Further thoughts on the naming, renaming and misnaming of public
buildings that I addressed in “Official graffiti“: The original wing of what is now regrettably known to most
Illinoisans as the Michael J. Howlett Building in Springfield is not merely a
building but a monument. The Centennial Building was intended, by its name and
its decoration, to commemorate the centenary of the State of Illinois’ founding
in 1818, which it did until 1992, when the legislature renamed it for another
well-liked hack.
We can do better. Rather than trust lawmakers to divine to
whom the people of Illinois are grateful for their public service, let the
people themselves decide. It needn’t be expensive – a well-policed online poll
would do. Or appoint a commission of worthies outside the government to make
such decisions.
Even better, adopt this simple rule: No publicly-owned
building, bridge, highway, airport, sewer plant, school, sidewalk, water
fountain or photocopying machine shall be named after any person who has not
been dead at least 25 years. The reason
we still talk about Lincoln or Ogilvie is not because their names are on a
statues or buildings. We talk about them because of who they were and what they
did. That’s how you tell who deserves to have buildings named after them.—the
fact that it is unnecessary. Once you realize it, you don’ have to do it.
See how easy it is?
This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2014.
