Such events should not be swept under the carpet and forgotten. When the names of those who may have done bad things are expunged from historic sites, schools, etc., the process of forgetting is simply facilitated. And where does renaming stop? Are we to rename Amherst Point, Amherst Cove and Amherst Cove Consolidated School in the area of Borden-Carleton? The town of Amherst, N.S. and the many other places and things named after Jeffery Amherst? President Harry Truman made the controversial decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Should his name be removed from the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, Truman State University and various buildings bearing his name? Who is to judge what is bad and what is good? Instead of knee-jerk reactions, lets try to have some perspective on these matters, including germ warfare. In medieval times bubonic plague-riddled corpses were catapulted over fortress walls. Germ warfare was employed during WW II. Between the two world wars Canada had an active germ warfare research program. As detailed by historian Michael Bliss, Frederick (later Sir Frederick) Banting played a leading role. As the co-discoverer of insulin, Banting is a revered Canadian icon. Three schools, a national historic site, a string of research centres and a charitable foundation are named after him. Rename? Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.

Originally posted here:

LETTER: Process of forgetting simply facilitated - The Guardian