By John Ruberry
The committee for the project earlier this month identified 41 monuments, mostly statues but also plaques, reliefs, and one painting. Five of the monuments are statues of Abraham Lincoln. Yes, that guy, the one who led the Union during the Civil War, which led to ending slavery in America. Illinois is the Land of Lincoln, that slogan has been emblazoned on every Illinois license plate for decades. His face is on all standard Illinois license plates. On every Illinois driver’s license and state ID card is Lincoln’s countenance–and automobile titles too.
Other monuments “under review” by the project include statues of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Leif Erikson, Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, several pieces honoring Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, and works featuring anonymous Native Americans.
By John Ruberry
The committee for the project earlier this month identified 41 monuments, mostly statues but also plaques, reliefs, and one painting. Five of the monuments are statues of Abraham Lincoln. Yes, that guy, the one who led the Union during the Civil War, which led to ending slavery in America. Illinois is the Land of Lincoln, that slogan has been emblazoned on every Illinois license plate for decades. His face is on all standard Illinois license plates. On every Illinois driver’s license and state ID card is Lincoln’s countenance–and automobile titles too.
Other monuments “under review” by the project include statues of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Leif Erikson, Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, several pieces honoring Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, and works featuring anonymous Native Americans.
By John Ruberry
The project’s web site cautions, in bold print no less, “No decisions have been made about the following monuments.”
Yeah, right. BS! Imagine that you work at a company where the annual reviews are conducted each December. But in June you are informed that you’ll soon have a mid-year review but then are told, “Don’t worry, nothing is wrong.” At that point a wise person will begin the process of résumé updating.
The statues, reliefs, and plaques include monuments honoring four presidents, several memorials recalling the first Europeans to visit Chicago, Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette, as well as generals, a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and many public art pieces with Native American themes. And yes of course those two Columbus statues. Oh, if you are one of those people who believe Leif Ericsson was the real European discoverer of America don’t be smug. He’s on Lightfoot commission’s list too.
Lincoln statues under attack in the largest city in the Land of Lincoln datechguyblog.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from datechguyblog.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Chicago is reviewing 41 monuments including statues of Abraham Lincoln, Columbus, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin as it decides whether they should be replaced because of ties to slavery and oppression
The Chicago Monuments Project has identified 41 monuments in the city that will undergo a review on whether they should be removed
They include five statues of President Abraham Lincoln
It comes despite the Illinois motto reading Land of Lincoln Can we not cancel Lincoln in Chicago? one resident asked
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus are among the other historical figures under review
A city commision identified the statues from 500 around the city after the project began in the summer and the public are now being asked for comment