Move on with Hastings history, please

Regarding your letter titled: “Is now the time to rename Havelock Road in Hastings?” from Clifford Thompson (Friday, August 7), can we please be sensible when discussing topics like this?

Yes, General Havelock was instrumental in suppressing the Indian revolution, but then so was the entire empire at that time. By this logic, we ought completely erase our history and spend the next millennium apologising for our ancestors’ actions. There are parts of British history I am extremely proud of, and some I am not, but I will certainly not feel guilty because of my heritage. That is just as bad as somebody being told they’re inferior because of their origins, looks, beliefs etc. Shouldn’t the lesson we take from history be that this is unacceptable?

Suggesting that a road be renamed after the leader of another country serves to wind people up and will only fuel hatred and resentment. Would someone of note who is associated with this town not be more suitable? Alan Turing or John Logie Baird perhaps?

May I suggest you come up with an original idea when you write into the paper in future? The rename roads and tear down statue bandwagon has been and gone.

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