Building a Monument

I want to thank Steve Diggs for presenting a wonderful financial workshop for us. His relevant topic and timely humor will help many to get on the right track of financial freedom. To those who have more month than check I want you to know that we at University are committed to help. There will be classes available in the near future. We will also provide materials that will be helpful in money matters. For now - I want to remind you of the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise, Alabama.

Believe it or not on December 11, 1919 Bon Fleming had an idea to build a monument in honor of the boll weevil. The original statue was of a woman wearing a flowing gown with her arms stretched above her head. It was made in Italy for fewer than two thousand dollars. Thirty years later Luther Baker thought a boll weevil monument needed a boll weevil so one was added. The monument stands more than thirteen foot tall.

I guess by now you are wondering why anyone would build a monument for such a tiny insect that devastated their cotton fields. The boll weevil entered the United States, illegally, via Mexico in the 1890's. It reached southeastern Alabama in 1915. The insect makes its home in the seed pod of the cotton plant - (cotton boll). Even today it is the most destructive cotton pest in North America. Because of the pain caused by the boll weevil some enterprising farmers started to grow peanuts. This created an economic boom for this depressed area. What was a source of great pain actually helped them to enjoy success. (Some farmers refused to plant anything other than cotton and went broke.)

Right now some of you may be in pain. This may be the very motivating factor to help you change for a better future. Maybe you can build a monument to the boll weevil!

October 3, 2007