Dr David Livingstone Slavery Abolitionist Falls Foul of Woke Brigade Anyway – Stupidiots!
From The Telegraph…
How did David Livingstone, arguably one of Scotland’s most famous abolitionists, end up on Glasgow’s iconoclast topple list?
Glasgow City’s newly released report, Slavery and Atlantic Commerce, seeks to focus ‘on individuals (almost exclusively men)…whom were residents of Glasgow and its associated towns and rural hinterlands, and…involved with Atlantic slavery between c.1603 and 1838’. Just released, but commissioned after the rise of the BLM movement, it identifies Scotland’s list of sinners ‘memorialised in civic space’ and linked to slavery, no matter how tenuously.
Dr Livingstone, the ‘rag to riches’ hero, made it his life’s mission to help end the horror of chattel slavery. However, as a ten-year-old boy, he worked in a cotton mill owned by Henry Monteith, one of Glasgow’s most important cotton manufacturers. The report notes that Livingstone was insufficiently critical of his employers. The wages he toiled for were “provided by Scottish cotton manufacturing which was itself dependent upon Atlantic slavery economies”. Moreover, the mill where the hands of the boy Livingstone spun cotton ‘paid relatively high wages to its workforce’. At 19, he had the audacity to be ‘promoted to a cotton-spinner which funded his education’.
Much is made of the seeming endless virtue signalling of our cultural and political institutions. Still, the more profound question is what purpose these constant bouts of self-flagellation serve where they even suck in moral giants such as Livingstone?
The new politics of race, slavery and decolonisation is part of a more profound collapse in the moral confidence of western civilisation. Its story of moral certainty, sin, guilt and deconstructive redemption casts anyone who challenges them as beyond the pale. The new politics of race and ‘decolonisation’ are not about delivering social justice but are part of a broader status-orientated class war.
Our progressive academic, media and high cultural priests signal their high-status opinions with thinly disguised contempt for those that cling on to antiquated notions such as patriotism, pride in one’s history or any sense of national unity. This deconstruction through moral repudiation releases our priests from allegiance to the nation. Their moral sensitivity in bringing light to bear on victimisation and grievance where it may not be apparent becomes a touchstone of their identity.
The politics of race and decolonisation is, in fact, a psycho-political script that reinscribes their moral authority. In a technocratic system where being wise is the credentialed pathway to power, virtue is no longer signalled through one’s actions but having the ‘correct’ opinions and policing those that have the wrong ones.
In an earlier age, these forms of cultural decadence by our institutions could be tut-tutted away. Perhaps shamefully, we too easily shrugged at the excesses of cancel culture, the triumph of feelings over reality and the creeping illiberalism eroding free speech. However, in Russia’s war in Ukraine, de-globalisation and an increasingly assertive China, it is increasingly clear that the Western-led liberal international order is in grave peril.
For too long, liberal institutions have propounded a dogma whose ‘end of history’ progressivism has rested on a post-war institutional settlement based on a Western hegemony that is now in deep flux. The West must rediscover its sense of purpose and confidence to counter these highly illiberal states that may well usher in a new ‘dark age’ of techno-authoritarianism.
It is now a civilisational imperative that we move beyond the decadent ‘wokery’ that has become so hardwired in recent years and re-learn a belief in ourselves to conserve fundamental values such as freedom, equality and our shared humanity.
Freedom and human dignity are not universal norms but contingent and fragile, and it was these values that Dr Livingstone drew upon in his noble mission to end slavery. It is a shame that Glasgow’s report did not recognise this fundamental truth. Source
Editor writes…
The madness just gets crazier. Even a Protestant missionary who worked to end slavery, isn’t acceptable to the Woke Warriors who are, in Glaswegian parlance, “off their heads”. Nutcases. In these ecumenical days, will the bishops raise their voices in protest at this latest diabolical manifestation? I doubt it. It’s not fashionable, you see, although it’s noteworthy that Dr Livingstone was born and died on two different Feasts of St Joseph – 19 March and (Feast of St Joseph the Worker) 1 May.
Those are my thoughts – Share yours…
Comments (17)
That’s downright ridiculous. There is just no pleasing these woke people. They are blind to the truth, I would say wilfully blind.
I visited the place in Blantyre where Livingstone was born, a very interesting experience. Just shows, though, even the most remote connection with slavery is going to bring down the wrath of the BLM activists on your head.
I am opposed to removing statues because some idiots have decided to take offence, like this. What is going to be put in their place, or will be landscape be left with ugly gaps where the statues used to be? When it comes to local election time, we ought to find out what the councillors think about this and not vote in anyone who is this stupid.
Lily,
I agree completely with what you say. David Livingstone was consumed with ending slavery and he was loved by the African people he worked among.
The real people to blame for this are the stupid politicians to take the woke clowns seriously. They are offended so easily, so my reply to them is “so what?” Who cares what they think about anything. No statue should be removed – this is part of our history – a proud part when you think of the way David Livingstone worked to abolish slavery.
Are these woke types going to stop buying goods marked “made in China”, since China is a classic example of a country that is guilty of modern slavery. I doubt it.
“Stupidiots” – love it! More to the point, I agree with it. Anyone wanting to pull down statues just because the person had some connection to slavery years and years ago, is definitely stupid and an idiot, but more so when the statue is of a man who was instrumental in ending the slave trade. What are they on?
I remember learning about David Livingstone (“Dr Livingstone I presume?”!) at school and he was quite the hero figure.
He’s being slammed for saying that the slave owners were kind to the slaves, and that was not unusual with people who were masters of slaves. Surely that was better than mistreating them? It doesn’t mean he approved of slavery, as is obvious when you remember he spent his life trying to end it.
These woke types are really not very bright people. They are the types to need a cause to fight, even if they don’t really know much about the cause, as is clearly the issue here. Slavery is a fact of history. We shouldn’t forget that stain on our history and we will forget it if all the symbols of it are removed.
Nicky,
I remember learning about Dr Livingstone at school, as well – such an adventure story!
It’s hard to believe anyone in their right mind would want to pull down his statue in Glasgow – goodness, we’re not exactly awash with Scots heroes, are we?!
Fidelis,
That’s the whole point – we are not dealing with people in their right mind. These are those who are professional headcases 😀
I wonder if these so called Wokers were ever so called Workers. One thing is for sure the B.L.M mobs aren’t renowned for Doing Any Work let alone Hard Work.
Av said it on here before but its worth it again . I don’t remember ANY of my Deceased Relatives, some Deceased well before their time, singing.
O De Camp Town Races Sing This Song Doo Da Doo Da .
On their way to work in Stinking Conditions for 10 Hours a Day up to their waists in Stinking Water in Coal Mines.
Slavery yes we especially of Irish Descent no plenty about Slavery.
FOOF,
BLM seem to work only at identifying statues which are “offensive” and must be pulled down. Nutters.
I’m thinking of getting a T shirt printed with “Statues’ Lives Matter”… 😀
Your bishops won’t raise their voices, Editor, because they no longer have a voice. Their voice is indistinguishable from the liars who control the public square.
RCA Victor,
You are right, of course. Our bishops have nothing to offer society because they have worked so hard to make themselves “relevant” to the world, that they have succeeded. To the Scottish Bishops we may apply the criticism levelled at the Church of England by GK Chesterton: “The C of E has become so broadminded about everything, that it stands for nothing” (that’s from memory, so I hope it’s accurate).
They are foolish men, indeed. Not thinkers. Sticking with GK Chesterton, they have not understood what this convert got in one…
“The Church does often set herself against the fashion of this world that passes away; and she has experience enough to know how very rapidly it does pass away …
Nine out of ten of what we call new ideas are simply old mistakes. The Catholic Church has for one of her chief duties that of preventing people from making those old mistakes; from making them over and over again forever, as people always do if they are left to themselves … “
Above all, they could learn from Chesterton, the following essential truth – and it is only by proclaiming this from the rooftops, that they will make the Church truly relevant to the worldlings whom they so pitiably seek to please. In his essay, ‘Why I am a Catholic”, GK Chesterton writes…
The difficulty of explaining “why I am a Catholic” is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true.
https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/apologetics/g-k-chesterton-on-why-i-am-a-catholic.html?msclkid=f0f5843bb14211eca1260b7891e9bddc
Over and out!
Or as we say in The West of Scotland. The Games a Bogey.
I just wonder what so called History these Woker Teachers Teach. I know not if the C.R.T garbage has reached our schools yet but if it isn’t it is certainly on its way. As for Our Bishops Etc , well everything is Inclusive now except of course The Latin Mass .
P.S. I liked your letter to the Glasgow Priest on Newsletter who put out the Flyers.
On reading the content it was most certainly Ecumenical. In fact it more of or less resembled Joining a Social Club than coming back to The Catholic Faith.
The Times They are Changing indeed but certainly not for the Better.
This is an interesting Tweet chat about this cancelling of David Livingstone
https://twitter.com/talkradio/status/1509233610263564295
There’s a scary bit at one point where Toby Young reveals that the Church of England is carrying out its own internal investigation about statues in its own churches – this is in Edinburgh so I think he means the Episcopalian Church.
His last words in the interview are “it’s unbelievable” – and so it is. This whole thing is unbelievable.
It really in unbelievable. What I’m wondering is, what set these people off, what made them think of getting rid of statues? Are paintings next, are the art galleries going to be stripped because the painter had some vague link with slavery? I’m just imaging the spot where these statues stand, what are they going to look like when the statues are removed. I bet these are the same people bleating on about the “environment” who are pushing for the destruction of the statues – well Glasgow’s environment won’t look good if they remove Livingstone’s statue. It really is unfathomable.
Editor
“Off their heads”. Should that not be “Aff thir heids” in Glasgow parlance?
I seem to remember a few years ago, for some special ecumenical occasion maybe, it could have been the visit of Pope Benedict XV1, the bishops of Scotland composed a prayer for the catholic schools which included saints such as Ninian, Margaret of Scotland, John Ogilvie, Andrew, etc., and Scots such as David Livingstone and Mary Slessor. They just stopped short of Harry Lauder.
Surely they are not going to abandon David in his time of need.
Maybe these Wokeidiots would be better employed nipping down to Cairnryan and putting an end to
slavery while it is ongoing at the expense of local workers. I wonder how many of them wlll be huddled around the tv to watch the draw for the World Cup which will be played in stadiums built by slaves, many of whom lost their lives, God rest them.
I worked on the refurbishment of the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow which was alleged to have been tainted with slavery: does this mean that it and all the surrounding area of the Merchant City will have to be toppled as well?
Dear friends
I completely concur with all your excellent remarks and insights regarding another bizarre situation in our society.
One wonders what these followers of Woke intend to replace the DL statue and other historical figures with, which they find objectionable to their dysfunctional creed and philosophy.
I dread to think of all those 17-20 th century individuals who promoted Malthus, Darwinism, Atheism, Eugenics, Abortion, Sexual Libertarianism, Moral Relativism etc etc.
God forbid our streets and cities would be furnished with statues, plaques etc of these individuals and their vile creeds.
I shall continue to pray for these lost souls and remain in hope that despite their obduracy the Holy Spirit will open their hearts and minds.
God love them.
Every blessing
Michael 🙏
Just a sort of my summon up of the Woke Brigade. David Livingstone will be happy He’s not around in these times. Although in saying that He wouldn’t have had to go to Africa to be a Missionary as Blantyre probably would have been enough for Him.
I Know that their are lots on here who also go onto Life Site News am one also . I tried to put on 2 comments on articles. On one I used the word Homosexuals as I refuse to call them
G-Y or God forbid use the Alphabet Acronym. On another I used the word Hell. I got a message saying both words were undesirable.
It seems that the Woke Mob are on The Charge of The Light Brigade and are crashing all on their way .
BTW. That’s also after L.S.N. set up their very own comments section.
I know my comments are lots of time undesirable, but F.G.S. when you cannot mention those 2 words on a so called Traditional Catholic Site .
The Game certainly is a Bogey.
Here’s Neil Oliver discussing the attack of the ‘woke wonders of the world’ on David Livingstone…