Can we erase the past .... or should we learn from it ?

[IgorStrav]

And for those worrying about the name of the dog in the Dambusters film, he's called Trigger.  I shouldn't think he'd be upset.

Are you sure?  Trigger was the name of Roy Rogers' horse - not the Dambusters' dog 

He is now Trigger.

[IgorStrav]

The dog in question was called what it was - we cannot change that.  However, we don't need to perpetuate the use of words that cause pain, suffering and offence.  The words that my grandparents used are not the words that I would use, and language will evolve again ad infinitum.  I think that it is right (and overdue) that we have a full and frank conversation about how we as a nation have historically treated other people - and that goes for all nations and about all people, the UK are not the only nation guilty of violating others.

As Greensleeves alluded to - history doesn't stop, we make it everyday!  We have to embrace change and move forward to ensure true equality happens for all humans.

Yes. Absolutely.

[Fisherman]

The dogs name was also the code word to signify the dam had been breached.

To quote Stephen Fry who wrote the screenplay for the remake
"In the film, you're constantly hearing 'XX-word, XX-word, XX-word, hurray' and Barnes Wallis is punching the air. But obviously that's not going to happen now.... the dog will be called "Digger" instead of "XXXXXX".

[River Tyne Lass]

I do not think we should try to erase the past.  Remembering what happened can act as a caution and exposes what was unfair, ugly, wrong and downright atrocious.  If the past is erased and nothing is around to learn from, people will become complacent making it easier for past mistakes to be committed all over again.

[Fisherman]

I totally agree with you RTL

[Henry7]

So - was this absurd renaming all Stephen Fry's fault, or was he obliged to do it by some fastidious boss?

[Fisherman]

No idea Henry7, but they were aware they could not use the name when the film was shown in the USA

[Treetotal]

"One cannot and must not erase the past merely because it doesn't fit with the present" - Golder Meir
 
The future generations need to know what has gone on before and learn from past mistakes in order to help to make the world a better place for all. We need to celebrate all those who brought about change, William Wilberforce and Rosa Parks are just a couple of people among many who made a difference.

We are learning all the time and will continue to do so.
Carol

[Henry7]

... they were aware they could not use the name when the film was shown in the USA

The Americans can make a film U-571 which completely distorts history, claiming that they, and not the British, captured the Enigma machine - but they object to one word in a British film made in 1954. 

It could have been altered on copies sent to the USA, to protect their sensitive ears.