A city in the spotlight
Terre Haute was, in the end, a gracious host
For years Terre Haute has wrestled with the problem of image.
First it was the "Sin City" appellation, a remnant of bathtub gin and bawdy houses. Later the feds busted a bunch of mobbed-up sports bookies here and the sobriquet became "Indiana's delinquent city." Then it was the B-word -- boring -- applied to the town of high ground by no less a show-biz luminary than Steve Martin. Now its that crossroads in the American heartland where Timothy J. McVeigh was executed.
In between the first label and the last, Terre Haute has seen industry come and go and population level out. Meanwhile, we all wondered how to attract more of both.
Part of the problem, everyone said, was the "bad rap" over the years. A reputation whose cumulative effect left outsiders thinking Velveeta cheese is considered gourmet fare in Terre Haute.
This week, for the second time, "Terre" and "Haute" again became household words nationally as the news media turned its full attention to the McVeigh execution and surrounding events. Although the federal government is in charge, it's probably Terre Haute that will stick in the nation's collective consciousness.
But fame, they say, is fleeting.
Once the glare of the bright lights has faded, how will we be remembered? That's a question city officials and others have been asking.
A survey of Vigo County residents in early May revealed that only 17 percent believed the publicity would have a positive impact on Terre Haute. Nearly 43 percent said the impact would be negative or somewhat negative. Thirty-five percent said it would make little difference.
We think that what the rest of America saw and heard when it visited Terre Haute for the McVeigh execution -- either in person or vicariously via the news media -- did make a difference.
At first glance, visitors saw a town where one billboard urged that they "Pray for McVeigh;" a town with a relaxed atmosphere, good restaurants and little traffic.
If they looked more closely they noticed a community where people of differing views feel free to voice their opinions, peacefully and without derision; a community whose residents care deeply about their neighbors, justice and human life.
In short, a community much like their own.
We helped visitors come to that conclusion about Terre Haute. None of us -- private citizen or elected official -- asked for all this attention, but the things we said and did nevertheless remained gracious.
We were patient with our guests, even though we did not invite them.
We made them feel as welcome as you would relatives or valued friends.
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