Should the UK rename the Imperial War Museum?

[Frank Zipper]

Isn't it about time the UK dropped 'imperial' from the name of the Imperial War Museum?

The museums remit is now every conflict since 1914, and surely it must be very uncomfortable for some service personnel to see exhibits of more recent conflicts they took part in under the label 'imperial'.

I think we should just drop the word imperial and call it the War Museum - it does what it says on the can.

[USS Monitor]

It ain't broke. Don't fix it.

[Vassenor]

Maybe we should ask their opinion rather than just assuming it.

[Populi-Terrae]

Isn't it about time the UK dropped 'imperial' from the name of the Imperial War Museum?

The museums remit is now every conflict since 1914, and surely it must be very uncomfortable for some service personnel to see exhibits of more recent conflicts they took part in under the label 'imperial'.

I think we should just drop the word imperial and call it the War Museum - it does what it says on the can.

Just call it the British War Museum. I agree. "Imperial' is a word from a bygone age where having your own empire was a source of pride. It is also sends the wrong message to countries like India where the British abused the population (looking at you, Churchill) that the museum is celebrating that part of British history.

[North Isseggggnignigsegigisegggg Islands]

In some people's opinion, the UK is still imperialist.

[Dooom35796821595]

Imperial war museum sounds more impressive, war museum is dull and boring.

[Dumb Ideologies]

No. Britain's empire is an important part of its military history. Let's not give even more money to useless overpaid shitty advertising agencies for lame unnecessary rebrandings. Nope, nope, nope.

[Frank Zipper]

Maybe we should ask their opinion rather than just assuming it.

I would be on board with that.

[Ostroeuropa]

Which war since hasn't been imperial in nature?
Isn't all war kind of imperial?

Maybe the falklands.

[FelrikTheDeleted]

Seems that it would be changing something for the sake of changing it. I prefer to avoid doing such things.

[Alvecia]

Hey! I walk past the northern one on the way to my mate's place. Cool design. Has a tank in the car park.

As to the name? Nah. It's fine as it is.

[Baltenstein]

As long as they don't put a true-to-scale Baneblade in the main exhibition hall, the name just seems inappropriate.

[Frank Zipper]

Which war since hasn't been imperial in nature?
Isn't all war kind of imperial?

Maybe the falklands.

That's a good question. I'm not sure I would say they were all about British imperialism though.

[The Mounk]

The imperial war museum is a museum dedicated to the wars and military technology that were used during the era(s) when the UK was an empire, and considered an imperial power.

I don't really see how it can offend anyone.

[Ifreann]

Imperial war museum sounds more impressive, war museum is dull and boring.

Museum Of Our Victories Over The Uncivilised, The Barely Civilised, And The French.

[The Green Union]

It recounts the history of the Empire's wars . . .

Its name should stay the same. Just consider the WWI exhibit (a must see, by the way), which has an entire section devoted to the contributions of the Crown's overseas colonies, the empire's colonies.

[Caracasus]

Imperial war museum sounds more impressive, war museum is dull and boring.

Museum Of Our Victories Over The Uncivilised, The Barely Civilised, And The French.

Don't forget the Spanish! And the Irish!

[Ifreann]

It recounts the history of the Empire's wars . . .

Its name should stay the same. Just consider the WWI exhibit (a must see, by the way), which has an entire section devoted to the contributions of the Crown's overseas colonies, the empire's colonies.

Well if its remit is every war since 1914, what about the wars since Britain stopped being an empire?

---

Museum Of Our Victories Over The Uncivilised, The Barely Civilised, And The French.

Don't forget the Spanish! And the Irish!

The Uncivilised

[Hirota]

surely it must be very uncomfortable for some service personnel

Instead of making a baseless assumption, Prove it

[Ostroeuropa]

Which war since hasn't been imperial in nature?
Isn't all war kind of imperial?

Maybe the falklands.

That's a good question. I'm not sure I would say they were all about British imperialism though.

True. But it's not called that

[Conserative Morality]

Imperial War Museum sounds so badass though.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Nah. I mean, how long was it the British Empire, the 90s wasn't it? Imperial is just a term to refer to how it was an Empire

[The New California Republic]

Nah. I mean, how long was it the British Empire, the 90s wasn't it?

Yup, the British Empire only existed in the 1990's...

[Internationalist Bastard]

Nah. I mean, how long was it the British Empire, the 90s wasn't it?

Yup, the British Empire only existed in the 1990's...

No I mean, when was it stopped being called the British Empire

[The New California Republic]

No I mean, when was it stopped being called the British Empire

"Officially" it was never called the "British Empire". But the end of the British Empire as a concept came to end in 1997, with the handover of Hong Kong back to the People's Republic of China.

However, just because something dies, doesn't mean that names, such as the Imperial War Museum, need to be changed. It would smell too much of cultural whitewashing to me, if the human race felt the need to rename something as soon as something else phases out of existence...