What is it that makes people want to carve monuments

[ProudLib72]

in the middle of splendid scenery? I've been looking at pictures of Stone Mountain, and it's more than just tacky. It's an affront to the natural beauty of the area. For the past couple days, I have been thinking how a Howitzer would make short work of the monument. Now I'm not so sure. It would obliterate the monument, but it would leave a nasty scar. Then again, there already exists a nasty scar.

I felt the same way when I went to Mt Rushmore. The monument is an egregious assault on the scenic beauty of the area. If that's what it takes for families to journey out into the wilderness, then I feel sorry for them. If the monument is the only thing they stop and see, then I have to shake my head. Come on, there is the entire Needles District to explore!

We ought to be able to feel pride in having such nice, scenic areas in our country. We should not feel the need to add to them through acts of vandalism.

Ugly, ugly, ugly! And there is no way to ever undo the carnage.

[Squinch]

1. Mt. Rushmore always struck me as being "America's Tchotchke." Plus it's in sacred native soil, so

it's pretty shameful.

[NurseJackie]

2. +1 (It's horrid.)

[ProudLib72]

4. In my late teens I used to go rock climbing in the Needles

We would go climbing, enjoying the scenery with all the cool formations. Then we would stop off at the Mt Rushmore tourist area a people watch. Did you know they have Christian rock bands playing there on a daily basis? It's over the top 'Murica.

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

3. I agree . . .

Mount Rushmore is atrocious.

Personally, I find all of "monumental Washington" at best silly and, at worse, rather offensive. Man's monuments to so-called "great men" are, to my mind, idolatrous nonsense.

I mean, to erect a grossly oversized Egyptian obelisk -- symbolic of men who were once worshipped as gods -- as a "monument" to George Washington -- who made the renunciation of power the defining characteristic of his greatness -- is beyond ironic.

Lincoln as a Roman god? Jefferson in a Greek temple? Ludicrous.

Take 'em all down.

[LeftInTX]

7. LOL - I felt that way when I visited DC

I was 10 years old and it was hot.
Our parents were dragging us here and there.
It was big and there was too much marble everywhere.

[ProudLib72]

9. Too much to close together

There are some impressive buildings for sure, but I found it difficult to appreciate them fully because 1) they were surrounded by other similar buildings 2) they were so close together that you can never find a suitable vantage point from which to view them. The Washington monument is the only structure I can think of that is removed enough that it does make a statement. However, there is the question of their choice of material. You want to ask the people who erected these buildings and monuments, "Did you ever consider using something besides white marble, you know maybe make one or two buildings stand out from the rest?"

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Same reason dogs pee on fire hydrants.

[ProudLib72]

6. We are a nation of dogs marking our territory?

Yep, I'd agree with that assessment.

[madinmaryland]

8. I always thought it is was an interesting work of art, but

I'm not sure of the point of it. Sure, in 10,000 years or even less it will be gone due to the elements. On the other hand, the devastation of land by clear cut and mountain top miming is an even more clear and present danger to our natural landscape with the additional dangers of pollution.

[Lars39]

10. Same guy involved with both projects...Gutzon Borglum

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutzon_Borglum