An artistic statment?: Junipero Serra statue beheaded, splashed with red paint in Central California

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

A bronze statue of the Roman Catholic priest Junipero Serra at the Old Santa Barbara Mission was decapitated and doused with red paint on Sunday night or early Monday morning.

To read more:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Junipero-Serra-statue-decapitated-splashed-with-12192175.php

[trotsky]

1. Well...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun%C3%ADpero_Serra
"The declaration of Serra as a Catholic saint by the Holy See is controversial with some Native Americans who criticize Serra's treatment of their ancestors and associate him with the suppression of their culture. Catholic converts prided him for his outstanding work in saving souls."

That can be a little bit of a sore spot for some people. Perhaps you should tell the WHOLE story here.

[guillaumeb]

2. Perhaps you should take this issue up with the author of the article.

I was not commenting on Serra, or other colonialists who oppressed other cultures.

I see this as a statement.

[trotsky]

3. I'm taking it up with you, since you posted it here.

People have a legitimate reason to view this individual negatively. His religion's aggressive colonialism has been, and continues to be, a problem for many millions of people.

[guillaumeb]

4. Again:

I was not commenting on Serra, or other colonialists who oppressed other cultures.

I see this as a statement.

[trotsky]

6. Your OP was very light on details.

I wanted to make sure others had more information.

[MineralMan]

7. You asked if it was an "artistic statement."

It was not. It was a political statement, as I explained downthread. It had nothing to do with art.

[guillaumeb]

13. Art is often political.

[Act_of_Reparation]

19. And bullshit often grows exponentially.

[MineralMan]

20. LOL!

It does, doesn't it?

[MineralMan]

8. Why were you not commenting on that? It was brought up in

the article at your link. Did you not read the article?

[Voltaire2]

11. so is this good news or bad news?

If you post stuff you should either defend it or explain in your op why you don't agree with it.

[guillaumeb]

14. You are free to decide for yourself.

I felt my comments were sufficient.

[AtheistCrusader]

21. It is a statement. "Celebrating efforts at cultural genocide has been noted"

[MineralMan]

5. No. It was vandalism, no doubt, perhaps with a political message.

Serra is not well-beloved of Native Americans in the Central California area. You see, he and the Spaniards who came with him did not treat the indigenous peoples they encountered very well. In fact, they enslaved them, infected them with diseases, and pretty much wiped them out of existence.

Serra and the Spanish missions are symbolic of that enslavement and death to people who have Native American heritage in California. Perhaps you should do a little research for a better understanding of that history.

Now, I do not condone vandalism, but I also do not think Junipero Serra is a figure to be admired. I grew up in that part of California, and have studied that period and the Chumash culture of that area a good deal. That tribe was wiped out by the Spanish. There is no love among those who still carry their genetics for that man and his actions.

[guillaumeb]

16. Performance art, vandalism, a socio-political commentary on Serra.

All of the above? Unless the one who did it is found and questioned.........

[BigmanPigman]

9. When I was a teacher in Southern CA I had to teach the state curriculum.

Last edited Thu Sep 14, 2017, 08:53 PM - Edit history (1)

We teachers knew it was one sided and cringed when we taught it as part of the state's history in 4th grade. Father Serra was canonized a few years ago and many people (myself included) did not support this action. I give free tours at the Father Junipero Serra Museum in Presidio Park in Old Town San Diego. I tell the truth about this very cruel "saint". He and his Spanish intruders forced the native Kumeyaay Indains into slave labor and were physically harmed (and killed) if they resisted his forced conversion into Christianity. Many of them resisted but their efforts were often punished. This was the way native cultures have been treated for thousands of years in all societies.. No wonder I am an Atheist.

[Cartoonist]

12. Kind of like ISIS

No, exactly like ISIS.

[guillaumeb]

17. You were teaching actual history, as opposed to the mythologized version

that is often taught.

[BigmanPigman]

18. No, just the opposite,

I (we teachers) were required to teach the approved State Curriculum which is not the whole truth, as is often the case. That is why teachers cringed!

[Voltaire2]

10. Serra was a monster. The statue and his canonization is an affront to many native americans.

[guillaumeb]

15. Many First Peoples ARE offended by statues to colonialists.

especially genocidaires and those who tried to eradicate the culture and language of the First Peoples.