The amusement park and the memorial

Use this forum to discuss the March 2020 Book of the month, "House of Eire" by June Gillam.
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Brenda Creech
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Re: The amusement park and the memorial

Post by Brenda Creech »

Laura Lee wrote: 08 Mar 2020, 19:30 That's an excellent question. I, too, thought that an amusement park was an odd choice for placing a memorial. I felt like I was supposed to sympathize with Bridgett, but I honestly thought, "Why would you want such a macabre monument in an amusement park??" A town square or a park would be good; even something next to the main church in town. But an amusement park? Naw. That's not only weird but inappropriate, in my opinion.
I know! Bridget was adamant about needing a memorial, and I agreed with that; however, an amusement park was the last place I could picture having a memorial like that!
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Post by Brenda Creech »

bellajavier wrote: 08 Mar 2020, 09:35 Agreed, memorial is supposed to be a somber event, and amusement park goes against everything it portrays. Town square should've been selected.
Thank you. That's what I think too!
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Post by IchbineinBerliner »

The photo I saw of the famine memorial in Dublin still haunts me, but while it has no place in an amusement park, a compromise could be achieved. A memorial could be erected beside the park but just out of sight of the main entrance, satisfying (almost) everyone.
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Post by Brenda Creech »

IchbineinBerliner wrote: 12 Mar 2020, 09:35 The photo I saw of the famine memorial in Dublin still haunts me, but while it has no place in an amusement park, a compromise could be achieved. A memorial could be erected beside the park but just out of sight of the main entrance, satisfying (almost) everyone.
Yeah, I don't know why that wasn't an option. But somehow I don't think that would have satisfied Bridget.
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Post by Reina275 »

I agree with you! Such a serious and respectful thing was wrong to be done in the amusement park. Kind of disappoints me.
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Post by CherylTegan7 »

I agree. I also don't see anyone in an amusement park stopping to pay their respects or reflect.
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Post by MirageParul »

:D
B Creech wrote: 03 Mar 2020, 17:19 I have thought a lot about whether the type of memorial Bridgett wanted should be put in an amusement park. The memorial to the Irish people who suffered so much was an excellent idea, however, was an amusement park the appropriate place to have it erected? Just curious what others' thoughts are on this. I personally don't think the amusement park was the place to put this type of memorial. I felt it would be better to have it placed in the heart of activity, like a town square, or a park, where tourists and citizens alike would see and appreciate it. What are your thoughts?
Yes! One of the reasons this book did not resonate with me was that even the good guys were unrelatable. Bridget's senseless crusade was the reason I didn't like her. Yes,
buliding a memorial is something to fight about, but not building it inside an amusement park.
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Post by Brenda Creech »

MirageP wrote: 13 Mar 2020, 10:08 :D
B Creech wrote: 03 Mar 2020, 17:19 I have thought a lot about whether the type of memorial Bridgett wanted should be put in an amusement park. The memorial to the Irish people who suffered so much was an excellent idea, however, was an amusement park the appropriate place to have it erected? Just curious what others' thoughts are on this. I personally don't think the amusement park was the place to put this type of memorial. I felt it would be better to have it placed in the heart of activity, like a town square, or a park, where tourists and citizens alike would see and appreciate it. What are your thoughts?
Yes! One of the reasons this book did not resonate with me was that even the good guys were unrelatable. Bridget's senseless crusade was the reason I didn't like her. Yes,
buliding a memorial is something to fight about, but not building it inside an amusement park.
Exactly! An amusement park would be on the outskirts of town, a memorial should be where everyone could see it. Not everyone goes to an amusement park!
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Post by Brenda Creech »

CherylTegan7 wrote: 12 Mar 2020, 21:36 I agree. I also don't see anyone in an amusement park stopping to pay their respects or reflect.
Especially anyone with children who are excited about getting to ride all the rides!
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Post by Brenda Creech »

Reina275 wrote: 12 Mar 2020, 18:24 I agree with you! Such a serious and respectful thing was wrong to be done in the amusement park. Kind of disappoints me.
I know, right? I don't know why Bridget was so intent on having it in an amusement park. A memorial was a great idea, it just needed to be put in a proper place. I think it became a power struggle between Bridget and Dermot!
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Post by Liana Mayhew »

Although I fully understand Bridget's sentiment behind having the memorial inside the amusement park, I feel a separate memorial garden/park would have been better. Yes it probably would be seen more inside the amusement park, but the sombre meaning behind it would not be suitable for such a place.
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Post by Van112 »

The idea of having an amusement park is where people can go to relax and have fun.

Putting the memorial there is like a commemoration of the reason why you have such park to enjoy. I believe it is okay to place it there as a lot of people would visit the park and see it, and at the other hand they get to be reminded of what happened. To be grateful.
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Post by KDJ »

cpru68 wrote: 05 Mar 2020, 08:33 Having it separated from the amusement park would bring greater impact. Otherwise, visitors would glance at it and rush off to something else. Putting it out on its own display would cause people to stop and understand the significance of the memorial.
I agree, it would have been better outside of an amusement park. I also thought that maybe she was trying to put it in there because the developer could easily afford to erect it and it would not need to be built with taxes and additional funds, and the developer would have to deal with the red tape, but that was what Bridget did and she was independently wealthy, so she could have put it elsewhere and made it more respectful. That's what I think.😳😳
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Post by Carolreads30 »

I agree with you as I don't feel that the best place for this memorial would have been in an amusement park. The town square or somewhere else would have been a better choice for the memorial. I would have liked the author to expand more as to why Bridget wanted the memorial at the park.
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Post by Namaste23 »

Although erecting a memorial is a great idea, I dont think an amusement part would be the place to put it. People who are going to an amusement part aren't interested in learning sad history. It would be more appropriate in a museum or something like that where people who are actually interested in learning about it would go.
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