Bad postcard of the week: Toddler unimpressed by Kansas City tribute to Harry S. Truman

Toddler unimpressed by Kansas City tribute to Harry S. Truman
From: The Grand Rapids Press

Truman Family Memorial at Truman Corner Shopping Center

  If there was a hall of fame for bad postcards, this week’s entry would be a first-ballot inductee for sure.

I dipped into the archives for this week’s entry, perhaps my all-time favorite.

The back reads: “Truman Family Memorial. Truman’s Corner Shopping Center, occupying ground formerly owned by the Harry S. Truman Family, 121st & Hiway 71 South, Kansas City, Missouri.” And yes, it really does say “Hiway.”

Now, as a Grand Rapidian, I’m not going to mock the fine folks of Kansas City for being proud of their presidential native son. It’s not like we haven’t named a thing or two -- or six --after President Ford. I will say that we've been able to keep the Ford name off of a shopping center.

Note: When Truman said “The buck stops here,” he didn’t mean at the Dollar General cash register.

But I’m sure it was with great pride that the Truman’s Corner owners erected this plaque, which appears to depict floating heads of Harry, Bess, Margaret and two mystery Trumans. Our bad postcard photo shows two shoppers pausing on their way to JC Penney to reflect on the many accomplishments of Harry.

Sadly, the photographer was so determined to get the American flag in the photo that we’re too far back to actually read what’s on the plaque. I’m only guessing the floating heads belong to the Trumans.

But the distance is only part of the problem. Our reverent scene also is marred by power lines, a street light, the top of a distant building and, well, the whole thing being off-center.

But the key to this gloriously bad postcard is Little Harry, trapped in that 1960s-era Stroller of Death in front. Seriously, how did any of us survive the 1960s getting lugged around shopping centers in something that flimsy? There’s not even a cup holder!

Now zero in on Little Harry’s face. He’s either bored by the endless photo shoot or about to hurl his Gerbers right there in the plaque viewing area.

Or, he’s expressing horror that Kansas City’s most famous resident has his name slapped on a strip mall. Give ‘em hell, Little Harry!