Miller Park Art: Rourke’s Drift remembered or Colonial Wars glorified?

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

I think this is a wonderful gesture, in remembrance of Rorkes Drift. However it appears by the article it did not go down to well with some. They found it disturbing. What do other members think ?

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"Many Prestonians and visitors will have noticed the art installation in a flower bed on the terrace of Miller Park which depicts British redcoats in white pith helmets firing into the Zulu attackers at the battle of Rourkes Drift in 1879. The explanation given is a local connection with the army chaplain who served with the regiment during the campaign.

Personally I find the installation rather disturbing and inappropriate and my immediate desire is to paint a slogan saying “troops out” across the soldiers helmets. While I would not belittle the courage of the troops who were found worthy to receive 11 VCs or of military chaplains such as the one in question we do need to look at the context and the current relevance of the Zulu war.
While the artwork shows a Christian Bible decorated with a cross resting on an ammunition box I am reminded of the comment by Desmond Tutu that when white missionaries arrived in Africa “we had the land and they had the Bible, before long we had the Bible and they had the land.” In the present decade where the UK has been and remains involved as a junior partner of the USA in two neo-colonial wars of doubtful legitimacy or necessity, evoking the spirit of Rourkes Drift is hardly wise, and could even be interpreted as buying into the fascist nationalist ideology of the British National Party.

One can argue perhaps that the Bible is a greater treasure in the light of eternity, but only if it is opened and read. There one will find the message of Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, which commands us among other things to love our enemies and warns that those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Therfore as a Christian pacifist, I for one want to disassociate myself from the implication of the art work that the Zulu war, and any other war undertaken by the British state was in any sense a Christian enterprise. If we ask the question “what would Jesus do (or have done)?”, surely the answer must be that he would never advocate or take part in oppressing other people by military force".

Most people today take these kinds of issues the wrong way. We call them do-gooders. And that’s why you will find people don't want to remember history for the fear of up-setting the do-gooders. Who have a knack of involving cultural issues.

I see it for what it is:Rorke's Drift remembered.

Subject: rorkes drift remembered Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:07 pm

hi littlehand.
Yes , I"m with you , and about to agree with you in another of your posts.
cheers 90th.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Thinking about it, I would not mind having that diplay in my garden. Turn a few heads. But good to see some of us agree.

Posts : 3387 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

I have to agree, see it for what it is, not for modern day values.

As Admin says at the bottom of his posts: Remember all who fell during the Zulu War of 1879

When will these do-gooders see that it is only Bloody HISTORY

Subject: rorkes drift remembered Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:25 pm

hi 1879graves.
In reply to your question . WHEN THEY PULL THEIR FINGER OUT OF THEIR A - - - S :lol!:
Dont wish to be rude , but these people are so bloody annoying ! scratch

cheers 90th.

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Well I think is outrageous. Have they no consideration for people’s feelings. Wink

Guest

I'm struck that such a simple display could be so meaningful, but there always has to be one dissenting voice. As for quoting the bible, as in 'love thine enemy' I think thats meant for everybody not just one side in any conflict.

One could hardly say that the Zulu crossed the Buffalo River to "Love these men to death". Both sides knew what was expected of them and both sides did their duty to the best of their ability showing great courage in the process. Perhaps one day that dissenting voice will realise that what they see is a simple and meaningful salute to the men of both sides and
not a political statement. Far too much of this damned silly political correctness as far as I'm concerned.

Cheers
Bookworm

Posts : 3387 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Well said Bookworm :)

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Where is Miller Park

Posts : 3387 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

John

Miller Park is in Preston, Lancashire

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

I thinks Bookworm as sum up how we all feel.

» A Romance of Rourke's Drift
» Victoria's Colonial wars
» Nurse Estella Miller And James Johnson Miller, King's Royal Rifle Corps