August 7, 2006
L'Enfant Statue Provokes Controversy
It's no wonder Congress doesn't take us seriously.
Controversy has erupted in the District over -- of all things -- statues. As we have reported in the past, the District has been looking to place two statues in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall, a privilege granted to states with which they can recognize two of their most prominent residents. City officials went as far as to allow residents to choose the two Washingtonians that would represent them in the famed hall, the results of which found (much to our chagrin) Pierre L'Enfant as one of the winners.
Or so we thought. WTOP's investigative wunderkind Mark Segraves reported on Friday that L'Enfant didn't actually win enough votes to be one of the two statues for the District, but was instead granted the honor through a shady and secretive maneuver within the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The highest vote-getter was Fredrick Douglass, followed by Duke Ellington, while L'Enfant barely came in tenth place. Douglass was quickly endorsed, while Ellington's seemingly obvious designation was railroaded by one commissioner. Writes Segraves:
Minutes from a May 2006 meeting reveal the commissioners were unanimous in the first choice of Frederick Douglass, the former slave-turned-newspaper publisher...Apparently the members of the commission weren't aware of the screaming irony of their actions. Not only are District residents denied voting rights in Congress, but now they're also denied a voice in matters as simple as deciding who will represent them in Statuary Hall. Ellington got the votes, and is a fine representative for the District. Let him stand alongside Douglass.But the minutes from the May meeting show the commissioners could not decide on the second choice, and delayed the vote for one month.
Prior to adjourning, commissioner Gail Berry West made a motion to add Pierre L'Enfant to the list of finalists.
L'Enfant came in 10th in the public voting, with 107 votes -- well behind Duke Ellington, Thurgood Marshall and Benjamin Banneker, but 16 votes ahead Mayor Washington...
When the commission reconvened in June, they made a rare move of taking the remaining votes by secret ballot.
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"much to [your] chagrin?" DC is unlike any other city in the country, much more liveable and enjoyable thanks to Pierre L'enfant (beautiful avenues, trees, national mall!). but why do you have such beef with him? because he was french? gay? i'm all for nominating someone who's from the area and boasts wonderful achievements, so go ahead and praise Ellington and Marshall. but don't be bashing my boy L'enfant for no good reason.
What kind of image does it project when a council on ARTS AND HUMANITIES, of all things, railroads the city's greatest contribution to American arts and humanities?
hey now. "much to [your] chagrin?" DC is a wonderfully liveable city, unlike any other in this sprawling country thanks to Pierre L'enfant. why do you have such beef with him? because he was french? gay? is it personal? i'm all for supporting a nomination for someone from the city, who boasts wonderful achievements. so please, go ahead and praise the worth of Ellington and Marshall and countless others, but don't go trashing my boy L'Enfant for no good reason. thank you.
What kind of message does it send when a council on ARTS AND HUMANITIES, of all things, decides to put aside the city's greatest contribution to American arts and humanities? It's a travesty.
It's pretty awesome that Duke Ellington won a spot. Best hypothetical statue ever.
If DC got the vote, would you lot actually use it?
Would our nation's capital be a shining example of democratic participation or another state where people can't be bothered to get up and do their civic duty.
Ellington? Why not John Philip Sousa? Still a musical selection, but this DC native has had at least as great an impact (Stars and Stripes Forever, for one) and fits with the whole patriotic/Capitol City thing better. Many millions of people recognize and salute his work each year...
I love the irony that arises from the fact that this is also the city that decided to demolish Duke Ellington's birthplace. Now we won't even give the poor guy a statue? lol.
http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/archives/arc_news/082602.htm
Vote Marion Barry!
There is already a John Philip Sousa statue in the city. It is outside the new Marine Barracks at 7th and K SE (which is where the Marine Band is based). For some reason, however, the Marines put the statute behind a giant security fence so you have to get up close to the fence to even see it or get a picture. But it is still better than a hypothetical statue in the Capitol.
Duke Ellington, while a positive influence, did not even choose to live in DC, moving to New York when he was 23. So what if L'Enfant wasn't born in DC, his unique conception for DC's layout makes it what it is today. WTOP should lay off its anti-French campaign to topple the statue for L'Enfant.
Duke Ellington, though a great jazz legend, did not choose to live in DC, moving to New York when he was 23. So what if L'Enfant was a Frenchman (the horror!), his unique conception of DC's layout made our city the vibrant, diverse community it is today. WTOP should lay off its anti-French campaign to topple a L'Enfant statue.
Duke Ellington, music legend that he was, did not even stay in DC after age 23, moving to New York. So what if L'Enfant was not born in DC, his unique conception of DC's layout made our city the vibrant, diverse capital it is today. The voting process does sound suspect, but I also smell a whiff of anti-French sentiment in all this. WTOP should lay off its campaign to topple a L'Enfant statue (that doesn't even exist anyway).
Duke Ellington, music legend that he was, did not even choose to live in DC after age 23. Even if L’Enfant wasn’t born in DC, his unique conception of DC’s layout made our city the vibrant, diverse capital it is today. The voting process does sound suspect, but I also detect a whiff of anti-French sentiment in all this. WTOP should end its campaign to topple a non-existent L’Enfant statue.
Why not John Philip Sousa? Still a musical selection, but this DC native has had at least as great an impact
On American music? As Duke Ellington? Not even close.