I saw the below article today in the Buffalo News. I hope that they don't end thurday in the square
out of honor for civil war veterans. I guess you all know how I feel abot soldiers in gernerals, and especially how I feel about their glorification via large stone phalic structures. I personally think they should just knock the monument down to make more room for the future. Why should we remember the killing and snuff the future.
This is generally what happens in Buffalo. Something starts up and becomes sucessful and then some people make a problem out of it and the city goes to rust. I am not even a big fan of Thursday in Square, but I definately see it as one of the public functions that keeps Downtown Buffalo semi-alive. Imagine how much business revenue is generated due on of the massive 10,000 person events. It also brings out a sense of community and commrodery amoung the many attendees, that is rare to city in our city of snow and indoor activitiews.
In fact it is one of the few Buffalo events besides The Taste Of Buffalo where you actually see racial integration. Does anyone remeber the Arrested Development? That was the most racially integrated event I have ever attended in our oh so segregated city.
Here is the artcile ->
Veterans groups are unhappy with crowds swarming the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument during Thursday at the Square concert events.
Concerts upset VFW
By LOU MICHEL- News Staff Reporter - 9/14/2004
Good vibrations abound during Thursday at the Square concerts in downtown Buffalo - except for some members of the area's biggest veteran organization, who think the gatherings dishonor a war memorial at the site.
The Erie County Council of Veterans of Foreign Wars wants Buffalo Place, sponsor of the free concert series in Lafayette Square, to halt the successful event that draws thousands of concertgoers, a majority of them from the suburbs, to the heart of downtown.
"It's a veterans' memorial and it should not be used for concerts, drinking or merriment if we're going to abide by the meaning of the monument. It's hallowed ground," said Clarence E. Buob, commander of the council, which represents about 9,000 local veterans.
At the center of the controversy is the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a massive granite memorial built in 1882, that is thronged with people who come to watch the concerts and party every Thursday after work starting in late May.
I would like to re-write that second last paragraph as:
"It's a park in the center of a living city with many people and should not be used for veteran's memorials, as a museum, or silent area if we are going to abide by the meaning of a having living city. It is viable land. I am sure many of you feel different. feel free to voice your opinion.
