Black Lives Matter and History

John Hamilton's statue is removed after threats of vandalism

In New Zealand, the Black Lives Matter movement has led to demands that the statue of John Hamilton should be removed as it is an offense to some Maori.  Statues of Captain James Cook have been defaced.

John Hamilton was a British naval officer who fought in the New Zealand Wars.  He fell in the Battle of Gate Pa in April 1864.

Members of the Tainui tribe claim that those who took part in the Battle were murderers, not soldiers.

Historian Vincent O'Malley has suggested that local historical Maori figures were more worthy of memorial statues such as [Pōtatau] Te Wherowhero, Tāwhiao, Wiremu Tamihana, or Rewi Maniapoto.  

Ironically, some of these figures also fought on the opposing side in the New Zealand Wars.  Who is to say which side of the conflict should be memorialized?  

If one looks hard enough, one will find a moral fault or crime amongst nearly all of a society's historical figures when judged on present-day standards and perspectives.

Slavery is also caught up in the Black Lives Matters controversy because of its influence on African American history.  Slavery is an anathema in modern society.  Yet slavery was a normal part of Maori society in the 1800s and had been for hundreds of years.  

Slaves were subservient and treated as property.  Maori hired out their slaves as labour to the early settlers.  There are other aspects of Maori society that are even more inflammatory.

Ultimately, no one is faultless.  

Jesus said, he who is without sin, should cast the first stone (John 8:7).

There are two elements to solving this issue:  The first is racism.  The second is to achieve repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.

False racist ideas between two people groups about each other can be dispelled through increased contact and leadership.  

Worldviews such as Social Darwinism can be countered through an understanding that God created all of humankind and He loves all of His creation (Genesis 1).  And all of humankind is called to follow His ways (Psalm 67).  

Dispelling false ideas is not enough.  Bringing healing through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation is also necessary.

Any science fiction aficionado will know that First Contact between two societies is a fraught and risky process.  The chance of misunderstanding with potentially lethal consequences is high.

Ngati Oneone experienced first contact fatalities and are still aggrieved.  Captain James Cook suffered lethal first contact violence himself in Hawaii. 

Without forgiveness and reconciliation, the issue will continue to be a source of offense and growing animosity that will have unfortunate consequences for future generations.  

And why should we forgive?  Because God our Creator commands us to.  It is part of His 13 attributes to forgive iniquity and we are commanded to follow His ways (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18).  

We must therefore also forgive iniquity.  Unless we do, whether we be Maori or Pakeha (non-Maori), there will never be lasting peace.