Controversial MLK Memorial inscription to be removed

[garbon]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/11/us/mlk-memorial-inscription/index.html

The controversial "drum major" inscription on the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington will be removed rather than replaced under a plan announced Tuesday by federal officials.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a news release that the move followed consultation with a "range of stakeholders" who concurred with the decision.
Initially, plans called for the quote to be corrected. But the original sculptor, Lei Yixin, said removal was the best way to ensure the structural integrity of the memorial, the National Park Service said.

The site features a commanding 30-foot statue of King, arms folded across his chest, emerging from a "Stone of Hope."

The quote in question -- one of more than a dozen on the site -- is inscribed on one side of the stone. The abbreviated and paraphrased version of the line sparked controversy in 2011 when acclaimed poet and author Maya Angelou said it made the civil rights leader appear to be arrogant.

The line reads: "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness."

In fact, King's original words, from a 1968 sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, were: "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."

Angelou said that leaving out the "if" changes the meaning.

The plan announced Tuesday will be submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission in January for their review, according to the Interior Department.

The news release included a comment from Bernice A. King, King's youngest daughter and CEO of the King Center in Atlanta.

"We are grateful that Secretary Salazar's office and the National Park Service has taken such care to maintain the spirit and appearance of such an important monument to our country's history and my father's memory," she said.

The memorial will remain open to visitors during the work, but some of the statue will be covered at certain times. The project will begin in February or March, after the annual King birthday observance.

Can we just remove the whole memorial and get a better one?

I liked the Onion's take in American Voices: "This would never have happened to a statue of a white guy."

[Razgovory]

It is a really ugly memorial.  It looks like some of the old communist stuff.  Why does MLK have to look some damn angry in it?

[dps]

I don't think that the line that appears on the statue makes him look arrogant.

I do think, though, that if we're going to carve quotes into stone, they should at least be accurate.

[garbon]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/controversial-king-memorial-inscription-set-to-be-erased-not-replaced/2012/12/11/41f2f8b6-43cc-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html

The work is expected to cost between $700,000 and $900,000 and will be paid for by a special fund created by the memorial foundation and turned over to the National Park Service for maintenance.

That's a lot of money to remove a quote on an ugly memorial!

[Valmy]

I liked the Onion's take in American Voices: "This would never have happened to a statue of a white guy."

I don't know man.  Really ugly statues and memorials are in style.

[Ed Anger]

He looks frozen in carbonite.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

He looks frozen in carbonite.

and he didn't shoot first either

[Sheilbh]

It's hideous.  Sad because the Vietnam War Memorial (which I think is close) is one of the greatest pieces of public statuary around.  I thought we'd cracked it.

[The Brain]

I wonder what kind of crap quotes they'll put on my memorial.

[Viking]

Remove the quote marks, change the "I" to "He", if anybody deserves the accolade, he does.

[Razgovory]

Remove the quote marks, change the "I" to "He", if anybody deserves the accolade, he does.

I'm surprised at you.

[CountDeMoney]

It's hideous.  Sad because the Vietnam War Memorial (which I think is close) is one of the greatest pieces of public statuary around.

It is a hideous statue.  Should be much more solemn.
He died for the civil rights movement.  This statue makes it look like he won 3 consecutive Super Bowls.

[garbon]

I was so glad that those bratty kids were in front of me the last time I went to the Vietnam War Memorial. Dammed up the water works!

[Darth Wagtaros]

I wonder what kind of crap quotes they'll put on my memorial.

"All your base are belong to us!" If you are lucky.

[Malthus]

I wonder what kind of crap quotes they'll put on my memorial.

"All your base are belong to us!" If you are lucky.

I'm guessing something with more "moo" and "baa" in it.