George W. Bush Monument
The morning after the news of Osama bin Laden's death had broken, the University of Minnesota was graced with the presence of a monument. Not of one celebrating the achievement of the current Commander in Chief Barack Obama, but of the president before him: George W. Bush.
A "plaque" on the inflatable monument reads:
George Walker Bush
43rd President of the United StatesIn honor of one our nation’s greatest patriots, George W. Bush. He will be remembered for his legendary conviction to America’s defining principles of freedom, democracy, and self-determination. ‘W’ will also be remembered for his strong vision and steadfast leadership, even in the face of great struggle and opposition. Following the historic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, he acted swiftly and worked tirelessly to keep our nation safe from future acts of terror.
President Bush, thank you for your service to our great nation.
As expected, most onlookers were "disgusted" and "couldn't believe it was real." Many students and faculty alike rolled their eyes at the idea that this was a genuine and sincere tribute. A shoe or two were thrown while I stood around.
The artist who designed the monument, a Twin Cities native who has displayed his work across the country, including Obama's inauguration, was standing nearby and I talked to him about it for a while. He said he came up with the idea a few years ago, thinking about how there will eventually be a day where Bush has a monument to him.
In a sense, this "statue" is foreshadowing that day and he is interested in seeing people's reactions each time he inflates it. He says the gesture in meant to be apolitical, although he did acknowledge the homage to Saddam Hussein's infamous (and toppled) monument. Upon hearing last night's news, he felt compelled to set it up today to observe the reaction on a level unique to any other.
So I now put the question onto the Ricochet community - what do we think? I realize that is a broad question and can be interpreted in regards to an actual Bush monument, the artist and his motive, reaction, etc., so the choice is yours on what you want to comment on.
For more information, you can visit the website here.
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Oct '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
There are many ways to honor a leader. I do not feel as if Bush requires a monument. I would not say he has earned one either. As much good as he accomplished, he did not overcome let alone grapple with the same problems of a Lincoln or Washington. That said, I am not scandalized that someone did erect a statue honoring him.
Dec '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Perhaps the students were Iraqi and threw a shoe thinking it was Saddam Hussien's statue...the pose looks oddly similar ----just kidding about the first part. Students and faculty at the U of M (Moscow) are so friggen warped in their thought process, they'd honor a statue of Stalin or Mao before Bush.
As for an actual statue of him? Who knows? If memory serves me correctly, I think there was a statue of Reagan in eastern europe before there was one here in the U.S. Perhaps history will repeat itself.
Jun '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
If you're talking a major monument on the Nation Mall then I agree, those should be reserved for the likes of Lincoln and Washington.
But in cities and towns across the nation you'll find statues and monuments in public parks or out in front of city hall. At the center of Union Square here in San Francisco you'll find a monument to Admiral George Dewey's victory at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. A modest monument in a park in Houston would be entirely fitting and appropriate.
For that matter I wouldn't object to or be scandalized by a statue honoring Obama, Clinton or Carter. I certainly wouldn't throw my shoes at it... the office of POTUS deserves more respect than that.
Dec '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
I live one town over from Lafayette, CA. Is the name familiar? How many places in the US have the same name?
I am not sure how many monuments will be raised in the US to George W. Bush, though I think a statue of him with a bullhorn ought to be part of the Ground Zero memorial.
But in Iraq, there should be a raft of monuments to him, towns named for him, babies named for him. We in the West believe (or once did) in expressing undying gratitude to those of foreign lands who helped us overcome great enemies and great odds. I don't know if the Muslim world is capable of the same expressions of gratitude to non-Muslims.
At least one Iraqi thinks similarly.
Jul '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Stuart Creque: I live one town over from Lafayette, CA. Is the name familiar? How many places in the US have the same name?
I am not sure how many monuments will be raised in the US to George W. Bush, though I think a statue of him with a bullhorn ought to be part of the Ground Zero memorial.
But in Iraq, there should be a raft of monuments to him, towns named for him, babies named for him. We in the West believe (or once did) in expressing undying gratitude to those of foreign lands who helped us overcome great enemies and great odds. I don't know if the Muslim world is capable of the same expressions of gratitude to non-Muslims.
At least one Iraqi thinks similarly. · May 2 at 3:57pm
If I am not mistaken, Islam forbids the depiction of human images in art. That's why all you see in Muslim art are geometric designs.
I'm not sure if the ban on human images applies to statues.
Apr '11
Re: George W. Bush Monument
I'm fine with the idea of a monument to Bush. Certainly not something like the Lincoln Memorial, but a statue? Sure. Having an inflatable one is a bit odd, but I suppose under the circumstances...
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Quick update on the monument: Broc Blegen, the artist, was asked to take it down after about two hours.
Here's the article from the Minnesota Daily, the campus newspaper.
Aug '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Andrew Johnson:
The artist who designed the monument... said he came up with the idea a few years ago, thinking about how there will eventually be a day where Bush has a monument to him.
In a sense, this "statue" is foreshadowing that day and he is interested in seeing people's reactions each time he inflates it.
First thought: how can an inflatable monument be taken seriously?
Second thought: Reminds me of fraternity initiations.
May '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Like most conservatives bordering on libertarian, I disagree with most of Bush's policies, but he is an hororable man, that never compromised his beliefs for politics. I watched several of the interviews he did during his book tour, subsequently purchased his book, and I can say that I think he is a hero and a role model. I was struck by his honesty and his genuine character. The left hates Bush because they can't comprehend people like him. Men like that deserve statues.
Dec '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Kenneth
If I am not mistaken, Islam forbids the depiction of human images in art. That's why all you see in Muslim art are geometric designs.
I'm not sure if the ban on human images applies to statues. · May 2 at 4:04pm
It's true that some strains within Islam forbid depictions of humans for fear of spurring idolatry -- and that especially applies to statues.
Of course, in Iraq, Saddam's cult of personality trumped any such Islamic taboos: his image was EVERYWHERE. Sort of odd for someone who late in life claimed to be such a devout Muslim that he copied out the Qu'ran in his own blood.
As for the strains of Islam that don't forbid depictions of humans or animals, there are many examples of Islamic art that go so far as to depict the Prophet Mohammed, dating back many, many centuries.
Dec '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
I would advocate an inflatable statue of Bob Dole: not as a tribute to his public service, but in recognition of his post-retirement commercial endorsements.
May '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Can't believe I missed that when it first came out. Great clip. Thanks.
Sep '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
I love the idea of a monument to W. But somehow I don't believe the U of M is quite the right spot for it. Ground Zero, maybe?
May '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Stuart Creque: I live one town over from Lafayette, CA. Is the name familiar? How many places in the US have the same name?
I am not sure how many monuments will be raised in the US to George W. Bush, though I think a statue of him with a bullhorn ought to be part of the Ground Zero memorial.
But in Iraq, there should be a raft of monuments to him, towns named for him, babies named for him. We in the West believe (or once did) in expressing undying gratitude to those of foreign lands who helped us overcome great enemies and great odds. I don't know if the Muslim world is capable of the same expressions of gratitude to non-Muslims.
At least one Iraqi thinks similarly. · May 2 at 3:57pm
Stuart speaks for me here.
Aug '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
It would seem the university has irony deficiency, no?
If I were in an academic environment, and I saw an inflatable statue of a man academics typically loathe, with a "plaque" on it calling him "great", I would assume it was meant as a joke. If I myself found the man loathesome, I'd have a good laugh.
I would not be disgusted. I'd be too busy being hip and ironic to be disgusted.
Mar '11
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Bush was a truly great foreign policy president.
He was a lousy domestic president.
Apr '11
Re: George W. Bush Monument
I am fond of President Bush and appreciated many of the things he did and tried to do. (And groaned in frustration and disgust at many of the other things he did.) A monument or statue in a municipal park or commons (Houston, Dallas, Crawford, possibly Ground Zero) would be perfectly appropriate, especially if voted on and paid for locally.
But as I reflect on the events of the last 24 hours, I keep coming back to the fact that Bush failed to capture Osama bin Laden. Failed utterly. For seven years. Why in the world was Barack Obama--Barack Obama!--able to do what Bush could not?
Feb '11
Re: George W. Bush Monument
"Why in the world was Barack Obama--Barack Obama!--able to do what Bush could not?"
Well, from what I read, the information that enabled us to locate bin Laden was produced by the enhanced interrogation techniques that Bush authorized and Obama anathematized. Seems to me the better question is: would Obama ever have been able to find bin Laden without the resources President Bush provided? I seriously doubt it.
Apr '11
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Thanks, DubyaC, for the response. I understand that the successful operation that took place on Obama's watch was built on intelligence and techniques put into place by the Bush Administration. But seven years? Geez. I felt no triumphalism, and little joy last night--mostly I thought, "well it's about freaking time."
Dec '10
Re: George W. Bush Monument
Charlotte, had President Obama the true courage of his convictions, he would have issued an executive order upon taking office directing all military and intelligence agencies to destroy all information and evidence acquired via enhanced interrogation techniques and extraordinary rendition. In ordinary criminal law, you see, these would be inadmissible at trial and any further information developed from them would be the fruit of the poisoned tree. Then Obama could start fresh and clean.
I think instead of asking why Bush couldn't get Bin Laden in seven years, you should ask why it took Obama over nine years: that seven-year head start, plus more than two additional years.
Edited on May 2, 2011 at 7:33pm