An editorial column entitled "Honoring the Past" appears in Sunday's
Indianapolis Star, 8/30/98. It is summarized on the Star/News website at
http://www.starnews.com/digest/index.html?section=Opinion/Commentary.
(Caution: the Opinion/Commentary webpage indicates
this is in the "Friday" paper; it is not; it is in
the Sunday paper.)
Not wishing to infringe on the Star's copyright, I shall attempt to
paraphrase the editorial for the benefit of those of you outside the Star's
circulation area, utilizing selected quotes intended only as "fair use" and
in hopes of accurately relating the comments made:
Reciting the facts, the editorial states that, beginning in the 1840s, 43
members of these four families, were buried here, the last being almost a
century ago. The former property owners (farmers) respected the cemetery
and maintained it. The 21-acre tract purchased by Duke Realty Investments
included the little Rhoads Cemetery. Duke followed the letter of the law
and obtained permission to remove the remains of the 43 people buried here
(35 children and 8 adults), which remains have since the removal NEARLY A
YEAR AGO been studied by an anthropologist "to determine historical
significance". [The editorial does not mention the fact that it has been
almost a year since the bodies were exhumed and taken to the University of
Indianapolis laboratory.]
The editorial goes on to address the emotional side of this event,
acknowledging that many people believe Duke has "broken a sacred trust by
desecrating graves" and that this has become a "public relations disaster"
for Duke.
Finally, the editors recommend that Duke make amends by paying for
reinterment in a modern cemetery and new grave markers and a marker telling
the families' stories.
The editors realize that the future will hold many such conflicts between
land use and historic preservation. "The challenge is to balance current
demands for land with the need to honor our ancestors. The case of the
Rhoads Cemetery, so far mishandled, can be used to show what NOT to do."
[Emphasis added.] The editors also suggested that Duke can demonstrate how
to "make a bad situation better".
Indianapolis Star, 08/30/98, p. D2
Page D4, "Letters/Other Views", reprints four letters to the editors,
including one from James D. Garretson of Carmel, Brian Roberts of
Indianapolis, Debbie Pittman and Paul J. Smith of Indianapolis and Kevin
Heber of Carmel.
Mr. Roberts' letter "defends" Duke Realty, citing the company's
sensitivity
in a similar situation in the recent past in which Duke changed the plans
for the Golden Rule Insurance Co. facility on the Northwestside of
Indianapolis, rerouting utilities, righting headstones and installing a
fence. Mr. Roberts continued by saying that he believes Duke will
eventually relocate the "remains of these souls with a proper burial in a
proper cemetery with new headstones." [I hope he's right!]
The remaining letters were consistent in decrying the lack of sensititive on
Duke's part and calling upon the Legislature to correct this "oversight"
which makes such events possible.
Debbie Pittman and Paul J. Smith pointed out that they had mistakenly
assumed that state law protects old cemeteries. They made a particularly
poignant point when they said, "We protect wetlands and protect historic
buildings. Surely we can protect the ancestors of our citizens."
James Garretson indicated that he now feels an empathy for Native Americans
outraged at the desecration of ancestral burial mounds and the removal of
their ancestors' remains to museums for examination and display.
Mr. Garretson called upon all township trustess to "catalog the private
cemeteries in their jurisdictions and take steps to provide some perpetual
care for them." This is a terrific idea, but it AIN'T gonna happen,
especially since the Trustees have no responsibility or authority for
cemeteries on private property, thanks to the latest change to Indiana Code
23-14-68-1(b). (See
http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/code/title23/ar14/ch68.html).
Kevin Heber expressed his opinion that regardless of the law on the subject,
"respect for the dead, our neighbors, the environment or any basic morals
and values needs to come from families. . . . Someone at Duke Realty, or
perhaps a principal stockholder, was simply never taught these lessons." He
called upon parents to teach their children to "never sacrifice your
principles for profit".
Though the 8/30/98 letters are not available on-line as of 3 PM on 8/30/98,
prior letters on other subjects ARE there, so perhaps they will be added at
a date in the near future.
On a personal note, I was a bit disappointed with the graphics accompanying
these letters, a gnarled, barren tree overhanging a "R.I.P." gravestone with
a full moon on the horizon. Personally, I dislike portraying pioneer
cemeteries in this way, reminiscent of every B-grade horror movie ever made.
Lois
P.S. The Star is available in boxes all across the State. I had no trouble
finding several of them here in Clark County, in metropolitan Louisville, KY.