Statue of Responsibility Project FAQ’s - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who came up with the idea for another national monument to “bookend” the Statue of Liberty?

Answer: Dr. Viktor E. Frankl first proposed the idea in the 1960’s during his talks and lectures, and later in his best selling book Man’s Search for Meaning. The book, a personal account of his survival and experiences in the WWII Nazi concentration camps, has been translated into 28 languages and has sold over 9 million copies. The book is on the Library of Congress exclusive list of the “Ten Most Influential Books in America”.

2. Who is Dr. Frankl?

Answer: Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1905, Dr. Frankl is a celebrated psychiatrist and the originator of Logotherapy. He authored more than 30 books, and lectured at 209 universities on five continents. Twenty-nine universities have conferred honorary degrees (doctor honoris causa) upon Dr. Frankl. He has received 19 national and international awards and medals for his work in psychotherapy and psychiatry. He was an avid mountain climber and pilot. An inspiring speaker, he believed that the human spirit can triumph even in the most appalling of human circumstances and find inner peace and moments of joy - even in dire situations. The power of his message comes from having practiced what he preached while a prisoner at Auschwitz and Dachau.

Viktor Frankl died in 1997. He is survived by his second wife, Eleonore (Elly), and their daughter, Gabriele, who together founded the Viktor Frankl Institute in Vienna, in 1992. (www.ViktorFrankl.org)

3. Will the Statue of Responsibility monument be a shrine to Dr. Viktor E. Frankl and his Logotherapy philosophy?

Answer: While we pay the highest respect to Dr. Viktor E. Frankl, who advanced the idea for building the Statue of Responsibility some forty years ago, the monument will not be a shrine to Viktor Frankl, the man. Rather, it will be his sublime idea that responsibility must go hand-in-hand with liberty that will be enshrined in this monument - clearly visible to all for ages to come.

4. Why are you building the Statue of Responsibility now?

Answer: The idea has been in the public consciousness world-wide for almost 40 years. Now, more than ever, as critical sectors of our society seem to be fraying at the edges, is the time to construct such a monument to shore up these fraying edges. It is hoped, when the Statue of Responsibility stands as tall on the West Coast - as the Statue of Liberty is standing on the East Coast of America - that a national dialogue on the value of responsibility in all strata of society will begin.

Victor Hugo, whose impassioned writings on liberty inspired the French to give us Lady Liberty to celebrate our Freedom, said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” The time for the Statue of Responsibility is now!

5. How tall will it stand?

Answer: The Statue of Responsibility will stand 300 feet above ground level, just as the Statue of Liberty stands 300 feet above ground level.

6. Will there be an observation deck on top?

Answer: Yes. There will be an indoor observation deck and an outdoor observation deck on top of the monument. Additionally, two restaurants and a gift store are planned at the top of the monument. See the “Architectural Renderings” main menu option on the website for pictures.

7. Who is behind the Statue of Responsibility project?

Answer: AMany volunteers from 22 U.S. states and 18 foreign countries. These volunteers are part of the Statue of Responsibility Foundation that is directed by a board of trustees and others who sit on advisory councils and steering committees. See our website for a complete outline of the organization.

As you review our project materials and website, you will notice several national and international dignitaries who are now involved in the Statue of Responsibility project. Our Foundation has secured, and continues to invite, broad-based involvement from “Friends of Freedom” in all nations, faith traditions, political persuasions, business communities, and from individuals of every age, gender, and race.

“Friends of Freedom” are those who put love of country above any specific political platform, and who put love of freedom above all else.

8. How much will it cost?

Answer: Currently projected cost is $300 million for the Statue of Responsibility Monument, Visitors’ Center, internal structures, Monument Pathway, and establishing the Educational Scholarship Fund. See web site menu “About Us” and look for “Monument Facts” for cost comparisons to other national monuments. Under “Call to Action”, look for “Program Needs” for a financial breakdown of the various aspects of the project.

9. Why spend $300 million on a monument when the money could be donated to the poor?

Answer: The message of the Statue of Responsibility, as the message of the Statue of Liberty, is one that cannot be quantified or justified by a price tag. The principles of liberty and responsibility, as they relate to freedom, are priceless. It is often said that freedom is not free. Likewise, the cost to design and build our national monuments is cost that is overshadowed by the messages they convey. Under the “About Us” menu button, look for the “Monument Facts” page for a comparison to other national monuments.

10. Won’t the Statue of Responsibility just be another target for terrorists?

Answer: America never has, and America never will, cower to those who attempt to destroy the core values that lie at the very heart of our country.
In a stirring essay written by Secretary of State, Colin Powell, in April 2004, titled, “Why Memorials Matter”, Powell said this about our national monuments:

They can teach us much about the ideas that unite us in our diversity, the values that sustain us in times of trial, and the dream that inspires generation after generation of ordinary Americans to perform extraordinary acts of service. In short, our monuments and memorials tell us a great deal about America’s commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.”

11. Are my tax dollars paying for the monument?

Answer: The Statue of Responsibility is being funded by the private sector. In order to facilitate the building of this monument, the Statue of Responsibility Foundation was organized.

12. What is the purpose of the Statue of Responsibility Foundation?

Answer: Our purpose is two-fold:

• First, is to raise the funding necessary to construct the monument.
• Second, and more long-term in nature, is to establish an educational scholarship fund. Scholarships will be given to applicants who can show financial need and who can demonstrate how they have applied the principle of responsibility in their life – and how they plan to carry forward the same principle following their university graduation.

13. Who will pay for it?

Answer: You are invited as a private citizen, a corporation, a charitable foundation or trust, etc., to make this monument financially possible. The project seeks “Friends of Freedom” from America and around the world to assist financially. See our web site (SORfoundation.org) “Call to Action” and look at the available ways you may help.

14. Who is the sculptor?

Answer: Gary Lee Price, NSS, a professional sculptor for the past 25 years, is a member of the National Sculpture Society. Gary is a highly collected artist throughout the United States and internationally. Several large monuments have been created by Mr. Price. One such monument was dedicated by former First Lady, Rosalyn Carter.

One of the largest libraries in the world, the Hong Kong Central Library, features 12 life-size Price sculptures. Mr. Price creates sculpture with meaning. His life-long motto is to “lift the human spirit through sculpture”. His detailed biography can be seen on this web site under “About the Artist” and on his private studio web site: GaryLeePrice.com. A 13-foot clay prototype has been completed and resides in the sculptor’s private studio.

15. How was the sculptor selected?

Answer: In 1997, Kevin Hall, first chairman of the Foundation, commissioned internationally recognized sculptor, Gary Lee Price, to design and sculpt the Statue of Responsibility. His design was formally accepted by the Foundation in 2005.

16. How does the design of the two clasping hands relate to responsibility?

Answer: The symbol of clasping hands is universal in both its message and its power. The design is simple, yet powerful - it evokes an emotional response that wants to take action.

It is significant that the hands are vertical, not horizontal. The vertical representation communicates equally the act of giving and asking for help. It is a shared message of being responsible to one’s self and others.

17. Are the two clasping hands female, male, or one of each?

Answer: The two hands are a figurative representation of all races, genders, and nationalities. They are symbolic of all human hands.

18. Can I buy a small version of the Statue of Responsibility?

Answer: Several small versions of the Statue of Responsibility will become available as time draws closer to the final construction stages of the 300-foot monument. Information on these smaller versions will be presented on the Statue of Responsibility website; also on the sculptor’s website.

19. Where will the monument be located?

Answer: Dr. Frankl proposed that a Statue of Responsibility be located on the West Coast of America. It will be placed on an island in the harbor of a major port city. Four locations have been reviewed for the location of the monument: San Diego, CA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; and, Seattle, WA. Two other smaller cities are also under consideration and will be announced when the time is right.

20. Will the monument be built on a private or public island?

Answer: Several island locations are under consideration. Some of these locations are on private land, some are on state parks. The final decision as to which island, and exactly where the monument will be erected on a particular island, has not yet been made.

21. When will the Statue of Responsibility be built?

Answer: The monument will be completed as soon as a location is confirmed and funding has been secured.

22. How long will it take to build the monument?

Answer: Once construction is begun, it will take approximately two years to complete the building of the monument.

23. Will the monument become a national park?

Answer: There may come a time when the monument will be offered to the federal government as a national park, similar to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. Ultimately, The Statue of Responsibility will be gifted to America by Americans and by “Friends of Freedom” from around the world.

24. Why does America need a companion monument to Lady Liberty?

Answer: We take great pride in our liberty, but often neglect to see that it brings a corresponding responsibility with it. The Statue of Responsibility, as a companion monument to Lady Liberty, would spark a national dialogue on the intrinsic worth of both.

Such open dialogue, in time, will lead to greater awareness of responsible choices. All segments of society – education, business, religion, government, the military, family, and the individual – will benefit. It will result in more responsible actions, personally and collectively, toward each other, our neighbors on the planet, and our common home – the Earth.

25. How will “Friends of Freedom” from other nations be represented?

Answer: Because the message that liberty and responsibility need to go hand-in-hand is as much for the world as it is for America, the International Monument Pathway is planned to surround the monument. This multi-acre, tree-lined walkway will feature contributing sculptures from 20 countries around the world. Invitations will be issued to all nations to participate. Those willing to participate will select a sculptor of their choice to design a sculpture that artistically portrays their concept of freedom.
These sculptures will stand up to 30-feet tall and will communicate a world-wide visual commitment to the principle of freedom and the defining principles of liberty and responsibility.

26. Will the Foundation be willing to change the design of the monument if someone offers to pay for all of it?

Answer: No. The Statue of Responsibility will be a gift from ‘friends of freedom’ from around the world. As with the Statue of Liberty, the Statue of Responsibility was researched and designed by an artist. The Foundation approved the artist’s final design in 2005. We fully expect that some will like the design and that others will not. Currently our national and international response to the design is 14 to 1 in favor of the approved design.

27. Was the design of the monument commissioned or juried and why?

Answer: There are two ways to proceed with the design issue of large monuments. One way is to commission a qualified and experienced artist and allow him/her to work within the parameters of the project to produce the design. The other way is to open the design process up to a juried competition. Both ways are well accepted in the world of art. Neither is more ‘correct’ than the other. Usually, for large public projects where funding is coming from an established source, that being the government, the juried approach is more commonly used. To organize, promote and implement such a national juried competition requires several million dollars to facilitate. For other projects where funding is mainly coming from private citizens, or where the project itself is originated by the private sector, the commission approach is more commonly used.

Examples of both approaches include the Vietnam Memorial which was funded by the government and opened to a juried competition. The Statue of Liberty and Mt. Rushmore used the commission approach.

The Statue of Responsibility Foundation chose to use the commission approach. However, while choosing to commission the project, significant preliminary research by the Foundation went into the process. First, commissioned designs from several other Statue of Responsibility organizations around the country were reviewed. These organizations have either abandoned their projects entirely or have joined the SOR Foundation and endorsed the design approved in 2005. Additionally, upon visiting Vienna in 2004, the artist, Gary Lee Price, visited with Dr. Frankl’s widow about his design. Their complete story is on the website under ‘About the Artist’. Mrs. Frankl told Mr. Price that she thought his design was wonderful and that it completed a missing element in Dr. Frankl’s favorite sculpture he kept in his private study, called ‘The Suffering Man’.

Mr. Price was given several general parameters to work within in creating his final design. Some of these included; human in representation, easily recognizable by people worldwide, convey the message of responsibility in a concise yet impactful and uncluttered way, allow for access (elevator) to the top of the design, to be the same height as the Statue of Liberty, to not simply be a male version of Lady Liberty, and to be a design that reflects a 21st Century feel.

The Foundation receives numerous compliments on the design from people around the world. In using either the commissioned or juried approach, any design of such a prominent monument will never satisfy all people. The approved design of the Statue of Responsibility is overwhelming regarded as a strong universal depiction of responsibility, is understood immediately in its conveyance of its core message and is a design for the 21st Century.

28. How can I help?

Answer: Become a “Friend of Freedom” by supporting the vision and mission of the Statue of Responsibility Foundation. See the “Call to Action” main menu option on the Foundation website for specific suggestions on how you can help. More ways to help will become available as the Foundation grows and further options will be posted on our website. Suggestions are always welcome. All donations to the Statue of Responsibility Foundation will be tax deductible because the organization is an authorized 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt corporation.

29. Who are the contributing authors in “Responsibility 911”, and how were they selected?

Answer: “Responsibility 911” is an anthology whose core message centers around the principle of responsibility as a key element for finding meaning in our lives and in our work.

The publisher, Executive Excellence Publishing, screened 107 previously published articles that met this core requirement. Their screening process resulted in the final 36 articles used in “Responsibility 911”.

The Statue of Responsibility Foundation approached 20 authors, who are volunteers and supporters of the Statue of Responsibility project, and asked them to pen articles that met the same core message requirement for the book. These authors also chose to weave the message of the Statue of Responsibility into their articles.

Together, these 56 articles make a strong and diversified case for the role responsibility plays in a free society. Each article is short and thought provoking.

30. Why are the Foundation offices in Salt Lake City?

Answer: It is important to maintain impartiality regarding the city that will be selected to host the Statue of Responsibility monument. For this reason we have chosen to not establish a temporary office in any of the potential host cities on the West Coast.  A permanent office will be set up in the selected city as soon as the presentation process is completed and the winning city is announced.  Additionally, the sculptor lives in Utah.  Having our temporary offices near the sculptor makes that portion of the project easier and more cost effective to facilitate.