On the Deeper Meaning of Brick: What Brick Means to me

Thursday, September 01, 2005


What "Brick" means to me; Or, On the deeper meaning of "brick.";Or, the story of the big bad wolf
When I was in high school, a few years ago, we had a great football team. The cornerstone of that team was a lineman, who we called "The Brick." Whenever the game was on the line, the stakes high, nobody got through the line when the "Brick" was there. We relied on him. He was always there for us.

It is those kind of people, the "Bricks", that we rely on as a society also. I remember well the famous city council meeting where we were confronted with one of the most pressing needs facing the growing city of Evansville---a drive thru liquor window.

In the city council meeting, one council member pointed out that the problem of liquor was one that affected every family in Evansville and it was certainly not on any reasonable list of needs that we needed a drive-thru. Finally, he said, "Is there no person here who will stand with me in recognizing that this is not in the best interests of Evansville?" Not one person responded. I was in the audience and did not respond and regret it to this day.

That is what "Bricks" do. They stand up to the winds of the big bad wolf who threatens to blow the house down. Bricks are strong and courageous.

Thus, the Observer is somewhat dismayed to hear that in the current assessment of homes in Evansville, if a home is made of "brick" it is instantly "historic." I can assure you I never learned such a rule in college. "Historic preservation" is really a legal, historical term and not one that can be simply assigned to "brick." It is not something that we may have overlooked and have to search for in the panic that maybe we have missed something precious. Excuse me.

So, I celebrate "Brick" whenever I find it. Not on the exterior. Not historic. Just the human brick that is the courage we need so much in our community.

Posted by Evansville Observer at 4:13 PM