<div dir="ltr">I think everyone brings his or her own context to an historical monument. That context, which is always personal for everyone and always unique, is all that is needed. Modifying it (or, more accurately, updating it) might create something more in line with our current thinking, but to do so is literally anachronistic. It makes something that we agree with. We smile and say what a nice statue and move on. The stimulus to inquiry that I described is obviated. It's OK to be irritated by a public monument. In fact it's healthy.<div>"Explanatory" additions and such suffer from the same fault. In fact, they're even worse because they instruct (or heavily suggest) how to think. It's what I call "paint by numbers" art. I prefer to make my own interpretations within the context I bring to the work, and I think others should be free to do so as well without a committee-drawn list of appropriate thoughts.</div><div>A number of people here have referred to their children asking about the statue. What a golden opportunity to engage with a young mind and help him or her begin to form their own context and interpretive skills. We should all embrace it. But on our own please, no instructions needed.</div><div><br></div><div>David</div><div>13th St. SE</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 11:16 PM Sarah Von Der Lippe <<a href="mailto:scvdl@aol.com">scvdl@aol.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div style="color:black;font:10pt arial">David<font size="2">: Thank you so much for taking the time to write this out. I still need to do a lot more thinking to figure out where I land on all this, but I appreciate your taking the time to express yourself so thoughtfully. One question: why do you think it's a problem to "modify" the statue? Are you saying we shouldn't even add context? Or did I misunderstand you? I keep remembering my daughter's question when she first fully "saw" the statue for the first: "why is the big man hurting the black man?" I am not sure if that changes my views, but it's a powerful reaction. Sarah<br>
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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: David Morris <<a href="mailto:figaromorris@gmail.com" target="_blank">figaromorris@gmail.com</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:lincolnparkdc@lincolnparkdc.info" target="_blank">lincolnparkdc@lincolnparkdc.info</a><br>
Sent: Mon, Jun 15, 2020 6:39 pm<br>
Subject: Re: [Lincolnparkdc] Lincoln Park's Lincoln statue<br>
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<div dir="ltr">The original purpose of public monuments like the Lincoln Statue is to commemorate particular events and people and how they were viewed at the time, but for future generations they become something more interesting and more complicated: a stimulus to critically reflect and inquire about those original events, people, and views. They become teachable moments for all of us, young and old, black and white. Judging by the discussion here, it seems to me the Lincoln Statue is doing the job any monument should: making us think and reflect on our past and how to interpret it.<br clear="none">If we remove or modify monuments because we disagree with their original view of history, we rob monuments of this cultural function, surrounding ourselves merely with things we find agreeable. The intellectual and cultural stimulus is lost. I disagree with the man in Boston. A kid <i>should</i> have to ask the tough questions the statue raises, as should we all. <br clear="none">I think it’s also important to keep in mind that the Lincoln Statue is part of a duet of sculpture in Lincoln Park that expands the dialogue I’m talking about. At the other end stands Mary McLeod Bethune celebrating with children. The contrasting ensemble is very unusual for a national park, and we are fortunate to have this invitation to reflection and inquiry on our doorstep.<br clear="none"></div>
<div>David</div>
<div>13th St. SE</div>
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<div dir="ltr">On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 5:39 PM Jeni Schoemaker <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:jaschoemaker@gmail.com" target="_blank">jaschoemaker@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></div>
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<div>Thank you for sending the link. It think it explains things very well. I remember being very upset when I first moved here and saw the statue. My daughter was 3 or 4 when she started asking questions about it. It prompted me to do research into and gain a better understanding of the purpose of it.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">
<div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"><blockquote type="cite">On Jun 15, 2020, at 4:46 PM, Sandra Caron George <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:sandracgeorge@gmail.com" target="_blank">sandracgeorge@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></blockquote></div>
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<div>Here is the link to the article. I suggest folks read it and watch the very well-done video calling for removal of (or revision to) the statue before coming to its defense.</div>
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<div><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.boston.com/news/local-news-2/2020/06/13/abraham-lincoln-statue-marty-walsh/amp" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.boston.com/news/local-news-2/2020/06/13/abraham-lincoln-statue-marty-walsh/amp</a> </div>
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<div dir="ltr">On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 3:31 PM Alice Hall <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:alicehall515@gmail.com" target="_blank">alicehall515@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></div>
<blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Surely no one could seriously consider removing our Lincoln statue. It was paid for by subscription by former slaves in D.C. <br clear="none">
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> On Jun 15, 2020, at 7:59 AM, Muriel Wolf <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:murieldubrow@gmail.com" target="_blank">murieldubrow@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none">
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> I need to find the site on Google emancipation statue Boston, My brother just emailed me that Mayor Walsh of Boston is willing to remove the Lincoln statue---just like ours which is in Boston and replace it with a Black created statue. We need to be aware that issues might arise with our Lincoln statue, which so many of us love. Mimi Wolf<br clear="none">
> <br clear="none">
> On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 9:12 AM <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="mailto:citymom92@gmail.com" target="_blank">citymom92@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none">
> We’re removing our old, disintegrating slate patio and installing pervious pavers, but have probably 40 or so 1/2” thick slate pieces that might still be usable for someone planning a small patio area. PM if you’d like to take some, preferably all. We’ve pulled out a few, but there’s more to pry up (it’s not hard-screwdriver and a little muscle). I’m hoping to keep it out of a landfill. <br clear="none">
> <br clear="none">
> Contact me offline if you want them- <br clear="none">
> Gina A<br clear="none">
> 100 bl Kentucky <br clear="none">
> citymom92 AT gmail DOT com<br clear="none">
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> <br clear="none">
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