Thursday, November 09, 2006
Time for Denny’s Statue
Now that United States Representative Dennis Hastert has announced his intention to retire from his leadership position, it is time for the Illinois General Assembly to appropriate money to build a statute to this longest serving Republican House Speaker.During the late 1970’s I drove through Bond County and saw a statue. I was surprised to find that it was of a United States House Speaker.
When Denny was elected Speaker, I suggested to State Rep. Tom Cross that there should be a statue of Denny.
It would be appropriate for it to be in the State Capitol, but Tom and I concluded that in front of the firehouse on Route 47 in Yorkville would be the place it should stand.
Before he was House Speaker and before the 1992 re-apportionment, he represented the Coral Township part of McHenry County.
For more McHenry County Blog, click here.
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Cal:
There are four (4) instances in this post where you use the word "statute" instead of "statue."
...Assuming, of course, that you mean a three-dimensional work of art and not an enactment made by a legislature and expressed in a formal document.
There are four (4) instances in this post where you use the word "statute" instead of "statue."
...Assuming, of course, that you mean a three-dimensional work of art and not an enactment made by a legislature and expressed in a formal document.
# posted by 
: 8:32 AM
: 8:32 AM
I won my last spelling bee in 8th grade. It's been downhill since then.
Thanks for your help.
Corrections made.
Thanks for your help.
Corrections made.
Yes, between Denny and Dallas and Tom, Kendall County has had its boot on the throats of the Republican faithful, yearning to be free.
That would make a great statue
He was a mediocre Speaker who gained the post through longevity
That would make a great statue
He was a mediocre Speaker who gained the post through longevity
A million years ago on a very frugal class trip to Washington, DC and its surrounding "notable" areas, a young teen, for some reason ended up standing alone - separate from the yakking group and chaperones. She was facing the silence, and painful but moving ? beauty ? of row, upon endless row of identical white "statues". Time stood still.
Even the air stood still that day in Arlington National Cemetery.
When another tour stop landed her at the large, seated statue of Lincoln, she had no interest other than looking at what the scuptors hands had created.
She couldn't understand why those identical white statues were so tiny compared to the one of a dead president. It wasn't disrespect for leadership or rank. It was because she didn't (and still doesn't) understand why people who were doing what had to be done were not equal - at least in death.
Statues come and go as their inspiration's reputation changes in interpretation over time.
Even pyramids eventually turn to dust.
While it would be kind of people she personally knows to remember her, she thinks she'd rather, in life, be someone who tried to do the best she could ....in the moment.
Or so she told me.
Now, though I know my opinion respectfully differs about erecting statues to anyone, I agree with her.
Even the air stood still that day in Arlington National Cemetery.
When another tour stop landed her at the large, seated statue of Lincoln, she had no interest other than looking at what the scuptors hands had created.
She couldn't understand why those identical white statues were so tiny compared to the one of a dead president. It wasn't disrespect for leadership or rank. It was because she didn't (and still doesn't) understand why people who were doing what had to be done were not equal - at least in death.
Statues come and go as their inspiration's reputation changes in interpretation over time.
Even pyramids eventually turn to dust.
While it would be kind of people she personally knows to remember her, she thinks she'd rather, in life, be someone who tried to do the best she could ....in the moment.
Or so she told me.
Now, though I know my opinion respectfully differs about erecting statues to anyone, I agree with her.
4piggybanks2
I have often heard of Arlington (or as I refer to it as Gneral lee's front yar) refferred to as a garden of stone (there is even a movie of that name. Simple white makers to honor the ultimate sacrifice.. giving up thier liberty for ours. Individually those markers aren't impressive, but collectively, they make you take pause. I understand your sentiment completely.
I hope that when we build statues, they are for those who story will inspire others. Certianly Lincolns memorial is one that will for generations inspire people to be true to what they believe in and persevere. Other monuments in our nations capital seem to do similar things.
While someone here has indicated that "He was a mediocre Speaker who gained the post through longevity". Meant to be a cynical criticism, it is a telling tale.
Longevity - "After 16 years of teaching and coaching at Yorkville High School, he served in the Illinois House of Representatives for six years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. In 1999, ..... electing him Speaker of the House," Yes you are right, Denny has served his community for 42 years as a teacher and legislator. History shows that congress does not grant the speakers job based on time served. If that were the case not only would Denny not have been speaker, niether would Ms. Pelosi, or would have Mr. Ginrich.
As for whether a statue of the speaker would inspire someone, that is for each of us to decide.. my vote? You may have guessed.. 42 years of public service deserves some recognition and will, in my opinion, inspire someone.
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I have often heard of Arlington (or as I refer to it as Gneral lee's front yar) refferred to as a garden of stone (there is even a movie of that name. Simple white makers to honor the ultimate sacrifice.. giving up thier liberty for ours. Individually those markers aren't impressive, but collectively, they make you take pause. I understand your sentiment completely.
I hope that when we build statues, they are for those who story will inspire others. Certianly Lincolns memorial is one that will for generations inspire people to be true to what they believe in and persevere. Other monuments in our nations capital seem to do similar things.
While someone here has indicated that "He was a mediocre Speaker who gained the post through longevity". Meant to be a cynical criticism, it is a telling tale.
Longevity - "After 16 years of teaching and coaching at Yorkville High School, he served in the Illinois House of Representatives for six years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. In 1999, ..... electing him Speaker of the House," Yes you are right, Denny has served his community for 42 years as a teacher and legislator. History shows that congress does not grant the speakers job based on time served. If that were the case not only would Denny not have been speaker, niether would Ms. Pelosi, or would have Mr. Ginrich.
As for whether a statue of the speaker would inspire someone, that is for each of us to decide.. my vote? You may have guessed.. 42 years of public service deserves some recognition and will, in my opinion, inspire someone.
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