Mothers can leave their babies in safe places      

I am writing this letter to express my admiration and appreciation to the Logan County coroner's office and all involved for the beautiful tribute to little Isaiah Mark in the obituaries today, March 29. To take him in, love him and make him their own even in death shows that humanity and love are truly alive in this country. I am deeply touched by the compassion you all have shown for this little angel. I am sure he is watching from his special place on his Father's knee.

As a nurse educator who works in labor and delivery and teaches nursing, I have seen my fair share of abandoned babies. Fortunately, the ones that I have seen abandoned have been at the hospital or other "safe place" for the mom to take her child. I encourage people to either give to the cause of creating safe places for mothers to drop their babies off or educate communities about these places.

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I am sure before this happened people were thinking that something so horrible would never happen in a sleepy town such as Middletown. Well, if it can happen there, imagine what is happening throughout the rest of this country. None of us are immune to these tragedies. Although it is too late for Isaiah Mark, his legacy can live on through other babies that may be saved. It is not too late to save others.

Sincerely,

Retha Odle Collins

Knoxville, Tenn.

(posted 3-30-04)

Our 'infamous' Lincoln statue      

Dear editor:

I am in COMPLETE agreement with Mr. Boerger who recently wrote in concerning our "infamous" Lincoln statue!!!

I am a history major with a bachelor's degree from Illinois State and have lived here in Lincoln all my life. I am embarrassed to think of the future of our town with a giant statue of, perhaps, the greatest president our country has ever elected to that esteemed office!!

I don't have a problem with the "theme park" aspect. I think a historical theme park similar to Silver Dollar City would be great. Not only would it increase city revenue, but it would also create jobs and give our families something to enjoy close to home! Wasn't Disney looking to build a historical theme park in the recent past? Why not approach a company that knows what they're doing?

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But a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln would be a shameful scar on our landscape! I am all for growth and progress, but not at the expense of becoming a laughingstock for the rest of the country... no, the world. Please, please, please… What more is there to say?

Sincerely,

Tia Wind

History major and VERY concerned citizen

(posted 3-29-04)

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The 'statue'      

I just read about the "statue" your town is proposing.

I don't know what else to say other than that I am honestly appalled that you would even consider such a tasteless way to commemorate this man who is arguably one of the greatest Americans ever and of whom the state of Illinois should take utmost pride in claiming as perhaps its foremost citizen. In fact, it is far from a "commemoration." It is a blatant and egregiously self-serving commercialization of a national icon, and one which can only engender ridicule and controversy.

Yes, there will be people who will flock to see your proposed curiosity, but even more who will find it offensive and utterly bankrupt of style and good taste. In time, it will come to be ridiculed on the same level as the National Tower was at Gettysburg. I fully understand the need of smaller communities to discover ways to encourage growth and prosperity in times of shifting demographics. If you feel a theme park is the only cure to your revitalization problems, so be it. But I encourage your town fathers to take a jaunt to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and see firsthand what "creative problem-solving" has done to that blight on our nation's landscape. Is that the image of your town's future? Isn't your city's well of creativity any deeper than that?

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I challenge you to stand at the foot of Daniel French's incredible white marble statue in Washington, read the amazing words of the Second Inaugural Address, then ask yourselves if what you are proposing is truly the best you can do to uphold the veneration this great man? Or drive a few miles to the tomb in Springfield, stand there in the darkened silence of where he rests and ask him what he thinks of your idea. I think you know the answer.

I implore you, don't make a laughingstock of this man at a time when our country is in such dire need of real heroes.

Respectfully, 

Jeff Boerger

Mason, Mich.

(posted 3-27-04)

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Abraham Lincoln statue      

Below is a response letter from Mayor Davis to the Los Angeles Times editor regarding a March 22 article written by reporter Stephanie Simon.

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Dear Editor/Ms. Simon:

As mayor of the city of Lincoln, president of the Lincoln/Logan County Economic Development Partnership and a member of the Lincoln Statue Corporation, I find Ms. Simon's humor in poking fun at our Abraham Lincoln statue proposal appalling.

First of all, in case you didn't know, Abraham Lincoln, next to Jesus Christ, is the most read and talked about person in the history of mankind. In case you didn't get very far into our city's website, I'd like to give you some facts about our great city.

Lincoln, Ill., located in the middle of the state, was named as the No. 1 tourism city and county in the state of Illinois in 2003 at our Illinois Municipal League convention in Chicago last September. Early in 2003, our Logan County Looking for Lincoln group produced a wonderful video depicting Abraham Lincoln's life in Lincoln and Logan County.

The city itself celebrated its 150th anniversary (sesquicentennial) in August 2003 with a 10-day multi-entertaining celebration. We produced a video diary DVD and still-picture DVD depicting the sesquicentennial events, as well as a DVD of the Abraham Lincoln statue we are proposing. We had a three-day hot-air balloon fest, around-the-clock guard of the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall we commissioned for our celebration, live outside entertainment including a variety of bands and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, an Abe and Mary Lincoln look-alike contest, Civil War re-enactors and band, a Civil War ball, a two-hour parade, an 1860s baseball game, a community picture, an Underground Railroad display and speaker talk about how quilts were essential in helping slaves escape from slave to free states during the Civil War, a panel of well-known history professors talk about the life of Abraham Lincoln, etc. We take our claim to fame from Abraham Lincoln, not only as the man who walked our streets, named and christened our city with the juice of a watermelon, but who then seven short years later became our nation's 16th president.

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Our local Rev. S.M. Davis' idea of celebrating Abraham Lincoln as the great man he was has been a serious goal of our corporation and for many people of our community. The statue's proposed 305-foot height was decided upon because it is the same height as the Statue of Liberty. What better place is there than Lincoln, Ill., to build the Abe statue than in the community where he laid out the town, christened it his namesake, owned property, practiced law, where he actually got his name "Honest Abe," and where he truly showed humility and kindness to his fellow human beings?

The city of Lincoln is only 30 miles north of Springfield, Ill. (our state capital); 30 miles south of Bloomington, Ill.; 40 miles southeast of Peoria, Ill.; and 25 miles west of Decatur, Ill. We are in the hub of interstates I-55, I-155, Route 10, Route 121 and located on famous Route 66.

Please print this letter and give the memory of Abraham Lincoln and the city named for and by him the respect he deserves. If only you knew the wonderful museums we have planned to surround the statue -- all the nationalities he represented and cared for as president of the United States. The statue will be tasteful, reverent and awe-inspiring.

If you hear of a corporation interested in becoming a sponsor, please forward that information to me, the Rev. S.M. Davis or corporation president Larry Steffens.

I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express my views and clarify some of the misconceptions reporter Simon stated about our great city in her article of March 22, 2004. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Mayor Elizabeth A. "Beth" Davis

City of Lincoln, Illinois

(posted 3-25-04)