Spotted in the gift shop of the new Visitor Center in Gettysburg…..
This is wrong in more ways than I can count…..
Scridb filter
Comments
Randy
Mon 24th May 2010 at 11:12 pm
Eric:
Wrong indeed, but what do you expect from the book-less bookstore in the Gettysburg-less visitor center? Heck, I suppose we should be happy there’s at least something in the shop pertaining to the Civil War, warped though it may be. Last time I was there, and I mean LAST TIME, the place was full of ceramic pumpkins, teddy bears, candles and such. There was a Civil War battle at Gettysburg, wasn’t there? Sorry to rant, but I just can’t get over just how bad the new facility truly is. What a shame.
Randy
Steve Basic
Mon 24th May 2010 at 11:42 pm
Think a better music wise T- Shirt would be a depiction of Abe on the balcony at the White House and him telling the band to play Dixie after Lee surrendered.
What seems to be the problem with this shirt? Am I wrong in simply assuming that Lincoln is pulling off a modern dance move or am I missing something else?
Chris Van Blargan
Tue 25th May 2010 at 7:24 am
Eric,
Heavens! Was this next to General Lee/Joker face T-shirts or the Hip-Hop version of the Gettysburg Address?
Ok, so who is handling the purchases for the store? Somebody straight off the shelf from college with no real appreciation for history, or a hardcore business person who knows what kids in school groups will really buy? I think that one of those two answers are behind the shirt.
Todd
Tue 25th May 2010 at 12:35 pm
Kevin, I don’t see what the big deal with the shirt is either. Although, I think the new visitors center is pretty good. Very few people who visit Gettysburg get excited to see whether a sack coat has Eagle “I” buttons or just regular eagle buttons. I don’t miss the old museum at all although for nostalgia sake, I do miss being reminded just exactly where I am fifteen times during the old electric map presentation.
If I had to choose between the Lincoln shirt or a Mort Kunstler or Dale Gallon print, I’d take the shirt.
Todd
Andy Walters
Tue 25th May 2010 at 1:11 pm
Unfortunately this is no surprise. When building ths visitor center we were promised more storage and display room, this did not happen. We were promised a unique and different selection of books not found elsewhere, this did not happen. We were promised a more engaging atmosphere, geared towards better understanding of the battle at Gettysburg, this did not happen. It is very sad for all, especially those of us who visit repeatedly year after year.
Still wondering what the problem is with this shirt. So, are we saying that if it included a line from the Gettysburg Address it would be ok. I think it’s a fun shirt. In fact, I am going to buy one next time I am in the store — cool design.
Chris Evans
Tue 25th May 2010 at 3:47 pm
Really strange shirt. So Lincoln is only relevant for this generation because he listens to an ipod? I think it would’ve been better if it would have depicted him playing an X-Box 360 or watching the final episode of ‘Lost’ on Television. I think he should be relevant to new generations by his actions and words not because he could now play around with gizmos and gadgets.
Chris
Pretty sure Lincoln himself would approve, once someone explained earbuds to him. From what I’ve read of the man, Lincoln would be about the last person to take himself so seriously.
Chris Van Blargan
Tue 25th May 2010 at 7:39 pm
Kevin,
I don’t have a problem with the shirt at all, and in fact, think it’s kind of funny. If it was being sold at a private gift shop outside the park, as opposed to the visitor center, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. But the fact it is being sold at the gift shop gives the impression, right or wrong, that the park thinks you it has to make history “cool” for the kids. That evokes parodies of the beleaguered inner city teacher who has to modernize Shakespeare to make it relevant.
With that said, if the Eisenhower Museum ever sells a T-shirt with the motto “I want to be like Ike” portraying Eisenhower hanging from the rim after a slam dunk, I’m buyin’!
It’s immature and juvenile, IMHO. So if you’re 14 years old and wearing one, it wouldn’t surprise me. If you’re an adult, I think it would look rather silly.
Simply terrible! Maybe I am getting old but that is disgraceful for old Abe to be depicted that way! And I am a southerner! This “visitors center” is not part of the National Park system is it?!?!
Not a big fan of the shirt either – and I’m a younger Lincoln fan. It’s not just the design. The problem is that Event Network (which owns the gift shop both at the ALPM here in Springfield and at the Gettyburg visitors center now) is basically the Wal-Mart of gift shops. They basically sell corporate-designed stuff made in China and they do not support local art *at all*. I don’t think Lincoln would approve of that.
It’s even worse that it’s in shops that appear to be sanctioned by the government (the ALPM is owned by the state of Illinois). The government shouldn’t be sanctioning this kind of thing. If it was clearly private I wouldn’t have as much of a problem.
Gary
Thu 10th Jun 2010 at 12:17 pm
If Mr. Lincoln were alive today he would have an ipod. He enjoyed the latest technology. Now, if he would be hip-hopping or doing the electric slide is a matter for debate. I’m guessing he could cut a rug if he wanted to, he did back in the day.
LKTeachermom
Wed 21st Jul 2010 at 5:29 pm
As a teacher, I like this shirt. I like that it ddepicts a Lincoln that is approachable for a younger generation. Lincoln’s thoughts and ideas are timeless, and the caption on the shirt, “Lincoln for all Geneartions” epitomizes this. I agree with those who have said that Lincoln would no doubt have an iPod if he were around today – He enjoyed theater, he enjoyed new gadgets, and contrary to what isdepicted in most picgtures, he was not always so serious. Is it ‘dumbing down’ history, or is it a way to get yonger people to think of history in a different way and maybe actually get into it?
I think this is good as it makes Lincoln more accessible to the younger generation and makes Lincoln less of an icon and more of a mortal man. Plus it is somewhat apropo as Lincoln used technology during the war, to whit, camping out at the telegraph office of the war department.
Eric:
Wrong indeed, but what do you expect from the book-less bookstore in the Gettysburg-less visitor center? Heck, I suppose we should be happy there’s at least something in the shop pertaining to the Civil War, warped though it may be. Last time I was there, and I mean LAST TIME, the place was full of ceramic pumpkins, teddy bears, candles and such. There was a Civil War battle at Gettysburg, wasn’t there? Sorry to rant, but I just can’t get over just how bad the new facility truly is. What a shame.
Randy
Think a better music wise T- Shirt would be a depiction of Abe on the balcony at the White House and him telling the band to play Dixie after Lee surrendered.
Steve
Hi Eric,
What seems to be the problem with this shirt? Am I wrong in simply assuming that Lincoln is pulling off a modern dance move or am I missing something else?
Eric,
Heavens! Was this next to General Lee/Joker face T-shirts or the Hip-Hop version of the Gettysburg Address?
Chris
Ok, so who is handling the purchases for the store? Somebody straight off the shelf from college with no real appreciation for history, or a hardcore business person who knows what kids in school groups will really buy? I think that one of those two answers are behind the shirt.
Kevin, I don’t see what the big deal with the shirt is either. Although, I think the new visitors center is pretty good. Very few people who visit Gettysburg get excited to see whether a sack coat has Eagle “I” buttons or just regular eagle buttons. I don’t miss the old museum at all although for nostalgia sake, I do miss being reminded just exactly where I am fifteen times during the old electric map presentation.
If I had to choose between the Lincoln shirt or a Mort Kunstler or Dale Gallon print, I’d take the shirt.
Todd
Unfortunately this is no surprise. When building ths visitor center we were promised more storage and display room, this did not happen. We were promised a unique and different selection of books not found elsewhere, this did not happen. We were promised a more engaging atmosphere, geared towards better understanding of the battle at Gettysburg, this did not happen. It is very sad for all, especially those of us who visit repeatedly year after year.
Andy Walters
Still wondering what the problem is with this shirt. So, are we saying that if it included a line from the Gettysburg Address it would be ok. I think it’s a fun shirt. In fact, I am going to buy one next time I am in the store — cool design.
Really strange shirt. So Lincoln is only relevant for this generation because he listens to an ipod? I think it would’ve been better if it would have depicted him playing an X-Box 360 or watching the final episode of ‘Lost’ on Television. I think he should be relevant to new generations by his actions and words not because he could now play around with gizmos and gadgets.
Chris
Pretty sure Lincoln himself would approve, once someone explained earbuds to him. From what I’ve read of the man, Lincoln would be about the last person to take himself so seriously.
Kevin,
I don’t have a problem with the shirt at all, and in fact, think it’s kind of funny. If it was being sold at a private gift shop outside the park, as opposed to the visitor center, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. But the fact it is being sold at the gift shop gives the impression, right or wrong, that the park thinks you it has to make history “cool” for the kids. That evokes parodies of the beleaguered inner city teacher who has to modernize Shakespeare to make it relevant.
With that said, if the Eisenhower Museum ever sells a T-shirt with the motto “I want to be like Ike” portraying Eisenhower hanging from the rim after a slam dunk, I’m buyin’!
Chris
I first saw this shirt in the ALPLM in Springfield and thought it was pretty cool.
I agree Chris. I think it’s a form of dumbing down of our history to make it ‘too cool for school’.
Chris
Hey everyone, it’s just a t-shirt.
It is a take off of the i-tunes logo that had Bono making the same move. I see it as harmless.
It’s immature and juvenile, IMHO. So if you’re 14 years old and wearing one, it wouldn’t surprise me. If you’re an adult, I think it would look rather silly.
No, it’s just a t-shirt. LOL
I guess it will fit right in with the pending casino…
Dancing With the Stars . . . ?
Simply terrible! Maybe I am getting old but that is disgraceful for old Abe to be depicted that way! And I am a southerner! This “visitors center” is not part of the National Park system is it?!?!
Not a big fan of the shirt either – and I’m a younger Lincoln fan. It’s not just the design. The problem is that Event Network (which owns the gift shop both at the ALPM here in Springfield and at the Gettyburg visitors center now) is basically the Wal-Mart of gift shops. They basically sell corporate-designed stuff made in China and they do not support local art *at all*. I don’t think Lincoln would approve of that.
It’s even worse that it’s in shops that appear to be sanctioned by the government (the ALPM is owned by the state of Illinois). The government shouldn’t be sanctioning this kind of thing. If it was clearly private I wouldn’t have as much of a problem.
If Mr. Lincoln were alive today he would have an ipod. He enjoyed the latest technology. Now, if he would be hip-hopping or doing the electric slide is a matter for debate. I’m guessing he could cut a rug if he wanted to, he did back in the day.
As a teacher, I like this shirt. I like that it ddepicts a Lincoln that is approachable for a younger generation. Lincoln’s thoughts and ideas are timeless, and the caption on the shirt, “Lincoln for all Geneartions” epitomizes this. I agree with those who have said that Lincoln would no doubt have an iPod if he were around today – He enjoyed theater, he enjoyed new gadgets, and contrary to what isdepicted in most picgtures, he was not always so serious. Is it ‘dumbing down’ history, or is it a way to get yonger people to think of history in a different way and maybe actually get into it?
I think this is good as it makes Lincoln more accessible to the younger generation and makes Lincoln less of an icon and more of a mortal man. Plus it is somewhat apropo as Lincoln used technology during the war, to whit, camping out at the telegraph office of the war department.