Buzz
The term "monument" originates from the Latin verb monere, which means "to warn." The ongoing media focus on whether Confederate monuments in the US should be taken down has highlighted a deeper issue: the politics embedded within these monuments. This concept dates back to ancient times when Greek and Roman leaders utilized monuments to craft unifying historical narratives and national identities for their civilizations.
Monuments, naturally, can spark fierce debates, as demonstrated by the controversy surrounding the Confederate statues. The key question here is whether preserving historical monuments, such as those dedicated to General Lee, is more important than potentially reinforcing harmful racial legacies that affect African Americans. This list expands the conversation, considering other monuments worldwide that also stir controversy, though some of these disagreements may not be immediately obvious.
10. Diana Fountain Controversies
The controversy surrounding Princess Diana extended beyond the tragic car accident in Paris that took her life. Her monument fountain has faced numerous challenges since its opening in 2004. The fountain required two unscheduled closures within just ten months of its debut. The first closure occurred only two weeks after the Queen's unveiling of the monument, when three visitors slipped on the Cornish granite channel and had to be hospitalized.
Additionally, the pumps designed to create the bubbling mountain stream effect became clogged with fallen leaves, leading to the flooding of the fountain, which turned the surrounding area into a muddy mess. The pumps were repaired, and the fountain was reopened with a park patrol in place to ensure safety. However, it closed again for a complete overhaul in January 2005. This renovation included replacing some of the grassy turf with materials resembling a municipal parking lot or road shoulder, which compromised the designer's vision of a fountain seamlessly blending with Hyde Park's natural beauty.
9. Sioux Concerns Over the Crazy Horse Memorial
Situated 27 kilometers (17 miles) from the iconic Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving. Construction began in 1948, and its estimated completion date is around 2120, meaning that work on the monument is less than halfway finished. The immense statue depicts Crazy Horse, whose leadership was pivotal in the defeat of Custer’s 7th Cavalry during the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which followed military intervention in the area after gold was discovered.
This monument has faced criticism from many Sioux people, who argue that it contradicts Crazy Horse’s mission in 1876 to protect the sacredness of the Black Hills. They view it as "a violation of the very spirituality that Crazy Horse fought so hard to defend." As noted by Lakota Sioux medicine man John Fire Lame Deer, "The whole idea of making a beautiful wild mountain into a statue of him is a pollution of the landscape—it is against the spirit of Crazy Horse." These concerns are understandable, as there was no unified Native American voice in the decision to build the monument on Sioux land; they were excluded from the discussions.
8. Peru's Jesus Statue
The statue in question is a 37-meter (120 ft) tall figure of Jesus called Christ of the Pacific, located in Peru. It was presented as a parting gift from former President Alan Garcia to the country upon his departure from office in 2011. Some critics viewed the project as vain, but Garcia defended it, explaining that he personally contributed around $36,000 to the statue’s construction not for his own benefit, but because he believed it would "bless Peru and protect Lima." Additionally, he mentioned that a "generous Brazilian businessman" donated $1 million to help complete the towering figure.
For some ultranationalist Peruvians, the statue symbolized cultural imperialism and served as a clear indication of Brazil's growing wealth and influence over other Latin American nations. Others criticized its design, arguing that the statue resembled the famous Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro too closely, thereby undermining Peru’s own national identity.
7. The Moscow Snub to Peter the Great
The statue of Peter the Great, located on an artificial island in Moscow, is taller and heavier than the Statue of Liberty. Many have criticized the bizarre design of the statue, which depicts Tsar Peter standing behind the wheel of a frigate, holding a golden scroll, while smaller ships appear to be jutting out from under his feet. One Moscow resident, Vladimir, who lives across from the colossal figure, remarked:
That is the ugliest statue of the late 20th century. I see it all the time. All the time! Although now I don’t notice it as much: the eye tends to ignore what it dislikes! On a bridge across from the statue, I ask people what they think of the oversized tsar. "It’s disgusting!" says one man. "It’s awful," says a woman. "It’s just too big. Size doesn’t equal beauty."
Interestingly, Tsar Peter himself shared a similar disdain for Muscovites, as he famously loathed Moscow and considered Saint Petersburg the true jewel of the Russian Empire. The statue was commissioned by former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, once a powerful figure in Russian politics. The responsibility for its design and construction was handed to his friend, the designer Zurab Tsereteli, in the 1990s. However, after the mayor fell out of favor with the Kremlin and was dismissed in the mid-2000s, the fate of the statue became uncertain. Acting mayor Vladimir Resin suggested that the statue might need to be relocated, possibly to Saint Petersburg. Such a move would have cost the city millions, but given the general public’s opinion of the statue, it’s likely the residents wouldn’t have minded. Yet, the statue remains in its original location, and it seems that further controversy may await this giant historical figure.
6. MLK Statue Inscription
The impressive 9-meter (30 ft) statue of Martin Luther King Jr., arms crossed and emerging from the “Stone of Hope,” has sparked controversy due to its portrayal not fully capturing King’s humble nature. The inscription on the monument, which reads “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness,” has been criticized for sounding more boastful than intended. In 2011, renowned author Maya Angelou expressed her concerns over the paraphrased version of King’s original words from a 1968 sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta:
If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.
Angelou contended that altering the quote changed its original meaning. She suggested the inscription be revised, but instead of making changes, the quote was removed altogether. The original sculptor, Lei Yixin, believed that removal was the most effective way to preserve the memorial's structural integrity. Additionally, the fact that the sculptor was Chinese rather than American, and certainly not African-American, raised concerns for some.
5. Queen Victoria Statue Relocated from Dublin to Sydney
The debate over the Queen Victoria statue, gifted by Ireland to Australia in 1986, has been fueled by declassified Irish cabinet documents. These papers show objections from John Bruton, the former Prime Minister and finance minister at the time, and John Teahan, the director of the National Museum of Ireland. While Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald supported sending the statue to Australia, the memo from Teahan criticized the plan, noting the statue's Irish artist, John Hughes. The statue, first revealed in Dublin's Leinster House in 1908, was to be relocated under the proposal.
In a memo, Teahan advised, “I recommend that such a figure be preserved until we are mature enough to look the Queen, long deceased, straight in the eye.” Bruton echoed this sentiment when the issue was presented to the cabinet, with another memo stating, “The finance minister strongly opposes the removal of the Queen Victoria statue from Ireland. The monument represents one of Ireland’s many historical traditions and is as much a part of our heritage as Norman or Viking remains.”
Teahan's memo delves into a debate surrounding the statue of Queen Victoria, addressing the contentious issue of its association with Britain's colonial history. This issue was brought to light in a 2016 article, which sparked a conversation about the potential removal of another statue of Queen Victoria, further intensifying the discussion.
4. The Yasukuni Shrine and Its Ties to War Criminals
Historians have long examined Japan's militaristic past, shedding light on its extensive history of human rights violations, particularly against China and Korea, both of which endured immense suffering under Japan's military rule. In an attempt to address these dark chapters, Japan's politicians have sought to foster reconciliation and strengthen diplomatic ties with these nations. Nevertheless, accusations of historical distortion and the omission of key events have repeatedly brought Japan's efforts under scrutiny.
The controversy in this case arose from a visit by Japanese leaders to the Imperial Shrine of Yasukuni in Tokyo in 2016. This visit angered both China and South Korea, as the shrine honors 14 Japanese leaders who were convicted by an Allied tribunal as war criminals, alongside other war dead. In response, South Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement expressing 'deep concern and disappointment' regarding the decision of these Japanese leaders to visit the shrine. The statement called on them to 'earn the trust of neighboring countries and the international community through an act of sincere introspection and reflection based on an accurate understanding of history.'
3. From Zyklon B to the Holocaust Memorial's Construction
In 2005, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, was unveiled in Berlin, situated near the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building, symbols of German unity. This memorial was designed to reflect Germany's deep remorse for the Holocaust and to commemorate the six million Jews who perished under Hitler's 'Final Solution.' The monument, which spans 600 square meters (6,500 ft), consists of 2,711 concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern across a sloping field, providing a somber and reflective atmosphere.
In 2003, it was revealed that Degussa, the company responsible for building the monument, had links to Degesch, the company that supplied Zyklon B, the gas used in the extermination of Jews in concentration camps. Degussa had previously been a part of Degesch. This discovery shocked the memorial's trustees, one of whom remarked, 'We had to consider the feelings of the victims.' Construction was halted immediately as they sought another company to take over. While many German businesses played a role in the Nazi war effort, Lea Rosh, president of Germany’s association of murdered Jews, described this connection as 'a line that had been crossed,' exceeding what was acceptable or justifiable.
2. Columbus Displaces Local Populations
The massive monument in Santo Domingo, a lighthouse that projects cross-shaped laser beams visible for over 113 kilometers (70 miles), is said to house the remains of Christopher Columbus. This lighthouse has been controversial for two main reasons: first, its connection to Columbus's legacy in the Dominican Republic, and second, the extravagant costs associated with its construction, as well as the efforts made to secure the land for the project.
Many Dominicans hold Columbus responsible for the decimation of the island's original indigenous population, the Taino, as well as the subsequent forced importation of African slaves. The island holds the distinction of being Spain's first New World colony.
The public has been highly critical of the government's approach to constructing the monument. The final cost exceeded expectations by a staggering $60 million. Additionally, the government forcibly evicted around 8,000 families to clear space for the lighthouse and its surrounding gardens. Over the next six years, further evictions occurred as part of a larger plan to revamp the city to attract tourism. A local priest lamented that the lighthouse came to symbolize 'evictions, governmental arrogance, and extravagance.' Tensions reached a boiling point in 1992 when police shot and killed two protesters opposing the lighthouse project. The controversial legacy of Columbus is likely to endure for generations.
1. Franco's Monument Built with Slave Labor
Spain owes the creation of the Valley of the Fallen monument entirely to Francisco Franco. The monument features a towering granite cross, which rises dramatically from the rock of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The cross overlooks a vast esplanade, which was carefully carved from the mountainside to create a platform for the basilica located beneath it. The monument's vaulted crypt was also cut into the mountain, and its construction stretched over nearly two decades, from the height of World War II to the 1950s.
The location of the monument holds considerable historical weight due to its role during the Spanish Civil War. Those familiar with Hemingway's *For Whom the Bell Tolls* will recognize the surrounding area of the Valley of the Fallen, which served as the backdrop for the May 1937 battle between Madrid and Segovia. While Franco and his ideological ally, Antonio Primo de Rivera, were the only individuals honored with burial inside the monument's basilica, the remains of approximately 40,000 individuals from both sides are scattered across the surrounding forest floor.
The monument is undeniably controversial due to its history, and security measures remain stringent as a result. In 1999, the site was targeted by a bombing from Maoist anti-fascists. It stands not only as a symbol of Franco's fascist rule but also as a testament to the contentious methods of its construction. Franco employed prisoners of war for the building of the monument, and the forced labor used has drawn comparisons to the horrors of Nazi concentration camps.
