The Crazy Horse Memorial - Sacred or Exploitative?
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Crazy Horse in the Black Hills
Crazy Horse is a legendary figure in American history. He was a leader of the Lakota Indians and fought to preserve the Lakota way of life against the United States government. He was at least a major participant in the Battle of the Little Bighorn and is a hero for many Lakota and non-Lakotas alike.
In 1948, Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Standing Bear officially started the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from Mount Rushmore. The sculpture was designed to show Crazy Horse pointing over the head of his horse, and already dwarfs Rushmore. The project is far from finished and the Ziolkowski family have so far refused funds from the federal government, using entry fees and donations instead. This page will tell you more about the Memorial, the controversy surrounding it and let you speak your opinion.
In 1948, Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Standing Bear officially started the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from Mount Rushmore. The sculpture was designed to show Crazy Horse pointing over the head of his horse, and already dwarfs Rushmore. The project is far from finished and the Ziolkowski family have so far refused funds from the federal government, using entry fees and donations instead. This page will tell you more about the Memorial, the controversy surrounding it and let you speak your opinion.
Controversy about the Memorial
Two very distinct feelings have arisen over the Crazy Horse Memorial.
The general breakdown is like this:
One side believes the Memorial is a tremendous tribute to Crazy Horse, and the sculpture's size makes a statement since Crazy Horse would be so much larger than all of the Presidents on Mount Rushmore combined.
The other side wants to consider the sacredness of the land, especially the Black Hills, and considers any defacement of that area to be against the spirit of Crazy Horse. Activist Russell Means put his position this way: "Imagine going to the holy land in Israel, whether you're a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim, and start carving up the mountain of Zion. It's an insult to our entire being." Lakota medicine man Lame Deer said: "The whole idea of making a beautiful wild mountain into a statue of him is a pollution of the landscape. It is against the spirit of Crazy Horse."
The general breakdown is like this:
One side believes the Memorial is a tremendous tribute to Crazy Horse, and the sculpture's size makes a statement since Crazy Horse would be so much larger than all of the Presidents on Mount Rushmore combined.
The other side wants to consider the sacredness of the land, especially the Black Hills, and considers any defacement of that area to be against the spirit of Crazy Horse. Activist Russell Means put his position this way: "Imagine going to the holy land in Israel, whether you're a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim, and start carving up the mountain of Zion. It's an insult to our entire being." Lakota medicine man Lame Deer said: "The whole idea of making a beautiful wild mountain into a statue of him is a pollution of the landscape. It is against the spirit of Crazy Horse."
Your predictions on the Crazy Horse Memorial
The Memorial was officially started in 1948. It is a long way from being finished. Here's your chance to really predict how things may go:
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More on the Life of Crazy Horse
Related Links and Sources
- Crazy Horse - Black Hills South Dakota
- Official site of the Crazy Horse Memorial.
- The Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota
- Personal weblog of Jim Seaman in Raleigh, NC - a complaint against the Memorial.
- Crazy Horse Gift Shop
- Website of the gift shop that operates at the Crazy Horse Memorial.
- Russell Means
- Official website of Russell Means, who commented on the CHM: "Imagine going to the holy land in Israel, whether you're a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim, and start carving up the mountain of Zion. It's an insult to our entire being."
Any more thoughts on the Memorial or Crazy Horse?
If you have comments about the Memorial and want to go more in-depth, or just have a general comment about Crazy Horse, post it here.
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grannysage Mar 26, 2009 @ 10:27 pm | delete
- About 15 or so years ago. My family and I stopped by the monument. on our way to Yellowstone. It felt sacred to me, both from the mountain itself, and from the great amount of time this family has devoted to it. They also do not accept any government financing.
Before leaving, we were able to take a piece of granite that had been blasted out of the mountain. I placed it in a labyrinth I built in a pasture in Kansas. Years later, I left that home and moved to California. The rock stayed behind until I was able to retrieve it and take it to California.
When I moved back to Kansas once again I decided not to take the rock with me. I placed it in a stone circle near another mountain sacred to the Native Americans in that area. Now I feel that the Crazy Horse rock is once again in a sacred spot, and since I was the holder for many years, I can reach out and touch its energy when I feel the need.
Long story, but I wanted to share it.
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