Friday, March 1, 2019

Vandalizing History

Now along comes Upper West Side member Helen Rosenthal to crank up the stupid, declaring her appreciation of the vandalism last week of a statue depicting the globally famous photo of a U.S. sailor kissing a dental technician in Times Square to mark the end of the Second World War.

The image, captured on August 14, 1945, by Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, brilliantly captured the joy that swept over Times Square, and the nation, as news arrived of Japan's surrender, bringing to an end the most sanguinary conflict in human history.

The sailor, George Mendonsa, 95, died last week in a Rhode Island nursing home.

His death prompted the vandalism that earned Rosenthal's imprimatur.

Mendonsa agreed: "There isn't a Navy man alive who didn't serve in World War II who hasn't looked at that photo and said, 'I wish I were that guy.'".

Suddenly, the potential death sentence was lifted-and an act of life-affirming exuberance occurred in Times Square.

Whether Rosenthal is aware of the ignorance she radiates or is merely taking advantage of a random news event is a matter for herself and her conscience.


https://www.city-journal.org/helen-rosenthal-times-square-statue

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