Photo by Phil and Sheila Smith of Ocean Grove.

By Paul Goldfinger,  MD,  Editor@Blogfinger.net

This statue appeared at Fletcher Lake about one week go. It sits lakeside under a large pine tree at the intersection of Central Avenue and Pilgrim Pathway, about 20 yards east of the Bradley Beach footbridge on the OG side.

It was discovered with 2 beer bottles in close proximity.  Phil Smith sent us the story and speculated that it was stolen.

He was “upset” that someone might have “swiped” this from someone else’s property.

Phil says that he is concerned about  “this kind of thing,” especially in the current “climate” of our country.

But at least the Madonna isn’t damaged (“yet”)

I am reminded that some recent “protester” has promoted the idea of tearing down statues of “white Jesus” and Abraham Lincoln.

Phil is right to be upset. Americans need to be vigilant and protective of our history and our religions.

While in med school in Washington, DC we lived across the highway from Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial  (raising the flag.)

We could walk over there, and that statue was so inspiring. You had to stand in its shadow and look upward to feel its emotional impact.   I suppose some pacifist might decide to take it down, but it represents so much more than the  “war is evil”  theme.

And we could walk around D.C., and everywhere are parks with statues. They are so grand and beautiful, that, like a poem, you can appreciate them in different ways, but to submit to the whim of destroyers is to diminish our great country.

Thanks to Phil and Sheila Smith.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN  “My City of Ruins.”

“The church door’s thrown open, I can hear the organ’s song
But the congregation’s gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins.”