Not that anyone has suggested adding it to the list of statues that merit some consideration for pulling down. But, you never know what’s just around the pike.
Several reasons why the Statue of Liberty passes muster for keeping it around; although a couple of those reasons wouldn’t pass with certain U.S. political/cultural factions:
- It enshrines/honors a human value present in the founding document of this country. A value that is widely accepted in the U.S. and abroad. And while we may disagree about the meaning, “liberty” is one value, possibly the only one, that Americans can agree is good to have around.
- While the form/model of the statue is human and female, it’s not an historical figure and therefore, doesn’t venerate an individual or a god that people worship.
- It was originally “proposed by Édouard René de Laboulaye the president of the French Anti-Slavery Society and a prominent and important political thinker of his time.” In honor of the Union prevailing in the Civil War and abolishing slavery. Although that actual historical reference appears to have been lost on all but a few Americans.*
- It was a gift. From the people of France. (Not nice to reject gifts of noble intent.)
- It has artistic merit. Even if one doesn’t appreciate neoclassical style.
Irrelevant is that it’s huge, iconic for this nation, a tourist destination, and New Yorkers, even Trump, would lose their shit if there were an effort to pull down The Lady.
Looking over that list of reasons, the other statues, etc. that can easily pass are those depicting non-human animals. Some are sort of creepy but most are rather nice.
The Washington Monument comes pretty darn close to passing as well. (Construction began in 1848, completed 1884, and dedicated 1885, almost two years before The Statue of Liberty.) One reason it passes is that the building committee lacked the funds for statue of Washington in the design plan; so, they skipped it.
The statues, monuments, memorials that totally fail are those to honor Confederate leaders who initiated and waged war against this country for the sole purpose of maintaining the right to own other human beings and to expand that horrendous economic and moral plague into other territories. Legally, they were traitors and engaged in treason. That many were subsequently allowed to live out their natural lives in peace instead of being held to account for their crimes wasn’t meant to give them an honorable place in U.S. history. Those statues, etc. are an historical perversion. None should ever have come into being and it’s way past time for all of them to go, including my pet peeve, the Robert E. Lee Memorial
However, are there no other public statues, etc. that warrant reconsideration? Why are J. Edgar Hoover and John Foster Dulles honored with public structures in their names? Interesting to notice that not everybody is so complacent:
A wax-like, life-size figure of J. Edgar Hoover, which was recently installed among other memorabilia in the FBI’s New York Field Office, has been removed because of objections from bureau personnel.
The decision to oust Hoover, … , is something of a cultural moment for the bureau. Once revered among FBI agents, Hoover is no longer universally admired at the crime-fighting organization he built.
“There are no plans to display him again,” said Michael Kortan, assistant director of the FBI’s Office of Public Affairs.
This diary thread is now open for statues, etc. nominations “to stay” and “to go”. (Make a case for those selected to highlight in either category.
*How widely known was that when it was dedicated on October 28, 1886? Was it strictly coincidental — no relationship and not in any way an impetus — that Confederate statues, etc. began going up around the same time and and for many decades thereafter?
