As a native of Illinois I am extremely familiar with the political debauchery, Chicago city-gangsterism, and economic hardships of the state. This comes as no shocker to anyone who knows the recent scandals involving nefarious politicians, constant greedy hands in the taxpayers pockets, state tax inflation, and the firing of corrupt governors such as the JFK-wannabe Rod Blagojevich for counts of wire fraud, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. Anyone who lives in this long state knows that the faithless system of corruption runs so deep that the state of the state is itself way beyond repair and welfare in jeopardy for the struggling lower and middle classes statewide. Thinking about the ideals that governed the state long ago and the juxtaposition of local government now brought about the conception of Abroham Bling-con.
To be clever and make a statement is what street art is all about. Abe Lincoln is the State of Illinois political icon who represents proud and true characteristics of the American establishment such as honesty, peace and compassion, sincere religious conviction, and social humanitarian positivity. He is one of the country’s most enduring symbols of democracy and statesmanship. Lincoln is the Illinois State symbol and rides high in the state slogan “Land of Lincoln”.
In fact this is the very reason for my choosing this infamous President who empowered the civil rights movement and emancipated the South from the tie to slavery. Lincoln embodies all that is patriotic and especially the American devotion to freedom which has apparently fallen to the wayside through the cracks of infidelity in the hardened grime that is Illinois politics. This systematic failure of the economy of the state knows no bounds in terms of class, race, and is rooted in the cold black heart of the wealthy, unethical so-called elite.
Abroham: Lincoln dawns an afro representing the largest minority group in Illinois. The corruption of the state does not pick and choose at will but spans the entire infrastructure of resident citizens. It so happens that the African American demographic gets hit hardest.
Bling-con: It wouldn’t be completely street if there wasn’t a big gold chain attached. Seriously though, a massive gold chain with the American Dollar sign attached says “Illinois State politicians control the money and are greedy to show it off”, like when they need to take their personal jet 300 miles in the same state and use tax-payer’s dollars to justify their comforts. Lincoln had to be defaced with the gold grill as well. This reflects the ‘gangsterism’ that is ingrained into the political culture of Chicago. Some words just work out to the advantage of the creative writer.
With ‘con’ at the end, Bling-con becomes synonymous with crime, deception, fraud, and furthers the mockery of this portrait of the state. Last but not least, the golden devil horns emerge from the fro. These horns of course symbolize the greed and evil associated with the entirety of the theme. Not to mention depict the more sinister side and expression of the face of Abe.
For the record, I love the state I grew up in. I am proud of Lincoln and what he means to so many Americans. This is a piece to invoke feelings that the political big-dogs would rather see suppressed. My intention here is to create a dialogue and get people talking, not to slander Abraham Lincoln or the resident citizens of Illinois.
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