by EMDEE » Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:14 pm
These were my thoughts too. The point is that the mural is "of its time", and was painted in 1936. We are all aware that the golliwog has since become regarded as a symbol of racism, but this shouldn't mean that history and the negative attitudes held in an earlier era should be swept under the carpet and ignored merely because they are now unacceptable. Surely the history of racism itself should be something that school pupils should be aware of in order to know how we have arrived at where we are in the area of race relations. The whole of society and attitudes therein are the result of our social history. There is much that is unpalatable in the history of any country, but that is not a reason to simply ignore it and pretend that it didn't happen.
I also find it puzzling as to why the police should become involved. What are they going to do about it? Dig up the artist and prosecute him/her? There must be more pressing issues in Edinburgh for the police to deal with than somebody making a complaint about a picture in a school.
Merda taurorum animas conturbit. Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur