Gerrard Raven on statues that will never be inappropriate, Toby King on democratic symbols, Ron Fraser on traffic cones, Tim Gossling on adding context, Mike Morrogh on historical evidence, Anthony Isaacs on deliberate disintegration, Michael Cunningham on four plinths for letter writers, and Austen Lynch on ordure’s usefulness
Gary Younge argues that no statues should be erected because perspectives of people’s achievements change over time, and so those celebrated in one age may be derided in another (Why every single statue should come down, 1 June). To me, this seems to be going too far.
It is highly unlikely, for instance, that one day, attitudes towards smallpox will change so radically that a memorial to Edward Jenner is no longer considered appropriate.
