Little Mermaid

Denmark's biggest tourist attraction is possibly the famed Little

Mermaid statue. It is located in Langelinie, sitting on a rock at

the entrance to Copenhagen's harbor; it was placed there in 1913.

Created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, it serves as a tribute

to one of Denmark's most famous writers, Hans Christian Ander-

sen. The mermaid attracts over 1 million visitors a year, unfor-

tunately, she also attracts vandals. The little mermaid has been

defaced once again; red paint was found on her early Tuesday

morning. In March, she had been found covered with pink paint.

Worse vandalism has occured to this landmark statue in the past.

She has been knocked off the rock she sits on, and several times

she has been beheaded; overall, the statue has endured about a

dozen incidents of vandalism in her 94 year tenure. Danish

police have linked most past attacks to government protesters.

This latest occurrence may be no different; police clashed with

protesters on Monday over the demolition of a condemned

building in the heart of Copenhagen's alternative lifestyle

community. It is just a shame that this darling Danish symbol

must put up with such childish and immature behavior. We can

hope this latest defacement will be the last, but I doubt it.