We, as a people, do some pretty dumb stuff. Some of us do stuff that’s even dumber than most of us. Dumb is just something we’ll have to live with.

But then there are things like this…

Photos are from GettysburgDaily.com

This isn’t dumb, it’s pure greed. Dumb is innocent (mostly), this is your basic, run-of-the-mill evil. The folks that let it happen might be dumb, but the folks who purposely put it there are greedy bastards.

Each year, the website Gettysburg Daily picks one “dumb” thing that’s happened to the battlefield at Gettysburg. Many dumb things are nominated, but only one can win.

This year’s winner was announced yesterday, on the 146th anniversary of General Dan Sickles dumb move at Gettysburg.

This building is this soon-to-be-finished Comfort Suites Hotel. It is located a handful of yards away from a historic cemetery and, though not on park property, it is on the battlefield.

Here is a bit of explanation…

It was through some fairly shady deals that it even came about in the first place. The land is part of Cumberland Township, not the borough of Gettysburg. Gettysburg gets all the tax revenue from the businesses and hotels – Cumberland just wanted their fair share, no matter the cost.

Of course, this is simply a disgrace. Here is a fine example of how we fail as human beings. There are many such examples, of course, this is but one of them.

Now comes the real question. Why is this still standing? It’s not protected by armed guards. It’s not surrounded by barbed wire fences. It’s made of wood and would go up quickly.

There are some radical environmentalists known as the ELF (Earth Liberation Front). They engage in property destruction. Nobody has ever once been hurt or killed, but GMO laboratories, Condominium buildings, and the like are damaged and destroyed. You may not agree with such tactics, but it does seems to drive the point home.

The ELF and your average Civil War buff have a gulf of differences between them. But them both hate development. Why not join forces? Why aren’t battlefield preservationists starting the BLF (Battlefield Liberation Front)? With the Wal-Mart coming within an angry mule’s kick of the Wilderness Battlefield and this utter disgrace at Gettysburg, their work would be cut out for them, but just think of the rewards!

Imagine how good you would feel inside if a structure such as this, right on the battlefield, so close to the cemetery, were engulfed in flames (either accidentally or on purpose).

The Gettysburg Daily is creating another award for the good things that are happening ob the battlefield. If the Comfort Suites Hotel were to suddenly be reduced to rubble, I can almost guarantee you that it would take home that award as well!

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1. I want this sign – find it for me!
2. My new favorite blog ever: the Gettysburg Daily
3. My Last Day of Summer Ride
4. Civil Wargasm (or Eric bids farewell to the east coast, pt 1)
5. Plans for the next five days