It seems like a lot of people are upset with @aoc's Instagram story about statues in the US Congress. Specifically, it seems they have an issue with the part where she stops at the statue of #FatherDamien. But consider this; a thread.

Although we can all agree that the work of Father Damien in the leprosy-colony of Moloka'i was at the very least admirable, I asked myself: Was he the only one? And after some research, I found out about Maria Anne Barbara Koob, or as she was later known, Marianne Cope.

Cope was a German-American citizen, located in central New York, and became a prominent sister and member of the Sisters of St. Francis. She was an important person in the establishment of one of the first general hospitals in the USA, where she worked as an administrator.

In 1883, the Hawaiian King Kaläkaua pleaded for sisters to come care for leprosy sufferers in Hawai'i. Although most prominent heads of religious congregations deemed this task to be unwise for women, Cope responded with enthusiasm.

She wrote: "I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be (...) whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders. I am not afraid of any disease, hence it would be my greatest delight even to minister (...)"

Cope and six other sisters traveled to Honolulu on the island of O'ahu where she started working with vigor in a branch hospital that received a lot of Hawaii's leprosy-patients. Her work was noticed and soon she was sent to Maui to establish the first general hospital there.

Upon hearing stories of patients being abused in the O'ahu hospital, which she had left only weeks before, she traveled back. She found out that patients were being abused by the government-appointed administrator of the hospital.

She presented the government with an ultimatum. Either the administrator left, or she and her sisters would return to New York. The administrator was dismissed and the care of the hospital was left in Cope's hands.

Her work was admired and her mission was extended. Both the government and the church said she was essential to the success of the mission. She continued working in the hospital and on projects like building infrastructure and a home for homeless children of leprosy-patients.

Later, she was asked by the government to continue this work in Kalaupapa, a peninsula o/t island of Moloka'i where the most severe patients were in quarantine. And even though she realized she would probably never return to NY, she responded: "We will cheerfully accept the work"

On Moloka'i, she met Father Damien, who was already dying at the time. She took care of him and would later take over his work in the colony. She died on the island in 1918 after dedicating over 30 years of her life to caring for the people of Hawai'i.

Cope demonstrated a to stand up against popular belief and raised up against injustice, just like Father Damien. But while both of them are incredible examples of selfless & charitable behavior, in light of the statues, it does raise some questions.

History has always been favorable to the white man. Because the white man was the one fighting wars, governing the lands, and ministering the good faith. But while we acknowledge that some of these men like Father Damien have done great work, we might want to ask ourselves:

Were Father Damien's work and self-sacrifice worth more than Sister Cope's? Or do we recognize and celebrate his work more because history was simply more favorable to a white man's story? Isn't it time to cast the spotlight onto those untold stories of other demographics?