Tipping Point of an Icon
 The fall of an icon says a great deal about the people that brought it down, cultures and context.
My favorite explanation of the differences of the Baltic countries is the story of how Lenin statues fell when their freedom was realized.
In Lithuania, the people gathered en-mass to beat it to a pulp.
In Latvia, a committee was formed and after much deliberation it was carted away.
In Estonia, some called a Finnish crane company via cell phone and it was removed promptly.
  
In Iraq, it began with a few people climbing up the statue, then a stoning, a rope was tied around its neck but to no avail, the Marines were called in, they put an American flag on its face which was quickly replaced with an Iraqi flag in due response to the crowd, the Armored personnel carrier pulled and pulled until snap -- and the crowd jubilated.
Perhaps the destruction of this icon tells a story of two cultures that have a long way to go together.
5:36:54 PM 
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