Frank Rizzo statue to go (gated, move to, relocation)

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

I appreciate your insight, and I understand why someone might find him polarizing, particularly if they lived in Philly during his tenure. My statements are more aimed at why it is a priority that's worth addressing today.

I believe the answer is that our society needs a boogieman. We can't solve any of our issues because that statue was soaking up all the sunlight.

At the time of the election that guaranteed that he couldn't run for a 3rd consecutive term, I was working in the 700 block of Chestnut St. I worked late. I heard something outside & threw open the window (I was on the 2nd floor). A group of 20-somethings were coming down the street, arm in arm, male & female, black & white, singing Ding Dong the Witch is Dead. I called out & asked what was going on. A guy yelled up to me that it looked like Rizzo couldn't run again.

There's a lot of people who are still alive who do remember him, hated him, & didn't like them putting that statue where they put it. Put it in South Philly where it belonged in the first place.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by 1ondoner

His statue was a distraction owing to the current events, therefore removing it allows the city to focus on more important issues such as education, racism, no jobs, high debt, high crime.

There is no benefit to having his statue at city hall. It serves no purpose.

This is the best answer.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

At the time of the election that guaranteed that he couldn't run for a 3rd consecutive term, I was working in the 700 block of Chestnut St. I worked late. I heard something outside & threw open the window (I was on the 2nd floor). A group of 20-somethings were coming down the street, arm in arm, male & female, black & white, singing Ding Dong the Witch is Dead. I called out & asked what was going on. A guy yelled up to me that it looked like Rizzo couldn't run again.

There's a lot of people who are still alive who do remember him, hated him, & didn't like them putting that statue where they put it. Put it in South Philly where it belonged in the first place.

Again, I understand where you're coming from and I know that you don't like him or his statue. But it's this type of distraction that's keeping this country on its path to mud. People are protesting over the statue of a politician who's been dead for decades, but not a bit of protesting over the violence in our neighborhoods.

[Pilot1]

Plus Rizzo owned slaves, right? Maybe William Penn should come down, along with Washington, and Franklin? Those that were in Independence Hall allowed slavery, and the oppression of women. Let's tear it down. The Liberty Bell only rang for WHITE MEN. Melt it down for scrap.

Where does it end?

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

Plus Rizzo owned slaves, right? Maybe William Penn should come down, along with Washington, and Franklin? Those that were in Independence Hall allowed slavery, and the oppression of women. Let's tear it down. The Liberty Bell only rang for WHITE MEN. Melt it down for scrap.

Where does it end?

Yeah, but every time a statue is torn down (or put in the statue relocation program (SRP)), it's a reminder that democracy does work!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Again, I understand where you're coming from and I know that you don't like him or his statue. But it's this type of distraction that's keeping this country on its path to collapse. People are protesting over the statue of a politician who's been dead for decades, but not a bit of protesting over the violence in our neighborhoods.

Because the statue has been a slap in the face to so many people for so long. People were mad that money was paid for the statue, when the money was needed for the same problems that you're talking about. They were extra mad that the statue was put at City Hall. Move the statue & you take away that slap in the face. People will be more likely to be able to focus on the pressing problems of today.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Because the statue has been a slap in the face to so many people for so long. People were mad that money was paid for the statue, when the money was needed for the same problems that you're talking about. They were extra mad that the statue was put at City Hall. Move the statue & you take away that slap in the face. People will be more likely to be able to focus on the pressing problems of today.

And we will spend even more money on it. To be honest, maybe the money was worth it from more of an experimental viewpoint. We essentially paid for a live action research study to show that our society is weak and stupid enough to fight and win to remove an inanimate object that had no bearing on its QOL whatsoever, resulting in a sense of accomplishment that enabled people to move on with life and focus on more important topics, like murder in our streets.

Actually, it was probably another indicator that racial-based social challenges will never be overcome in this city and country.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

And we will spend even more money on it. To be honest, maybe the money was worth it from more of an experimental viewpoint. We essentially paid for a live action research study to show that our society is weak and stupid enough to fight and win to remove an inanimate object that had no bearing on their QOL whatsoever, resulting in a sense of accomplishment that enabled people to move on with life and focus on more important topics, like murder in our streets.

Actually, it was probably another indicator that racial-based social challenges will never be overcome in this city and country.

Again, I'm a white female. Rizzo went after blacks, gays, & young people of all races with long hair. If you didn't fit in his little box of who was acceptable, you were on his list. If you went to an antiwar rally, you stood the chance of being arrested, whether you did something to call for arrest or not.

Money shouldn't have been spent on the statue to begin with.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Again, I understand where you're coming from and I know that you don't like him or his statue. But it's this type of distraction that's keeping this country on its path to mud. People are protesting over the statue of a politician who's been dead for decades, but not a bit of protesting over the violence in our neighborhoods.

Somehow, and this surprises me, you do not seem to be connecting the historical dots about some things wrt our current situation and this man.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Yeah, but every time a statue is torn down (or put in the statue relocation program (SRP)), it's a reminder that democracy does work!

You mean PC, Communist OPPRESSION works. Democracy would mean that EVERYONE could vote on it.