A phenomenon that began with (arguably) reasonable ends is now a strange and decidedly arrogant movement with intent to burn many more than its original targets. Progressives are now vandalizing the statues of historic figures with less discretion than a fox in a chicken coop. The abuse of bronze effigies has now extended (with no meaning in the order) to Matthew Begbie, Winston Churchill, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Voltaire. While there are historical villains with no right to venerated public space, the rope thrown round the neck of some is simply the standard of the day cast back through time over unsuspecting heads.

The individuals listed are, admittedly, products of their years—as we all are—and held closely ideas not reaching the moral heights of today. The bigoted and racist perspectives of the Churchills, Jeffersons and Voltaires of yesteryear are not disputed, but to condemn them as irredeemable is to ignore the trajectory of progress and the role of imperfect people in achieving it.

Voltaire advocated for religious tolerance and freedom of thought and speech. Jefferson was one of the authors of modern democracy and a defender of minority religious rights, including for Muslim Americans. Churchill was a fearless leader in the face of Hitler’s aggression and one of the reasons Nazi Germany was defeated. Matthew Begbie (known today as British Columbia’s Hanging Judge) was undoubtedly more progressive than most peers on the topics of race and Indigenous rights, and was in many instances an advocate and defender of minorities in Canada.

It is true that for most of these men a counter-weight paragraph could be written of their sins, both ideological and actual, but imperfect men are the story of our past. It is not possible to find perfect ideological specimens outside their time. This is true today and it will be true fifty years from now. When we are judged by our descendants we will not meet the standards of their culture and honed conception of morality.

Progress is not immediate; it is gradual. We do not turn a key smoothly and open the door to moral perfection. Progress is a slow clog up a muddy hill, forwards and backwards, edging closer the summit only through the contributions of unique and singular individuals. Most people in their time do little to move us up the hill, and it perhaps provides some sense of comfort today to spit on those who in their time did. It is a lazy and ignorant substitution for a contribution to the project of justice.

Yes, Voltaire and many like him held views that are racist and bigoted, but they are part of the reason that we do not. When we breathe in the elevated air of our enlightened worldview and stare from a height at the illuminated truths below, we are able to do so only by standing on the shoulders of great individuals who, although imperfect, enabled through their efforts the progress we have made.

We owe them at least the courtesy of not spitting on their faces while standing on their shoulders.