Like its title, Chicago Tribune reporter Steve Schmadeke’s article, Giant Downstate cross at a crossroads, is full of carefully presented paradoxes. The restoration process of the ten story cross atop Bald Knob Mountain, understood for decades as a symbol of unity, has caused dissention within the surrounding faith community.
Schmadeke highlights the debate, emphasizing the existence of two clear-cut sides: “the founders' descendants—who sold cross-themed goods and held turkey-dinner fundraisers to help pay for the site—against new board members who saw those activities as profane profiteering.” A court settlement reached on Christmas Eve disintegrated the board completely. One the eve of a holiday celebrating unity as made possible by communion with Jesus, a community was dissolved.
Allegations of fraud in fundraising for the restoration of the cross were voiced by new members of the now non-existent board. It is once again ironic that those trying to preserve a universal symbol of truth are being accused of dishonest practices. Schmadeke selects his quotes carefully and intentionally to provide an underlying sense of irony.
Schmadeke also plays up the controversy, using figurative imagery such as “Battles lines were drawn” and “the fight” in reference to the dispute taking place on paper. Whether or not the disagreeing members of the community are as whole-heartedly opposed to each other as Schmadke suggests with his narration is unknown. However, what is obvious is that Schmadke successfully conveys the tension and anxiety presented by the situation.
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