Here's a hypothetical...if you could make any change to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial what would it be and why? Would you change any of the four Presidents portrayed? Would you reduce or add any sculptures? There have been 14 US Presidents since the memorial began construction. What about the other US Presidents that weren't selected? For a little historical background:

Quote:Congress authorized the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission on March 3, 1925. President Coolidge insisted that, along with Washington, two Republicans and one Democrat be portrayed. Between October 4, 1927, and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60 foot (18 m) high carvings of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 130 years of American history. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.

FDR would be my only choice

I'd take Lincoln and Roosevelt off.

I'd put it back as it was originally, and give the Black Hills back to the Sioux. Those mountains are sacred to the Sioux, and the main reason why they have never ended their war with the U.S. government.

I wouldn't remove the sculptures that have been put in place, but I wish they had never been created in the first place, and I certainly wouldn't add anymore to it.

(07-07-2014 08:38 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I'd put it back as it was originally, and give the Black Hills back to the Sioux. Those mountains are sacred to the Sioux, and the main reason why they have never ended their war with the U.S. government.

So you'd do away with the Crazy Horse sculpture, too?

I hope that family gets the Crazy Horse sculpture finished one day. I visited when it was just the face and I hope to see the full thing.

(07-07-2014 04:10 PM)UofM_Tiger Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 08:38 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I'd put it back as it was originally, and give the Black Hills back to the Sioux. Those mountains are sacred to the Sioux, and the main reason why they have never ended their war with the U.S. government.

So you'd do away with the Crazy Horse sculpture, too?

I wonder about your reasoning. It takes a hypothetical situation, adds a dollop of stupidity, mixes in no common sense, too much ego, and not much in the way of thinking, to come up with something totally ridiculous. Only a complete muggins would come up with something like that.

(07-07-2014 05:09 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 04:10 PM)UofM_Tiger Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 08:38 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I'd put it back as it was originally, and give the Black Hills back to the Sioux. Those mountains are sacred to the Sioux, and the main reason why they have never ended their war with the U.S. government.

So you'd do away with the Crazy Horse sculpture, too?

I wonder about your reasoning. It takes a hypothetical situation, adds a dollop of stupidity, mixes in no common sense, too much ego, and not much in the way of thinking, to come up with something totally ridiculous. Only a complete muggins would come up with something like that.

A little touchy aren't we? I was merely pointing out that if you want to return the Black Hills to the Sioux in theri "original condition", since they are sacred to them, not only would you need to restore Mt. Rushmore, but also the Crazy Horse Memorial, which was instigated by some of those same Sioux.

Lighten up, Francis.

(07-07-2014 09:42 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I wouldn't remove the sculptures that have been put in place, but I wish they had never been created in the first place, and I certainly wouldn't add anymore to it.

This

(07-09-2014 01:51 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 09:42 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I wouldn't remove the sculptures that have been put in place, but I wish they had never been created in the first place, and I certainly wouldn't add anymore to it.

This

I agree, except I would want them to finish Crazy Horse. It's going to be awesome.

(07-09-2014 02:45 PM)UofM_Tiger Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 01:51 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 09:42 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I wouldn't remove the sculptures that have been put in place, but I wish they had never been created in the first place, and I certainly wouldn't add anymore to it.

This

I agree, except I would want them to finish Crazy Horse. It's going to be awesome.

There are a lot of Lakota (and other members of the Great Sioux Nation) who are against sculptures in that location, including the Crazy Horse sculpture. But they've been working on it for almost 70 years, so I suppose they ought to go ahead and finish it.

(07-09-2014 01:20 PM)UofM_Tiger Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 05:09 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 04:10 PM)UofM_Tiger Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 08:38 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I'd put it back as it was originally, and give the Black Hills back to the Sioux. Those mountains are sacred to the Sioux, and the main reason why they have never ended their war with the U.S. government.

So you'd do away with the Crazy Horse sculpture, too?

I wonder about your reasoning. It takes a hypothetical situation, adds a dollop of stupidity, mixes in no common sense, too much ego, and not much in the way of thinking, to come up with something totally ridiculous. Only a complete muggins would come up with something like that.

A little touchy aren't we? I was merely pointing out that if you want to return the Black Hills to the Sioux in theri "original condition", since they are sacred to them, not only would you need to restore Mt. Rushmore, but also the Crazy Horse Memorial, which was instigated by some of those same Sioux.

Lighten up, Francis.

What the Sioux do with their sacred mountains is their own business. What I have problems with is what is done to something that is sacred to others without any thought of the people who hold it sacred.

I'm a figurative sculptor, specializing in portraits. I have a few in the collections of the University of North Texas Athletic Department, and Texas Christian University's College of Education, as well as those I've made for private collectors. I think Mount Rushmore is an amazing work of art and engineering. I wish I could get a commission like that. Unfortunately, the EPA would never allow an undertaking like that to happen again.

I can certainly understand the feelings of the Native Americans. My wife is a card carrying Comanche. She even speaks the language. I wish Mount Rushmore would have been constructed in another location, away from Indian tribal land. Also, I would not have included Lincoln or Roosevelt. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Adams, would have been my choice for the monument. I like the idea of keeping it exclusive to the founding fathers.