Monuments have long been looked upon as shining examples of the success and hardship of the creator. They also are considered solid, ageless advertisements
of a person, event or thought.
Oh yeah, they are excellent roosts for pigeons too.
Basically they are big pieces of steel or marble or granite that people and animals alike can either praise or crap on. I understand the value any given monument
holds. The trouble sometimes is that a monument isn't what people need.
Recently The Petronas Towers in Malaysia opened, claiming the title of tallest building in the world. Petronas officials announced the celebration as "a good day
to be a Malaysian."
I somehow differ.
Malaysia is one of the poorest nations on Earth. Not two blocks from the two massive towers that literally split the sky above, there are huts. Not apartments,
not low income housing, huts. Put together with shoddily reclaimed nails from the rubble of the buildings cleared years ago to make the towers.
This is the symbol of Malaysia, and no it isn't so shiny.
Petronas uses its resources and people worse than Imelda Marcos uses her shoeshine boy.
Which leads me to a vital question. Exactly how what oppressions do a people have to endure before they get a monument?
Think about this a moment.
What did it take for us to get the Liberty Bell?
Or perhaps that beautiful ebony wall honoring our fallen in Vietnam?
The question after this of course is "was all that worth it?" The answer should always be no.
Given the choice between having a neat looking wall and getting thousands of America's sons back home. I'll choose the latter every time.
Don't get me wrong. I like monuments. Mount Rushmore for example is a glorious remembrance of our forefathers. However I guarantee that if the men who
died at Iwo Jima did so to get a big statue with an American flag knew that in advance they would never have charged the hill.
The phrase "what price glory?" comes to mind.
Now put simply the monument is not the actual goal. Clearly if it were then our materialistic society would take a step down in the humanity scale. But the
problem most people have with monuments is they represent the glories, not the sacrifices. Even if the monument boldly proclaims the sacrifice.
An interesting irony about the towers in Malaysia is the owners of the tower say it is a symbol of the coming of age for their nation. No citizens of Malaysia are
allowed in the tower. They may frolic in parks and malls surrounding it but will never enter the monument itself… ever.
I mentioned before that this is a humor column but when a message needs to be conveyed the humor takes a back seat.
This Labor Day, please consider the endurances people undergo to get a job done. Keep in mind that if a monument is to be made to symbolize and appreciate
those efforts that the people themselves are allowed to revel in the glory also.