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  • It's also worth remembering that no one involved in BLM has asked, or is really bothered by the TV shows being taken down, it's a distraction if anything, their goals are much broader. Most of this is being done because white people in charge feel it could be a bit dodgy and they feel uncomfortable about it and it shows them to be doing something, even if that something isn't really helpful. There's also the position that it winds up people who are in support of BLMs actual goals but distracting them with their beloved Fawlty towers being removed gives the right wing press something to dig in to, and changes the conversation from what's important, to stuff that really isn't.

  • It's also worth remembering that no one involved in BLM has asked, or is really bothered by the TV shows being taken down, it's a distraction if anything, their goals are much broader. Most of this is being done because white people in charge feel it could be a bit dodgy and they feel uncomfortable about it and it shows them to be doing something, even if that something isn't really helpful. There's also the position that it winds up people who are in support of BLMs actual goals but distracting them with their beloved Fawlty towers being removed gives the right wing press something to dig in to, and changes the conversation from what's important, to stuff that really isn't.

    I agree that things like TV series are marginal, should be addressed in some way at some point (although with satirical comedy it's often a bit of a problem that to be hard-hitting it will be partly tasteless and it will be prone to being misunderstood where the writer's sympathies lie; just look at the way in which the 'don't mention the war' sketch has often been misunderstood as being a joke on the Germans and not on Basil Fawlty), but are currently a distraction and not at all a priority if the campaign(s) want(s) to keep momentum.

    I read the other day that people had drawn up a list of about 80 statues that need to have something done with them. I'd say forget statues at the moment; the Bristol action was a good, mould-breaking moment, but the worst thing that can happen now is if it's endlessly repeated and made routine. It is important symbolism that it happened, but it's been done and now it's time for something else. I don't know what this will be (proper institutional change, e.g. the Metropolitan Police perhaps), but if they just try to fight battles about statues it'll all run into the sand quickly. I'm sure there are already people doing other, better things, so hopefully they will get heard in the press, and the image- and sensation-minded press (including the section of the press that is probably already thinking of ways of killing it all off again) won't get the chance to spin it all off into distractions.

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