By Brent Simon
The noise hasn’t stopped. Weeks later, people are still foaming at the mouth over the statue on All Saints Road — the one they’ve never actually gone to see. Everyone’s an expert from behind a steering wheel, a pulpit, or a WhatsApp group. But ask them what the piece really represents, and they go quiet. The ignorance is louder than the outrage.
Here’s a thought: instead of quoting half a verse from Exodus 20 or passing around photos cropped out of context, why not go to Glorious Hope Ministries this Friday evening? That’s when the pastor Claude Weaver will actually explain the statue’s symbolism as part of its weekend message series. In other words, he will do what the critics refuse to — put meaning where people have been throwing noise.
You don’t have to agree with the theology, the art, or even the artist. But if you’re going to call something evil, at least have the decency to understand what you’re condemning. It’s easy to be offended when you know nothing; ignorance is the cheapest form of righteousness this country sells.
Antigua’s full of people performing piety while ducking knowledge. We’ve made it fashionable to attack what we don’t understand, especially when it’s created by one of our own. That’s not morality — that’s insecurity. And until we start showing up, asking questions, and facing things head-on, we’ll keep mistaking noise for conviction.
So, go see the statue. Stand in front of it. Listen to what’s said. Ask your questions. You might still walk away disagreeing, but at least you’ll be informed. Because right now, most of the outrage isn’t about art or religion — it’s about people terrified of finding out they were wrong.
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We have seen it. We know what they said its meant to do.
Still disagree. No reason to have erected this thing. None at all. Waste of money and people are hungry in Antigua.
Have a good day.
Brent Simon, your opinion piece is as valid as the criticisms others have highlighted. But who is right, and who is wrong?
Art, just like religion has always been subjective in the eye of the beholden. This you cannot dispute. I also note with a keen eye that you have missed the major point of this controversial statue on All Saints Road.
I recall at the time of this development with poverty still prevalent in the country, and with many food charities in abundance to feed the poor and destitute, Elder Cleveland Weaver decided that the congregations money would be better used to the community by erecting a money wasting project.
I would love to have been in attendance when this idea was first mooted. Was it voted on? Elder Cleveland’s decision? Or over collective prayers?
Who knows, but the church.
Brent, as you know many religious leaders can quote Scriptures in support of this controversial structure, but remember there are also Scriptures that quote idolatry about the same said thing, as some would say like trying to compare “apples and oranges”.
You are entitled to your opinion pi, but all I’m reminding you about is this controversial structure was more about how the congregations tithes was used.
YEP!,IT’S ALL ABOUT OPINIONS…
Ancestral warrior or protector figure Indigenous or African-inspired traditional warrior A symbol of strength, heritage, or national pride that’s what the statue represents people for today need to do research cause what are you trying to say it means
I always try my hardest to hear God, as he speaks to all of us, we just do not listen a lot of the time. I am saying this to both sides.
My first opinion was, the persons intent is highly important and we need to understand the heart/intent of others before we begin condemning and persecuting others. But on the other side I think about the amount of humans that could be helped with the resources used but I also want so say that we must also know God is worth the investment too.
I will continue to pray so that I can hear what God says about this. At this time I will stay neutral.
My two cents worth. Leave Brent and Weaver to the gods they serve. By their fruits they shall be known. Ignore their efforts at attention-seeking and relevance.
I don’t get why this still a talking point other than the why build that instead of direct community contributions which would probably agree with since I see Antigua lacking very things such as food drives and providing support for the homeless and other people in need which don’t even get talk about.
I don’t consider myself religious so I don’t know the meaning, I am curious but it’s not really important to me. The experience I had growing up in a church that seems to only care about tides, how nice you look and selling products lowered my initial trust on churches that are built like that, because for profit churches aren’t rare. Of course I know there humble churches that try to do good with the little they have which should be supported more.
Honestly I pass the stature often and forget it was even there and probably would have never noticed if wasn’t a big talking point here. I would take the side of this statue isn’t probably going to be what they thought it would have meant to the public and probably could have use the funds for making it and putting it up better just that’s just assuming everyone was paid in the process of this.