Why the Imperialism Mural at GL Should Be Replaced

Why do people hang art in their room or their home? It's because they think it's cool, or reflects their style, or represents something important to them. If so, then why hang this particular mural up? What about it is cool? What is it trying to represent? Is is trying to make a statement? Is it showing imperialism is "good"? Is it satirical and trying to show that imperilism is "bad"? If it's trying to teach a period of our history, aren't there better lessons to be learned and a different piece of art could be chosen as Zara suggested? If it's trying to show that imperialism was "bad" ... aren't there better works to make that point more clearly and purposefully?

Why is the student body so emotionally attached to this mural? I’m genuinely curious, not trying to dismiss your emotions, I just can’t see how the majority of the student body can be SO offended that a new club wants to make a slight adjustment to an outdated mural. Please inform me because clearly I’m missing something here. I am not implying that all of your emotions are irrelevant, however your emotional connection to this mural (for instance, if a family member of yours contributed to it) should not justify the fact that there is a minority of people who are offended by this wall. There is a fine line between your own personal beliefs versus doing what’s right... even if it means sacrificing something for the sake that your fellow peers feel comfortable in their own environment. A quick example: if you are against the LGBTQ community for religious purposes...fine, that’s your OWN personal belief, however that doesn’t take away a gay person’s RIGHT to marriage. This applies to this mural controversy because it seems that the student body doesn’t see the difference between their own personal emotions/ beliefs versus doing what’s right. If you don’t see what’s right about taking down an outdated, poor demonstration of imperialism, then that is a different story however what I’m noticing is that most of those who are in support of having NO CHANGES to this wall are simply emotionally tied, and that doesn’t really justify anything. (At least, well, in MY opinion... watch me get bashed in a matter of seconds...)

ok so i want to explain something i understand what you guys are saying about how we should learn from imperialism, which is “one of the imperfections in our history”. i agree with that, it’s definitely important to learn from our mistakes. the only problem with that is that the mural is not showing imperialism as a mistake or the hurt it caused to entire cultures. instead, it has bright colors and all that to make it seem like imperialism was a great thing for everyone. if you really look at the mural, you can see that it’s showing how we “helped” people who were not as industrialized or “civilized” compared to the rest of the world. this is the same perspective that our textbooks are teaching. they aren’t showing how groups of people suffered, instead they are celebrating what a great job the western countries did to advance the world. the only place i saw any portrayal of suffering on that mural is in one spot about the Armenian genocide, with a person crying a tear of blood. other than that, you see imperialism viewed in a positive light. saying that we were just trying to help is the excuse that many of the people who actually went to invade these places used in order to justify their actions. they took entire cultures and forced people to give up what they believed in, many being killed for not wanting to follow along with this (this isn’t the only bad thing i’m just giving an example). in my opinion, the mural isn’t depicting the whole story, just the parts that make us look like the heroes. you guys really think that taking down the mural will erase history, but don’t worry, it’ll still be there. we aren’t trying to act like some of these mistakes never happened, which is why it should be taken down. keeping it up IS acting like there were no mistakes made because it isn’t showing that at all. if it was such a bad thing, why was it painted to look beautiful? another thing, maybe this is a small issue, but in order to solve problems on a larger scale we

cant believe you guys are working up over this when there are real issues in Africa rn! why don’t we start an organization to raise money for people living in poverty there?? why not raise awareness for the discrimination against white south africans in south africa???? kinda disappointed y’all care more about words than real world issues. if you don’t let it offend you, it doesn’t have power!

In response to everyone who takes issue with replacing this mural I think you all need to understand why they want it taken down. While it is incredibly important to not forget our history (even negative history so that we learn from it) the images portrayed in the mural are outdated. No one is blaming the students who painted it because that was a common idea at the time (even 15 years ago things were so different) but the way that the mural portrays minorities is stereotypical and it’s rude. Now in response to the “I’ve never seen any actual discrimination at the school” neither have I but what I’ve have seen is white people openly throwing around the n word and I’ve seen more homophobic remarks than I can count. We are just teenagers but a decent amount of the school (specifically the junior class who seems to take the most issue with this idea to change the mural) are almost adults. And regardless teenagers should know better than to openly throw around slurs. To the people who are not upset by the portrayal of minorities on this mural, you are entitled to that opinion but why does replacing the mural personally hurt you? If you have no connection to it whatsoever and you “barely look at it” than certain people wanting it to be changed should not affect you. Now if you want this club to view the “other side of the argument” than instead of just outright hating on the idea of taking it down why don’t you either a) explain why this mural is so important to you that you need it to stay despite that fact that it is mildly racist b) give suggestions as to how to change certain parts of it that are upsetting your classmates

Name ONE person at GL that was alive when imperialism actually happened. If the painting offends you close your eyes.

Yeah sorry no I’m sorry a painting is too offensive for your stupid snowflake of a brain. Maybe this person should learn to be more tolerant

Thog don’t care

@ that chicken nugget person: yes people have made jokes and such but i’ve never seen anyone be discriminated against due to the color of their skin, gender, or anything of that sort. that’s such an outrageous claim for you to make. not one person in this school is a racist. people make jokes and that’s not right but then again they are teenagers and teenagers are stupid. imperialism is one of the imperfections in our history and there is not a single reason why it should be erased. we need to learn from it, and that mural is a friendly reminder of what not to do. it’s a reminder to not relive the past. stop trying to erase history!!!!! what happened, happened it will never go away.

Support request because I want our voices to be heard and fulfilled :)

Are actually kidding me! The whole point of history as a subject is so that we learn from our mistakes. History teaches about the past so we can make the future better. The world is not some sort of rainbow land where everyone is happy and nice to each other. The evils of history serve as reminder so that we can stop it in the future. People worked hard on the mural and it is not fair for you to take it down because it does not fit with your agenda and it hurts your feelings. Sometimes you have to face the facts and move on smarter, rather than cover up the truth with lies.

ok all I have to say is that imperialism negatively affected so many people and it continues to take affect (if u look at different countries in Africa where black people are literally treated horribly in their own native lands, and where white ppl are treated as superiors, same w both north and South America). zara I think it is wonderful that u want to contribute in the creation of a new mural and I second that idea . i know it likely wasn’t ur cousin’s (?) intention to make a mural that portrayed the effects of imperialism in an offensive way , but I think it’s necessary to recognize why so many ppl feel like it does (and I hope u understand , it’s no hate directed to u or ur cousin) . also julia no hate to u either u seem like a cool person but to say that there’s no hate or whatever in gl is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day . I’ve heard ppl use slurs both seriously and as a joke, I’ve heard ppl make homophobic , sexist, racist , and xenophobic remarks every single day all throughout my time at this school . it’s necessary that, in order to create unification and change at our school, we need to recognize the flaws in our student body and it’s actions . anyway, I propose that a mural be made that celebrates the diversity in the cultures, religions, ethnicities, etc of this world. :)

How about you guys just like make a mural to spread your positivity instead of shaming another students artwork who had 0 intention of hurting anybody and trying to take it down. That way everybody is happy and nobody is excluded or disrespected. I would love to help paint it. I will talk to the school about it first thing tomorrow morning.

Can we also talk about how the people who painted it were... 15 years old. Nobody that painted that is a perfect artist and nobody had any intent of causing people to feel a certain way by making a mural that the school asked them to paint. Like it’s a painting by kids and it’s about history in the history wing.

Can someone explain what specifically is offensive about the mural? Not saying it is or isn’t; I haven’t seen the mural and am genuinely trying to understand what the concern is.

one more thing... you want to create a more open minded environment at GL yet you’re so quick to shut down those with varying opinions. in order to be open minded, accept and listen to everyone’s opinions. by not doing so, you’re being close minded. take what everyone has to say into account. deleting comments and blocking people from your page is not promoting being “open minded” it makes kids not to stand up for what they believe in which is the opposite of what your club is trying to do.

You do not HAVE to sign this. If you read the caption, the new club is gathering the signatures and support of people who find it offensive and think that the topic of imperialism could be captured in a better, more correct and less offensive, mural. I’m not sure if there is an emotional attachment to the mural for you, but for me, I think that if people find it offensive, who am I to question weather it is or isn’t offensive to them? Again, if you really love this mural and think it captures imperialism in a perfect way and don’t care if people find it offensive, then don’t sign. Also don’t leave nasty comments. GL has a lot of work to do on being more open minded and comments like this just prove that we have a lot of work to do.

That awk moment when ur not caucasian but people are assuming things and then crap on ur family

yall doin gods werk

this is outrageous. it’s a painting about the events in history that we learn in school. i would like someone to give me an exact example of how this is offensive. GL has never been and never will be a place of hate. what you’re trying to do has already been done. as a student body everyone is EXTREMELY accepting and open minded. stop trying to push to take away a painting that those students worked so hard on. they would be devastated to know you are trying to erase the mark that they left on our school those 15 years ago.