a statue, like Curt von François’s, is demolished, that could have an effect on history, but only from an optic point of view.
Those who are into eye candies can drool at the sight of Curt’s well-kept hook moustache, or the military regalia with which he attacked Namibian natives at Hornkranz, mercilessly killing 80 men, women, children and babies.
But that view is now limited to within the walls of a municipal museum – as it should’ve been for 57 years.
While colonialism and apartheid are part of our country’s history, it is not one we are proud of. Even the architects of that history are now regretful.
Statues like Curt’s only serve to glorify these repugnant systems, especially when displayed publicly with so much pride and ego.
To have Curt’s statue standing tall and proud in front of our capital city’s administrative headquarters promoted the elitism of the white race of his generation, which he defended with gunfire and for which he was prepared to kill and maim.
Lies about ‘founding’ Windhoek aside, the monument also displays Germany’s own colonial conquests, which are soaked in the blood and tears of our people.
That history is well documented and is written in bold letters on the face of our society, amid the continued suffering of the majority of our people.
The removal of Curt’s statue will never, ever erase that history.
If a statue, like Curt von François’s, is demolished, that could have an effect on history, but only from an optic point of view.
Those who are into eye candies can drool at the sight of Curt’s well-kept hook moustache, or the military regalia with which he attacked Namibian natives at Hornkranz, mercilessly killing 80 men, women, children and babies.
But that view is now limited to within the walls of a municipal museum – as it should’ve been for 57 years.
While colonialism and apartheid are part of our country’s history, it is not one we are proud of. Even the architects of that history are now regretful.
Statues like Curt’s only serve to glorify these repugnant systems, especially when displayed publicly with so much pride and ego.
To have Curt’s statue standing tall and proud in front of our capital city’s administrative headquarters promoted the elitism of the white race of his generation, which he defended with gunfire and for which he was prepared to kill and maim.
Lies about ‘founding’ Windhoek aside, the monument also displays Germany’s own colonial conquests, which are soaked in the blood and tears of our people.
That history is well documented and is written in bold letters on the face of our society, amid the continued suffering of the majority of our people.
The removal of Curt’s statue will never, ever erase that history.
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Namibian Sun
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