Monday, October 20, 2008

Professional statue movers

LINCOLN STATUE (letter 5 in today's Statesman) http://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/story/543150.html

16th president getting recognition he deserves

It's refreshing to read that devoted curators will be refurbishing the Boise Abe Lincoln statue and transporting it from its obscure, foliage-hidden-area at the State Veterans Home to a more prominent spot, in time to celebrate our Great Emancipator's 200th birthday.

This move follows the spirit of Washington, D.C.'s, Lincoln Memorial, in the sense that our ancestors deliberately installed that monument in a remote area of the National Mall. Although this tied in symbolically with the remote nature of Lincoln's personality, people wishing to honor our founding Republican did not accept his inaccessibility and have made the pilgrimage to that isolated area so much that it is has become a "destination monument" and one of the most romantic spots to visit in Washington.

For more about what our historic sites get right or wrong, check out Dr. James W. Loewen's groundbreaking, "Lies Across America." Loewen also authored the American Book Award-winner, "Lies My Teacher Told Me."

From the book: "More than any other marker or monument on the American landscape, it continues to speak of later times, even of our time. Its fascinating history offers suggestions as to why some historic sites 'work' while others do not.


1 comment:

  1. I hope everyone enjoys the good old Idaho way our boys here moved the priceless Lincoln statue! If they ever need the Lincoln Memorial moved a few feet away from Washington’s Tidal Pool, when global warming actually starts raising the seas, I’m sure our boys here will be ready to offer free advice.





    When Abe gets his figure emblazoned on the dollar coin in a few years, he will be on three coins - the fiver, the penny and the dollar. I already added this up in advance and it comes to $6.01! (A good number to play in the lottery that day?)

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