Ken Gierke
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
We have citizens who consider the presence of Roman gods, goddesses, demi-gods and pagan idols represented by statuary on the grounds of our State Capitol as sacrilegious and an affront to the strong Christian values so deeply embedded in our great state.
Obviously, they are blind to the beauty of art and the value it lends to its setting. The statue of Ceres, Roman goddess of agriculture atop the Capitol dome, is cited as a prime example. Most people understand the difference between mythology and religious worship, and there is no one who worships Ceres.
The statue is seen as the coupling of art and symbolism, representing the agriculture that is the root of our state's economy, which adds a sense of beauty to the structure. In place of Ceres, it is suggested that a statue of Jesus Christ be the first thing we see when glancing up at the dome. The Capitol is not a place of worship. What will be the next complaint? Will there be a call to replace the Rotunda chandelier with a crucifix? Of course, there may be some who would rather see Rush Limbaugh in place of Ceres, but that's another conversation, altogether.
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