The Chicago tribune reports on the addition of a Gandhi statue to the Chicago suburb of Skokie (where this blogger was born). In addition to simply discussing the statue they also discuss the demographics of the suburb:
Once an icon of the Jewish community, Skokie since the 1980s has become something of a north-suburban United Nations, where 80 languages are spoken in the homes of its public school students. In May, the annual Festival of Cultures drew an estimated 25,000 visitors.
And three years after Kamaria and a citizens group proposed the idea, Skokie again celebrated its rich cultural diversity by dedicating an 8-foot-tall statue of Gandhi on Saturday, the 135th anniversary of his birth.
Of course the other ethnic communities there want statues of their heroes as well:
So far, at least three groups–representing Skokie’s Korean, Filipino and Swedish ethnic communities–are toying with the idea.
“Who knows? Maybe we could find a great figure of sports,” said Jin Lee, director of the Keumsil Cultural Society, which promotes Korean-American culture. “Or [it might be] best to have a scholarly figure who did great deeds for the country.”
Might this great gesture honoring Gandhi eventually stir up a controversy in the community? At least some local politicians think so:
Michael Gelder warned fellow members on the Skokie board of trustees to consider “the quagmire we might be creating for ourselves.”
Although it might be easy for Skokie residents to agree on the worthiness of someone like Gandhi, Gelder said recently, “it strikes me that there’s very little consensus among the various ethnic groups or nationalities about [what constitutes] a great leader.”
“… One person’s liberator is another’s terrorist,” Gelder said.
I really loathe how people now so casually throw the “T-word” into every situation.
Abhi,
If you start restricting the use of the word terrorist – then the terrorists will have won 😉
I was born in good ol Skokie IL and lived there for a few years. It truly is, as stated, “The United Nations” of the North Suburbs. It is a great example of a middle class neigborhood that has stayed that way. Plus Skokie is cool, they mentioned it in the Usual Suspects.
People are honored for their achievements and the respect they garner, not just because they popular among the Indian, Korean, Filipino, etc. communities. Problems finding leaders? If Filipinos want someone to honor, then they should get a statue of the scouts that helped Rangers free prisoners from Cabanatuan in WWII. If Koreans want somone to honor, the Chairman of Samsung or Hyundai would make good role models.
May as well put a projector with a screen that flashes different leaders. That would solve the problem.
Umm… you two were born in Skokie? Which hospital was that exactly?
As for the statues, the guy does have a point (about one community’s hero being reviled by another) but that’s just too bad. I may or may not like Gandhi (he pissed off the RSS so bad that they killed him), but a lot of people respect him and we live in a multicultural society so … we have to accept the choices of others.
Some day there may be statues of Khomeini or Arafat or Ariel Sharon in Skokie and everyone will just have to accept it … perhaps not happily, but that’s what living together is all about.
I really loathe how people now so casually throw the “T-word†into every situation.
Yeah, I’ve pretty much stopped using “terrorist” or “terrorism” unless it’s absolutely necessary for clarity’s sake (which it rarely is). I usually say something like “violent act for political purposes” which is what terrorism ought to mean, not sending a $50 check to the Hamas social service unit without being aware of their violent activities. Before you jump on me for using Hamas and “unknowing” in the same sentence, it’s an example–pick a less well-known organization if you want; the point still holds.
We are in a multicultural environment. So it is important that we take in to account the feeling and sentiments of other communities we share our space with.
I may or may not like Gandhi (he pissed off the RSS so bad that they killed him)
I think the killing thing automatically draws you a noone-cares-about-your-opinion-card. I don’t know of anyone who can put together a solid case against Gandhi’s attempts in any reasonable way. The money quote Abhi bolded from Gelder is precisely ridiculous for that reason.
I love how as soon as people can’t really argue against multiculturalism cultural relativity suddenly becomes so chic.