May 24, 2006

N.I.M.B.Y.

Statue no one wants will be unveiled anyway (Brian Hutchinson, National Post, May 23rd, 2006)

Isaac Romano, U.S.-born child therapist, dreamer, promoter and irrepressible peace impresario, stood on the grass outside Vancouver City Hall yesterday. It began to rain.

To his right, on a table, stood a sculpture: Three figures in wax and clay. A man and woman, about to be embraced by another, taller man. The woman is looking over her shoulder, anxiously, toward the viewer.

After two years of delays, missteps and "misunderstandings," announced Mr. Romano, the draft dodger statue that no one wanted will finally become a reality.

Too rich to be excerpted, this article captures nicely the pathetic absurdity of a greying generation trying desperately to keep living the putative glories of their youth.

Posted by Peter Burnet at May 24, 2006 12:29 PM
Comments

Makes me so proud to be a Boomer. Not as proud as being a "faceless, flyover B.P.O.E. lodger", however. :)

Posted by: jdkelly at May 24, 2006 1:49 PM

Never underestimate how toxic and persistent the long term-effects of Vietnam proved to be.

The cowards and slackers, and they were legion, to this day, spin their lies to excuse their shame.

It is well that they now attempt to confuund Vietnam with the War on Terror, as this helps succeeding generations comprehend their infamy.

Posted by: Lou Gots at May 24, 2006 1:51 PM

So when can we see a statue in Seattle celebrating all the Canadians who fled to the U.S because they wanted a successful life? It can be Uncle Sam handing a paycheck to two Canucks, only on this sculpture there will be no anxious looking back, just hopeful looking forward.

Posted by: Shelton at May 24, 2006 1:57 PM

The finished statue, [Ms. Lewis] said, would be just a little smaller than the piece on hand yesterday. A little smaller? The replica is barely three feet high..

Paging David St. Hubbins.

Posted by: Gideon at May 24, 2006 2:29 PM

"Statue no one wants will be unveiled anyway"

Judging by the public art I see, isn't that a standing hed?

Posted by: Bob Hawkins at May 24, 2006 3:07 PM

Seattle's already got a statue of Lenin (probably the only one left standing), and now you want one dedicated to Canucks? Sheesh.

(Besides, the Canucks play in Vancouver.)

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at May 24, 2006 4:14 PM

What happened to the deserters' clothes? And what's with the diaphanous veil the women is trailing behind her? Reminds me of a famous painting of a wood nymph running through the woods the name of the painting and artist escape me.

Posted by: erp at May 24, 2006 8:12 PM

Gideon,

I was thinking the same thing, only more along the lines of "Puppet Show and Spinal Tap."

Posted by: LC at May 25, 2006 7:15 AM
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