Great Britain: Fury at Churchill statue (Former PM and beloved hero is in a straightjacket)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | March 11, 2006 | JOHN TROUP

[Stoat]

Fury at Churchill statue

Storm ... statue has provoked fury
 

By JOHN TROUP

 THE family of war hero Winston Churchill yesterday slammed a statue of him in a STRAITJACKET.

MP Nicholas Soames — his grandson — said: “It’s not only insulting, it’s pathetic.”

Churchill is known to have suffered periods of depression which he called his “black dog”.

And the charity Rethink put the lifesize statue on display in Norwich yesterday to symbolise how the mentally ill are stigmatised by society.

But Mr Soames said: “This is probably a good cause in search of publicity and they have let some idiot ruin their case.


 

Inspiring ... Sir Winston
Picture: REUTERS
 

“It is grossly offensive to Sir Winston and his millions of admirers.”

And World War II veteran Captain John Nunnely MBE, 83, said: “I am appalled to think that the 20th century’s greatest leader is being treated like this.”

Churchill’s family objected to the statue when it was planned.
 

But the charity went ahead anyway. A spokeswoman said: “Churchill was a great leader and this is an illustration of what people with mental illness can achieve.”

But one visitor to Norwich’s Forum centre said: “It’s wrong. Winston was a great man, whatever his mental problems were.”

 

[Stoat]

Sky News No Rethink Over Churchill Statue

 

 

The Churchill statue

Churchill Statue Backed

Updated: 10:39, Saturday March 11, 2006

 

A mental health charity has defended its decision to create a statue of Winston Churchill wearing a straitjacket.

The statue of Churchill, who suffered from depression, was unveiled in the centre of Norwich as part of a continuing campaign by the charity Rethink.

There has been widespread criticism of the statue, with Churchill's grandson, Conservative MP Nicholas Soames, telling The Sun: "It's not only insulting, it's pathetic.

"This is probably a good cause in search of publicity and they have let some idiot ruin their case. It is grossly offensive to Sir Winston and his millions of admirers."

A Rethink spokesman countered: "We believe that destroying the stigma that surrounds mental illness is a matter of national priority.

"We also believe that it is the joint responsibility of the media, Government and the public to achieve this aim, by portraying a more positive image of people with mental illness."

Rethink said Churchill was chosen because, despite depression, he was able to become Prime Minister and lead Britain to victory in the Second World War.

The charity said it wanted the statue to illustrate how discrimination surrounding depression and other mental illness acted like a straitjacket on sufferers.

Rethink said it had decided to focus its latest campaign on Norwich because there were more anti-depressant drugs prescribed in the city than anywhere else in central or eastern England.

Norwich also has a higher suicide rate than the national average and a higher rate of people self harming.

Rethink director of campaigns Paul Corry added:"We did not intend the statue to be offensive in any way.

"The message we want to portray is that it is possible to recover from mental illness and overcome it and be successful - because Churchill is an example of someone who was able to do that."

 

 

 

 

 

[ScaniaBoy]

The organizers of "Rethink" should consider their name v..e..r..y carefully, and then do so....

What complete "maroons".

[Majie Purple]

W.Churchill ping.

[iPod Shuffle]

The point these idiots miss is Churchill battled his shortcomings in private. He did not become a "victim", along with accompanying sense of entitlement that these sort of organizations endorse.

[Stoat]

The organizers of "Rethink" should consider their name v..e..r..y carefully, and then do so....

What complete "maroons".

Aside from the obvious insult to Sir Winston, his family and to those who know even the most minimal aspects of the history of Great Britain, I'm astonished that such a project as this has been allowed to come to completion.  To commission and publicly place a large statue is extremely expensive, and before doing so one assumes that this organization did some minimal bit of research which suggested that the design would further their goals.  I can't believe that needlessly offending millions, perhaps billions of people would be a positive thing to do for any organization.

[edcoil]

Just don't say anything against muslims, jews or arabs and you are fine.

[squarebarb]

It is truly ugly. Every time this kind of thing happens I kerep hoping the welfare addled masses of England will wake up.

If a high percentage of people are on anti-depressants then there's something wrong with the government that is handing them out. This would put ME on anti-depressants.

and I'm just Susy Sunshine.

[Majie Purple]

"Just don't say anything against muslims, jews or arabs and you are fine."

Please explain why this was posted to me? I don't understand why...

[BenLurkin]

The Communists have always hated Churchill -- wonder if there is some connection.

[squarebarb]

kerep=keep

Maybe I need anti-dyslexic medication.

[Stoat]

The point these idiots miss is Churchill battled his shortcomings in private. He did not become a "victim", along with accompanying sense of entitlement that these sort of organizations endorse.

Exactly, and to the best of my knowledge he was never so badly afflicted that he actually required a straightjacket or institutional commitment.  It grossly overstates the severity of his condition..

[madtier1]

guess the nazi/commie supporters have come out of the woodwork and into the open!

[Siena Dreaming]

to the best of my knowledge he was never so badly afflicted that he actually required a straightjacket

Of course not.

[luvbach1]

In short, he coped.

[snugs]

?

[snugs]

Percentage wise I would assume similar to America.

[tet68]

Just let them make one of Mohammed in a strait jacket and
see how long they last.

[Dog]

Ivan grab a lorry and go run the damn thing over...destroy it.

[TimSkalaBim]

American left-wingers refused to put Franklin Roosevelt in a wheelchair statue for his memorial. Some disability groups complained, but the Left didn't care about the complaints, or the truth, they wanted a phony statue of their hero. So it goes.

[Fudd Fan]

OMG-- What is the meaning of this?!

[BlessedBeGod]

A mental health charity has defended its decision to create a statue of Winston Churchill wearing a straitjacket.

They're sick in the head.

[lawnguy]

I remember reading a few years back that British high schoolers new very little about their history, including Churchill's role.

We don't have a monopoly on historical idiots.

[Stoat]

Just let them make one of Mohammed in a strait jacket and
see how long they last.

A "Mohammed in a straitjacket" statue would of course be a delightful addition to the cultural and civic landscape, and one that I would be proud to support in a pecuniary sense.  Not only would it be a far more accurate depiction of it's subject than the hideous insult that is the subject of this thread but it would also show the Religion of Peace in all it's glory.  The massive riots, destruction and mass-murder that would be unleashed from the "Islamic World" would make the Cartoon Jihad look like child's play.  Anyone still not convinced of the utterly dysfunctional nature of Islam at it's core would be quickly educated.

[Stoat]

Ivan grab a lorry and go run the damn thing over...destroy it.

I would be delighted to assist with the legal procurement of such a vehicle...civic renovation in this context is a truly worthy cause that I would be proud to support.

 

[Stoat]

American left-wingers refused to put Franklin Roosevelt in a wheelchair statue for his memorial. Some disability groups complained, but the Left didn't care about the complaints, or the truth, they wanted a phony statue of their hero. So it goes.

I see your point but I would suggest that it could also be argued that there was simply an interest in protecting his dignity and his privacy in the matter of Roosevelt's very real condition.

In this case, they are taking what was most likely a comparatively minor affliction of a man far more deserving of respect than most others in the entire 20th century and magnifying it beyond anything even vaguely resembling the truth....they are fabricating a lie that will be looked upon by schoolchildren and those not familiar with history as a truthful depiction of how Churchill really was..

It is a crime against Sir Winston's memory, his family, the entire Nation of Great Britain and all of Western culture, as we are all perpetually indebted to Sir Winston Churchill.

[Stoat]

A mental health charity has defended its decision to create a statue of Winston Churchill wearing a straitjacket.

They're sick in the head.

And they insist that everyone else in the world be insulted by their sickness.

A mental health charity has defended its decision to create a statue of Winston Churchill wearing a straitjacket.

They're sick in the head.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art ping.

Let Sam Cree, Woofie, or me know if you want on or off this art ping list.

I think this is a travesty and a lie. It is an example of the left twisting the truth for political benefit, something that is happening more and more in this world. What is appalling is that the left doesn't even realize the lie.

It would be one thing if Churchill had ever been so restrained in a strait jacket. This is one case of destroying art that I might even favor.

[patton]

The most annoying thing about dadaism, is that it works.

[muleskinner]

Sometimes, I wish I knew how to "modify" certain sites.

[Republicanprofessor]

My definition of Dada is irrational art from WWI. Maybe you have a different definition. This work of Churchill is just another way to "decontexturalize" (to dethrone and mock) a great hero.

Melt it down.

[patton]

the purpose of dadaism was to evoke emotion - mainly anger. The tragedy of it is that it works.

exactly like this statue.

[stripes1776]

Churchhill did not have a mental disease. But the people who had this statue made do.

[celestine phophesy]

Interesting word: Da·da or da·da

n : A European artistic and literary movement (1916-1923) that flouted conventional aesthetic and cultural values by producing works marked by nonsense, travesty, and incongruity.

n : a nihilistic art movement (especially in painting) that flourished in Europe early in the 20th century; based on irrationality and negation of the accepted laws of beauty

[mcvey]

Sir Winston was, for a public figure, a very private man. I am wondering if the organizers ever thought that they were exploiting him in a way that would have humiliated him (and frankly if they put up a statue of me in a straight-jacket, it would humiliate me.)

McVey

[mcvey]

This is also pointing to what the left is willing to do to advance an agenda. If someone is useful, even if by distortation and by violating the most basic sense of common decency, they use them.

McVey

[mcvey]

Once we turn individuals into tools, we have returned to ages far darker than we have ever known.

[mcvey]

Until this moment I never really gauged the left's cruelty or recklessness. They have done enough. Have they no sense of decency?

A paraphrase of course.

McVey

[Majie Purple]

"Just don't say anything against muslims, jews or arabs and you are fine." I ask again...Explain what you mean...And why do you address me with this question...Don't recoil...Back it up with a response please. You don't know me and I don't know you,PLEASE BE BIG ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN YOUR STATEMENT.Drive by comment shootings are so childish...

[Stoat]

Sometimes, I wish I knew how to "modify" certain sites.

Well, it appears that one popular method is to get a giant, industrial-sized backhoe and attach a huge iron ball to it via a chain.  Raising the backhoe's bucket causes the ball to rise above the ground, and thereby becomes a delightfully effective instrument of semi-controlled mayhem, suitable for all manner of civic renovation including the removal of insulting statues.

I'm certain that your local neighborhood backhoe dealer can put you in touch with the appropriate licensing and certification agencies that will get you squared away as a legal wrecking ball operator in no time.  :-)

 

[Boiler Plate]

Apparently the so called "Brains" in this nutty operation are suffering greatly from some sort of terrible mental illness themselves.

[Stoat]

Churchhill did not have a mental disease. But the people who had this statue made do.

At the very least it sounds as though they are suffering from an acute case of uncontrolled historical revisionism syndrome and perhaps the condition is exacerbated by delusional Marxist tendencies, but a clear diagnosis would require onsite evaluation of the patient (s).   Open-ended civil commitment on the grounds that they constitute a danger to overall public order as well as to the honor of Great Britain is always an option that could be considered.

[Stoat]

Apparently the so called "Brains" in this nutty operation are suffering greatly from some sort of terrible mental illness themselves.

Agreed.  Please see my post # 41.  :-)

[Sam Cree]

IMO, this sculpture is perfectly congruent with one of the major thrusts of modern art: do something shocking and hope it generates plenty of attention.

Go for the moment, don't worry about the future. Pursue trendiness, forget about creating something timeless.

All the better if it gives the "artist" an opportunity to look down his nose at the bourgeoisie, the middle class, while simultaneously sucking up to and despising his truly wealthy patrons.

These kind of artists think they are so noble, deep and spiritual, but the whole charade is mighty shallow.

[Majie Purple]

Here’s one of the Threads it happened on...I searched using keywords Winston Churchill. I told You it was happening my real life Brother!Read the entire thing...comments & all...You’ll see.

[americanophile]

Well, I was going to add something, but it seems as though you’ve summed it up rather nicely.