Provinctown gone mad....trying to change history

[Skip N]

BRIAN MCGRORY
Correctness gone wrong
By Brian McGrory, Globe Columnist | November 29, 2005

Winter must come awfully early to that little spit of sand called Provincetown.

How else to explain the bizarre behavior of a majority of the town's selectmen at a meeting earlier this month?

To wit, Selectwoman Sarah Peake spun her chair around near the end of the Nov. 14 meeting, gazed up at an oversized oil painting depicting the Pilgrims voting on the Mayflower Compact when they first landed in Provincetown, and declared that she wanted it removed.

Mind you, it's not that she didn't like the look or the colors or the style. It's not that she thought it was too big or too small for the Judge Welsh Hearing Room. It's not that it clashed with anything around it.

No, what Peake didn't like was that the painting didn't include any women. That and the fact that the painting's only Indian -- Native American, I'd better call him -- wasn't holding a ballot like everyone else.

If you don't believe me, let's go straight to Cheryl Andrews, the chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen. She also happened to cast the only vote against the painting's removal, making her a rare voice of sanity on the board.

''There's this lovely oil painting," she said yesterday. ''The thing is huge. It's been up there since forever. It was painted by Max Bohm, who's considered quite something in local art circles.

''And Sarah Peake turns around and faces it, and it's government. They're voting. She says, 'I'd like to talk about this painting. I find this painting disturbing.' That's a quote. She said it's disturbing to her because there are no women in the painting and the only one not holding a ballot is the Native American Indian. And I thought, 'Here we go.' "

In other words, William Bradford and the rest of those piggish, prejudiced Pilgrims had the audacity to exclude Indians from their civic affairs and, like the rest of the Western world, had yet to give women the right to vote. So, get them out of here.

The selectmen took a vote, and three of the four supported removal of the painting. By my count, that's 75 percent in favor of politically correct insanity, 25 percent opposed.

I called Peake and asked her why. She sounded normal, even pleasant, and explained that her proposal was mostly born of a tremendous pride in the town's vast art collection, and she wanted to give other paintings the chance to hang in such a prominent spot behind the selectmen.

''I feel it's somewhat of a tempest in a teapot," she said.

Others don't think so.

The former head of the town's Art Commission wrote to the local paper that the vote was ''an act of idiocy." Bohm's granddaughter, Anne Packard, herself a noted local artist, said, ''It offends me because they're trying to change the history of the town, or just history."

Who knew that the Pilgrims actually landed in Provincetown before arriving in Plymouth? Not me. So I double-checked with Plimoth Plantation historian John Kemp, who confirmed this fact and also said that only male colonists signed the document. He did say, though, that there was never a vote on the Mayflower Compact and that it was signed by passengers before they landed in Provincetown.

No matter. Andrews, the chairwoman, said she plans to try to overturn the painting's removal.

''Instead of P-Town, we'll be PC-Town," she said. ''Some of the things that are PC aren't bad, having sensitivity to different groups. But this feels strained, horribly strained."

I'm just glad the statue depicting the flag-raising at Iwo Jima isn't in Provincetown. There's not a woman in it, meaning that the selectmen would order it melted down for scrap.

Brian McGrory is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at mcgrory@globe.com.

© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.

[tattoobob]

Wow what next? that's just wrong

[Backbeach Jake]

The P-town political circus is starting early this year. The P-town Banner really is worth the price of it's subscription.

[Skip N]

I meen should we really have been shocked? I meen it is P-town....But man stuff like this just drives me nuts. And i think most people would agree this is nuts! I hope people get involved and fight this.

[MAC]

This whole "political correctness" thing is getting out of hand. Holiday tree, In God We Trust, Nativity scenes at town hall......

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by MAC

This whole "political correctness" thing is getting out of hand. Holiday tree, In God We Trust, Nativity scenes at town hall......

Totally, But this P-town thing takes the cake. I bet they have someone paint a new picture to hang up there. It will no doubt have a few blacks, Hispanics, and women. It wont matter thats not what happened in history...but thats would "should" have happened. Who elects these retards? I bet the people who did this are PETA members too Liberalism gone mad!

[Squid kids Dad]

I think we should all send an e/mail to whoever? to disagree with this..Maybe someone can get an e/mail address for the P-Town selectmans office..Just to express our views....

[Mike P]

Skip---hate to say this, but I think the first 3 words of your thread title are about 40 years too late to be news

[Backbeach Jake]

This is how the occupy their time in the off season out there. All of a sudden they aren't working 20 of 24 hours a day for 7 days, but thier minds are still full throttle. Add some alcohol, a little dope, and a ton of boredom and things like this happen. Been there done it. No, not THAT...

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Skip---hate to say this, but I think the first 3 words of your thread title are about 40 years too late to be news

[Raven]

ummmmm where is P-Town Rock? Since they landed there first...

and since women weren't allowed to be indian chiefs either i think we should change that rule too. Also, since there wasn't any women whailing ships one should be re-commisioned and allowed to go whailing with a full crew of women only.

the declaration of independence and constitution needs to be another pink or purple color as well with a flowery border and be perfume scented with a tear off chocolate cookie coupon on the bottom.

[Offshore]

Oh,I don't know. What would you expect?

Anyway, here's my favorite P'town picture.

[Backbeach Jake]

Chocolate Cookie Coupon? Now you're talkin'!!

You truly can't understand bizarre until you've spent a few Winters at the "End of the World". It may be different in the Summer, which is the P-town that we're all familiar with, but in the Winter, you learn that it's no act.

[Skip N]

You'll never get me to that freak show of a town. I dont care how good the fishin is. I remeber going there with the family as a kid back in the 80's and wondering what the F@ck all the guys in pink shirts were doing holding hands. Its the San Fran of the east i guess. Freaks and more freaks. When did this country lose thier minds?

[spence]

Skip, you're ranting like a redneck now.

Please remember that some of us have gay family members that we actually don't view as freaks. They are quite normal to themselves.

And regardless, if the painting was from P-town to begin with...chances are a few of the members in it were women in drag anyway

-spence

[Swimmer]

I have watch as P-Town morphed into what it is now since my parents first bought the place in Eastham in the late fifties and we made the once a year pilgrimage. What thier doing with the picture happens all over Massachusetts every day in one form or the other. I can't believe it warranted a column in El Globo, but it did and thats the globe pandering to the liberals it hopes will buy thier paper.

And lets not forget before the Pilgrims hit Plymouth they also stepped foot in Eastham at First Encounter beach at the end of Samoset Road, where the first encountered native americans.......

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by spence

Skip, you're ranting like a redneck now.

Please remember that some of us have gay family members that we actually don't view as freaks. They are quite normal to themselves.

And regardless, if the painting was from P-town to begin with...chances are a few of the members in it were women in drag anyway

-spence

So you rip me for calling people freeks then you basiclly make fun of women in drag. You sound like John Kerry....ya cant have it both ways! I meen those drag queen people are normal to thier family members to right? Truthfully i could care less if someone is Gay...Just dont go around and flaunt it in front of everyone. To me its not normal and i'll leave it at that. But the town still sucks for taking the painting down...and you wonder why liberals make me mad! Well these are the Hard core libs no dought but still...Liberal PC gone mad!!

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

I have watch as P-Town morphed into what it is now since my parents first bought the place in Eastham in the late fifties and we made the once a year pilgrimage. What thier doing with the picture happens all over Massachusetts every day in one form or the other. I can't believe it warranted a column in El Globo, but it did and thats the globe pandering to the liberals it hopes will buy thier paper.

And lets not forget before the Pilgrims hit Plymouth they also stepped foot in Eastham at First Encounter beach at the end of Samoset Road, where the first encountered native americans.......

The article was accually making fun of the town! Wich is why i was surprised the Globe published it. Doesnt quite fit thier agenda

[Offshore]

According to Friday's Cape Codder, the selectmen have reversed their vote and are keeping the painting right where it is.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Skip N

So you rip me for calling people freeks then you basiclly make fun of women in drag. You sound like John Kerry....ya cant have it both ways!

You really just don't get it do you?

-spence

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by spence

You really just don't get it do you?

-spence

Look my words were a little harsh i will admit and i was outta line in a way with the "freak" term. I dont aprove of people being Gay and we'll leave it at that. No use getting into a never ending argument becuase you have your views and i have mine. Arguing about Gays is like arguing about abortion, death penelty and religion. You will almost NEVER change anyones mind.

And i;m glad to hear the town got off the drugs and came to thier senses and put the painting back up. No doubt the public got into an uproar about that one.

[RickBomba]

I say they ban bathing suits next! The Bomba's will be on the forefront for that campaign!!!
(We've already got one ardent supporter!).
LOL,
Rick

[RickBomba]

I say they ban bathing suits next! The Bomba's will be on the forefront for that campaign!!!
(We've already got one ardent supporter!).
LOL,
Rick

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Raven

Also, since there wasn't any women whailing ships one should be re-commisioned and allowed to go whailing with a full crew of women only.

I just Googled that and found that there was a whaling ship named the "Queen" so I guess that counts

I think it is a shame that "correctness" goes to this level AND that it seems to be a policy of "convenience"...

[MoroneSaxatilis]

To me, it's not the fact that a particular person in P-Town might be gay that makes him/her a freak. If a heterosexual person dressed the way some people dress in P-Town, or acted in the same manner as I've seen some of the peope in P-Town act, I'd consifer them freaks as well, sexual orientation not withstanding.

And how come no Japanese soldjers were included in the photos/statues/paitnings of the raising of the flag at Iwo?

How exclusionary.

[Karl F]

But, they are PC!

December 6, 2005

Provincetown will augment crèche with other symbols
By ERIC WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
PROVINCETOWN - The crèche at Bas Relief Park will soon be a little more crowded after the Provincetown selectmen voted last night to add a menorah, a holiday tree and a sign saying ''Peace On Earth'' to the seasonal display.

The selectmen had been forced to act on the matter after receiving a complaint letter about the town-owned crèche scene, which has been a fixture for many holiday seasons in the public park.

After consultations with town counsel, it became apparent that to stay within widely accepted legal precedent on such displays, the town would either have to remove the crèche or add other symbols that would allow the display to be categorized as secular.

While there was no sentiment from officials or from the public who attended last night's meeting to keep the crèche in place by itself, the ''remove it or add to it'' discussion was lively, with advocates on both sides.

The selectmen were split on the matter themselves, with the ''add to it'' faction winning the day by a 3-2 margin, with Dr. Cheryl Andrews and Richard Olson in the ''remove it'' minority.

''I think there should be added symbols,'' said Selectman David Nicolau. I think that's what Provincetown is ... it's about being equal.'' ''We obviously can't have just one symbol on town property,'' said Selectman Michele Couture, expressing support for additional symbols. ''I think it's a very fortunate thing that we don't have a state-sponsored religion.''

Selectman Richard Olson argued in favor of removing the crèche to private property, saying that adding symbols ''trivializes the whole thing.''

Before selectmen voted on the issue, members of the public had their say.

''The place for religious symbols is not on town property, the place for religious symbols is on church property,'' said Barbara Rushmore of Provincetown. ''It's hard, people love the warm feeling that they have from symbols that they associate all their life with their beliefs.''

Rushmore said the town would open a Pandora's Box'' by allowing other symbols. ''Do you want a Buddha? Do you want a Muslim symbol at the time when we're in a fight with a Muslim country? I think you best not try and even it up.''

But lifelong Provincetown resident Francis Santos argued for the inclusion of more symbols. ''This town is a mixing bowl,'' he said.




The selectmen indicated that the vote to add the menorah, tree and sign to the display was for this holiday season, and that they may consider other requests for future displays.

In a letter to the selectmen, Provincetown poet Dennis Rhodes, who is in favor of adding additional symbols to the holiday display, wrote that he had begun work on creating an ''Inclusion Fund'' for the 2006 holiday season, to purchase more symbols for the Bas Relief Park display.

Rhodes said the money would be used to obtain a ''beautiful all-weather menorah'' and perhaps an Islamic Crescent and Star.

Eric Williams can be reached at ewilliams@capecodonline.com.

(Published: December 6, 2005)


One guy from P-town wrote a letter to the paper, he worships Zappa, wants the town to buy a 12 foot high chrome guitar to include too... maybe he will get it????

[Skip N]

Oh man they are at it again! Do these people have a clue how retarded they look with all this crap!? Its getting to the point were its almost commical. And dont even get me started on the term "Holiday" tree. What the %$%$%$%$ is a holiday tre!? Its a Christmas tree for god sake!

[spence]

Skip, I'll pass on the whole retarded comment and move straight to the tree issue.

The practice of decorating a tree in the name of Jesus really has only been around for 150 years or so, and it wasn't even that popular until this century.

It's roots are in pagan rituals that can be traced back to the Egyptians and Romans to celebrate the winter solstice.

Also, many Jewish people now put up a tree with blue lights...it's festive, and for them has nothing to do with Jesus.

So call it whatever you want, but remember there are others celibrating the season that may have a different angle.

And stop listening to O'Riley and Hannity

-spence

[Skip N]

When over 90 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas why should we 90 percent have to give in to the PC and not be aloud to call the holiday what it is...Christmas! Well, you can go decorate your "holiday" tree if you wish, But i will decorate my "Chrismas" tree and if people get offended by that then too bad! When people see a tree this time of year they think its a damn Christmas tree and nothing else. Deal with it. I meen does a Christmas tree really offend people?

[Skip N]

"And stop listening to O'Riley and Hannity "

I NEVER listen to those guys