Honoring Heroes, Not Horrors: A Call for Change USA (And France)

Let’s start a movement that transforms our public spaces into tributes of hope and progress, honoring those who inspire us to be better—not those from our dark past. Strolling alongside the dreamy Seine should not mean encountering a proud slaveholder and child rapist.

Colonizers may try to continue their games, but that era is over. Top-down leadership, with its “’cause we said so” and “we know better” mentality, is so passé. We see the man behind the curtain, and we aren’t buying it anymore. Let’s dive into our statues of shame and explore why we need to redo some of our monuments.

“Since when do you have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?” — Lillian Hellman

I’m calling for the removal and replacement of an offensive statue of a historically problematic figure (that I even have to write this is absurd) in American history. Thomas Jefferson on the Seine is just wrong. America has better choices for honoring great citizens, so let’s recognize someone who embodies our core values: liberty and justice for all. Many great Americans spent time in France and fit this bill. It won’t be hard.

On Indigenous Peoples Day, let’s reflect on how some countries willfully ignore the horrors inflicted on millions elsewhere because it suits them. This must end. Thankfully, most people want this type of behavior to change, too. Just as most people agree that slavery, child abuse, and sexual assault are unacceptable. These figures shouldn’t be seen as cultural heroes, right? So, this change should be a no-brainer.

Also, Pam Gregory is a brilliant astrologer who, in a recent lecture traced the roots of European slavery market back to the last two Pluto in Capricorn cycles so, yeah. Crazy. And timely. (The link with astrology to things happening is always wondrous.)

France and America: A Complex Friendship

America and France share a unique friendship, born from shared funding and ideology. Both countries want to do the right thing and know what it is, but financial ties to unhealthy revenue streams and the fear of looking weak by admitting errors have placed them in a precarious social position. Changes are coming; tides cannot be stopped. However, the unwillingness to confront these changes among those who fear losing status in a new world keeps us hostages to fear. Both nations are navigating crises of consciousness and structure (the U.S. is experiencing its Pluto return, with France’s upcoming). The center cannot hold where injustice, inequity, and closed hearts reign. We’re witnessing the cracks in our social fabric widen. I’m suggesting we be proactive on a larger scale and just do the dang things. It’s what most people want, so it shouldn’t be hard.

After years in France, I’ve noticed how many sites honor international friendship. Usually, it’s lovely. Yet seeing reminders of Thomas Jefferson against the majestic Seine and Louvre is simply wrong. He’s an unapologetic slave-owning child rapist. Like, what?! His statues could easily be replaced by actual heroes from the French-American friendship variety. A child rapist and slave owner cannot fit that bill*.

It is also across from the building that houses France’s greatest honor, the Legion d’Honneur. Say quoi!?

It’s time for America’s statues and honors to reflect basic human decency, including abroad. Isn’t that who we want to be? Because that’s not who we currently are, and unless we make changes, the hypocrisy is deafening. Friends don’t let friends uphold oppression. This is a fundamental reason why the U.S. and France became amis, and yet it’s not so easy when it’s your own house that needs cleaning.

“A nation should cannot be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” – François Mitterand

Tommy Jeffs Isn’t the Only One: Why Horrible Leaders Shouldn’t Be Honored

Seeing King Leopold of Belgium’s name honored in the 16th arrondissement was jarring—actually surreal. It felt like an elephant in a tutu parading by. I had to check, thinking it couldn’t possibly be the Belgian sociopath; had to be another Leopold? Sadly, it’s not. I was enjoying a peaceful, greenery-filled walk that was marred by a racist sociopath’s name appearing as if it were nothing. I mean, where is Hitler Avenue then, as long as we’re honoring genocidal leaders? Belgium’s citizens under Leopold endured horrors that took cruelty to new levels.

Note that this area of the 16th is where recent racist and sexist presidential candidates had headquarters and won majorities. Is that why it bears the name of someone akin to Hitler in stats and cruelty, except committed them against Africans? Is everyone in the neighborhood okay with this? Like, what?!

“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Voltaire

If You Have a Brutal Leader’s Name Up, You Are Condoning It

While Belgium is France’s neighbor, keeping Leopold’s name up is more than just maintaining relations; it endorses his legacy of oppression. When will we stop ignoring our friends’ wrongdoings? Belgium and France, both with colonial legacies of horror whose effects continue today, need to do better.

Obviously, the U.S. does too, because how do we still have Confederate statues? This Tommy Jeffs in France represents our international edition of shame and must be changed.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

The French-American Connection: Let’s Honor True Heroes

I mention this because there are numerous statues honoring the U.S. in France. While this reflects historical ties and some incredible people—shout out to Josephine Baker, the first American-born and performer in the Pantheon—who we honor speaks volumes about us. And no, having Baker honored doesn’t mean we excuse the honoring of terrible people. Again, TJ standing where France’s highest honor is bestowed, the Legion d’Honneur, should be replaced by someone who reflects the best of our ideals. Both countries deserve that.

If France wishes to honor its friends, that’s great. However, this choice, along with Leopold, suggests an alignment with the worst of humanity—a strange stance for a country filled with talented, courageous, and loving citizens.

The Shift: Ending Patriarchal Norms

The patriarchal power games are over. The belief that some man in a tie who attended a legacy school knows best is outdated. Obviously, they are still trying to play the game. But we aren’t playing it anymore. These last vestiges must go. It’s frankly embarrassing.

Being good to each other is the new sexy! Generosity is in. Helping those who struggle due to unhealthy social structures under patriarchy is the new black. We see through the facade. Leaders worldwide collaborate to maintain a power structure rooted in abuse, and we won’t accept it anymore.

Power to the people is here! Let’s embrace community empowerment and unity and reflect this in our shared spaces and honors. We don’t need to keep honoring terrible figures; acknowledging past mistakes is essential for growth.

Franco-American Controversies

Last year, a school named for Angela Davis in the Paris banlieue was renamed, supposedly to avoid “negative energy.” It now bears the name of Rosa Parks. This change reflects a troubling trend by ruling classes where figures who stand against oppression in ways deemed “unacceptable” are sidelined, especially in a colonial empire that still hasn’t come close to making its reparations around the world. (Notable also because Parks stood up for Davis back in the ’70s. Rokhaya Diallo wrote a great piece on this.)

France, apparently name changes can happen for you! But keeping figures who perpetuate racism, sexism, and colonialism speaks volumes about our values.

Indigenous Peoples Day and Global Issues

America struggles with honoring terrible people and holding those who support them accountable, and this issue extends worldwide. The dying colonial ways are not going lovingly. Pluto in Capricorn is exposing structures that limit individuals and attempt to control others by force. The choices we make about whom to honor affect us all. It is not a small issue. That’s why we have statues, and those in power resist changing them.

America’s statue issue is glaring and embarrassing. That it extends across oceans is equally so. It’s time to stand firm and choose the side of goodness and unity. And encourage our friends to do the same.

We must remove our own statues of terrible individuals and advocate for this change globally. The ‘Me Too’ movement and ongoing racist immigration policies highlight the work that remains. Removing statues of leaders who do not reflect who we are and where we want to go is a crucial first step.

Let’s unite in demanding a future where our monuments celebrate heroes of justice and compassion, not reminders of our darkest past.

And never forget: borders are arbitrary!

Thoughts? How do you feel think we change these?

*I can’t believe I have to write that sentence. Are we in first grade, adults?