Gettysburg monuments

[David Fox]

Am just back from a couple days communing with Gettysburg. In recent years I've become especially interested in the battlefield monuments, collecting a whole sub-catagory of books on the subject. I believe I detected substantial vandal damage not apparent as late as last year. Stone forage cap bills broken, bronze horse reins mutiliated, and the like. Sad and, concurrently, infuriating. If my perception is correct, reckon this is a result of an increase in moral terpitude, a decrease in fund-related policing, or both?

Also noticed is the proliferation of "ghost" related businesses clogging the Gettysburg sidewalks and, God help us, evidence in the local paper that a casino is, indeed, to be foisted upon Adams County. Drove through Charles Town, West Virginia, whose dignity, since last I visited, has been violated by an architectural abomination styling itself the "Hollywood Casino" on the eastern side of town. Casino in place in Adams County, can a major theme park (Disney?) be far behind?

[garyjd]

Re: Gettysburg monuments

David, The lack of respect is very sad. You would think with the level of visitation they would have more funds and personnel at hand to help increase protection of this valuable resource. The "ghost" business in Gettysburg is a joke. It's hard to walk the sidewalks in front of the shops without being asked if you're interested in one of the many "walks" being offered a half a dozen times. One shop is finally offering "there are NO ghosts in Gettysburg" T-shirts. They are for sale at Battlefield Souv. and Gifts. Two doors up from the American History Store on Steinwehr Ave. This will be the first purchase I make next time I'm in town. My hope is that the whole ghost "craze" will run it's course and slowly disappear.

[john.vansickle]

Re: Gettysburg monuments

My thought is that there are a few factors coming into play here:

1) As has been previously stated, the commercialization and economic exploitation has devalued the historic significance of the site. It has become entertainment. Most people go places and expect to be entertained. According to statisticians, the average attention span of an American is about 8 seconds, one second less than that of a goldfish. Hence, rather than taking a day to leisurely tour a site like Gettysburg Nat'l Park and learn about the past, people fly to one flashing thing to the next, never taking the time to understand and absorb any of it.

2) Loss of funding for maintenence and security patrols.

3) Cultural and social shift has occurred where little value is placed on the events or sacrifices of those who came before us... or for that matter events that are currently going on. In many areas, we have become a "throw-away" society and for some, there are no limits to what they see as valueless. Along those same lines, shows like "Jackass" and others along those same lines encourage and enable lack of respect of both people and property, especially public property.

4) Society's loss of connection to history. Growing up, I remember watching movies like "Swamp Fox", "The Virginian", "The Alamo", and TV shows like Daniel Boone. Those shows fostered and encouraged my interest in history and I'm sure there are many others here who had the same experience. Instead as stated before, we have shows like "Jersey Shore" and "Jackass". Society is dumbing itself down culturally.

My thoughts are that what we are seeing at Gettysburg, as well as other historic sites are a combination of the above influences (and probably some that I haven't thought of). This is what validates living history as something that could have a positive impact on society as we continue to tell the story of why places like Gettysburg are still important to us today. It also reinforces why we need to continue to improve the quality of our events so that they don't devolve into "dog and pony shows". It's a shame when you attend an CW event and the apparently the circus is there complete with clowns and that's what the spectating public sees and accepts as fact.

...just a couple of thoughts,

John Van Sickle

[sodapop63]

Re: Gettysburg monuments

John, I am in full agreement with you. The loss of our connection with history in favor of "reality tv" sickens me. I believe our society, as a whole, has lost the ability of the "slow-rolling boil" pace of life in favor of the "microwave" version... It's all "me-me-I" as my wife puts it. I want it all and I want it now and never mind the consequences. I also believe it is up to us, as living historians, to see to it that future generations both learn from and appreciate those that came before us, the sacrifices that they made, and the pathways that they did tread upon. And that is my two-cents worth.