Various accounts, especially on social media, have inaccurately described this project as an effort to tear it all down. This could not be further from the truth. It is a discussion.
CST
Abraham Lincoln was one of the earliest members of the Illinois State Society of Washington, DC, which was founded in 1854. The oldest of the state and territorial societies in Washington, it represents former Illinoisans from all parts of the state, including Chicago.
We and hundreds of historians, District of Columbia officials and local residents honor Lincoln at an annual birthday celebration at the Lincoln Memorial the most popular of all of the monuments here in the nation’s capital.
We are proud to represent a state where every license plate bears the imprimatur “Land of Lincoln,” and we understand Chicago has felt that same pride. Chicago honored the 16
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.