This Is Shameful

From Guns.com

Even though Chicago is the site of many world-class museums, the city currently prohibits some firearms from being displayed, even as historical artifacts. One city alderman however introduced an ordinance on Wednesday to lift that ban, allowing museums to properly display these pieces of history.

Edward Burke, one of Chicago’s most powerful city alderman and a history buff himself, explained that he recently discovered an anomaly in the city’s code. “Museums are caught in a dilemma that if they have in their collections artifacts that can be defined as firearms, even though there’s historical significance to the memento, they can’t be registered in the city and can’t be displayed.”

If passed, according to Burke, the ordinance will allow “institutions to display unloaded firearms that often accompany uniforms and other historical artifacts.”

CEO and President of the Pritzker Military Library in Chicago, Kenneth Clarke points out that although the city is allowed to display firearms that are pre-circa 1898, that leaves out a significant amount – over 100 years – of valuable history, history that both Chicago residents and other visitors to the museum are missing out on.

Clarke explains, “It’s about preserving the stories of citizen soldiers from World War II, World War I … who have served our country.”

Alderman Burke agrees and uses the example of a World War II soldier’s family who donated his gun to the museum in March. Major General William P. Levine was one of the first American soldiers to liberate the concentration camp of Dachau during World War II. Following Levine’s death, his family donated his gun to the museum, a German Walther PP which was given to him during the war. Only under the current laws, the museum is not allowed to display such a piece of history.

[My emphasis.] Sorry, the embedded links didn't copy. The full story is here.

Mr. Big Food and I once went to Dachau. Once was enough to last a lifetime.

"The main part of the exhibition begins with documents illustrating the seizure of power by the Nazis on January 30, 1933. ... Disease and medical experiments in the camp infirmary conclude the first part of the exhibition."

"On March 22, 1933, the first German concentration camp was set up near Dachau on the grounds of a former ammunition factory. Political opponents, Jews, clergymen and so-called 'undesirable elements' were to be isolated here as enemies of the National-Socialist regime. ... According to files of the International Tracing Service, 31,591 prisoners died in the Dachau concentration camp. An additional number of a few thousand prisoners who had not been registered at all, were killed by shooting."

"The mortality rate among prisoners increased rapidly. The crematory constructed outside the prisoners' compound in 1940 proved too small. ... Upon orders of the ... (SS-Economic-Administrative Main Office) in Berlin a gas chamber was installed. This gas chamber, camouflaged as a shower room, was not used. The prisoners selected for 'gassing' were transported from Dachau... . Approximately 6000 Russian prisoners of war were executed on the .. . (rifle range)."

A United States citizen soldier used his gun to help end this. His gun-- and the free lives it represents-- is not welcome in Chicago.

Shameful. 
~~

And now... to fix another simply delicious supper and then sort through some Zane Grey novels.

Paper Buildings, Paper Buildings

[Updated. I do know Frank Lloyd Wright's last name!]

In between watching what passes for football these days and being thoroughly disgusted by commercials, I began putting Christmas back in boxes. 

What remains to be packed is on the dining room table.

There are a few items, however, that I cannot bear to hide away. Rather, I'll showcase them on the buffet for all of the Farm's Winter and early Spring visitors to see.

I speak of some crafts the kids made earlier in the season using old file folders, wax paper, exact-o-knives and various other implements artists and architects just happen to carry around in their vehicles.

Some paper buildings, each with a fascinating story.

On the right, we have Miss M's Golden Rule Store with swinging doors, and paned-glass windows 

papered with snow flakes.

Long time readers may recall that The Golden Rule Store was Mr. James Cash Penney's first retail establishment. I've shared many thoughts about Mr. Penney and his stores before.

Second from right we have Mr. Bow Tie's intriguing contribution. It was intended to be one of Frank Lloyd Wright's houses in Chicago.

Mr. Bow Tie spent a lot of time measuring.

Unfortunately, despite his precision measurements, Miss M and Daughter C thought it looked more like a Sweat Shop. Perhaps one that supplies T-shirts to JCP stores.

Second from left we have the first of Daughter C's

modest two-story homes.

Associates of The Golden Rule Store could have afforded a lovely home such as this. Nowadays, it's probably owned by a JCP employee. Note the condition of the chimney. An associate of The Golden Rule would have had the wherewithal to get that fixed. I don't think JCP employees got Christmas bonuses that would cover the repair cost.

In terms of number of structures, Daughter C was the most productive. Here is the first she constructed.

The moment she set it up, it fall over.

It was immediately condemned by the Authorities (although it really just needed some minor repairs). The Sweat Shop workers descended upon it, propped it up with a piece of plywood, and proceeded to Occupy it. 

I'm not sure, but given the rock-shatter second story window, and the number of bullet holes near the front door, I assume that-- like Mr. Bow Tie's Sweat Shop-- this property is also located in Chicago.

Enemy Lines Pt. 3: in Medias Res

Mr. Big Food and I have arrived on the Farm after our Research Trip behind Enemy Lines. All is well on the Farm-- from all appearances it looks like Daughter C., Miss M., and Ula had a crafty weekend. Ula left a nice note.

It's good to be back in Rural Mississippi. Or should I say, "It's good to be back in the civilized part of The United States of America"?

The last few posts were posted in the middle of things. Now that we're safe on this side of the Picket Wire, as I'm able, I'll post some pictures and commentary of Chicagoland. (The train-- The City of New Orleans-- was a much better experience than it might have been but still tiring.)

For now, let me just say that A. Leland drove us past and I didn't see any coyotes. Maybe no one had a cheeseburger in his/her pocket.

Do the Cubbies still play in that Ivy Covered Burial Ground?