More on monuments

[samuelv]

Sanford Levinson wrote:
>
> Let me ask the question I often ask my students:  whom would you rather
> represent on a contingent-fee basis, the State of Texas or the curmudgeon
> like myself who is perturbed by the placement of the monument?

The State, although, chances are the state officials with whom one would
have to work would be even more curmudgeonly than you.

> Do any of
> you know of similar monument occupying such visible (and clearly
> significant) public space?
>

Here in Denver there is a large monument-type stone with the ten
commandments on it right in front of the State Capitol in "Civic Center
Park."  It was the subject of litigation which I believe went as far as
the State Supreme Court and was upheld.

We also periodically have a battle over temporary Christmas displays;
there is an annual manger scene in front of the Denver City and County
Building (across the park and facing the State Capitol) which has been
the subject of periodic litigation and also upheld.  I remember seeing
similar displays in Boston Common when I was there last Christmas.

Sam Ventola
Denver, Colorado