John Dillinger

[rain_gryphon]

So, we're having a John Dillinger Festival this weekend. I can certainly accept that the man is of historic interest. Were there to be a learned symposium, or even just a special exhibit at the Old County Jail (now a museum) I'd have no complaint. Holding a festival in his honour, though (because however we spin it, that's exactly what it is) seems to be in poor taste at the very least. The man was a murderer, and a bank robber, amongst his other crimes. I realize that the town is driven by a desire to make money rather than to lionize villains, per se. Somehow, that just makes it a bit sleazier.

Comments

Mad World

[frith]

Oh murder is fine! Especially if guns are involved. The more bullets the better. Let there be movies, songs, parades! Now if Dillinger had been a prostitute, walking the streets for money, getting rich off of all the bored housewives for miles around, would there be a parade? A festival? A rooster coop? Would you take your kids?

Re: Mad World

[rain_gryphon]

Yeah, most of the time I love living here, but sometimes in the quieter moments, it weirds me out. To restore my faith in my fellow man, Republican Gun Bingo Night is coming up, although $100 to play seems a bit steep.

[mondhasen.livejournal.com]

If you come to Massachusetts you can always stay at the Lizzie Borden (https://lizzie-borden.com/) house! And going West one can visit this attraction (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2894)...

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Oh my! I actually saw that very car once, at the County Fair, when I was (IIRC) ten or so. I was quite impressed at the time, but then, as I grew older, I came to accept the prevailing local wisdom that it was just some old car that someone had shot full of holes and cut some chickens throats inside of (because the seats were drenched in old, dried blood).

Then, about twenty years ago or so, I ended up chatting online with this guy who was a scholar on Depression-era gangsters, and mentioned my experience in passing (the actual discussion started out to be about something completely different that I don't even recall anymore), and he perked right up and started asking questions about it, and came to the conclusion that it was probably the original car that I'd seen. So, yeah.