There doesn't seem to be a gray area -- you either hate the red shoe or you love the red shoe.

You know the one I'm talking about -- the Delilah Shoe -- the fiberglass statue of a red pump with a stiletto heel that sits on the west end of downtown Belleville where West Main Street splits.

It's about 7 feet tall.

It's a big shoe for a big woman, Delilah, the nationally syndicated night-time radio host. She is not only tall, but she wears a size 11 shoe, which she makes fun of herself. Hence, the name of her production company, Big Shoe Productions.

The shoe was made to honor Delilah for her Paint the Town campaign in Belleville back in 2010 and was donated by Art on the Square.

It seems everyone has an opinion about the shoe. Some see it as a flight of whimsy. Some see it as a dumb looking big shoe.

They like it -- and they don't. Here are some of the things I have heard about the shoe since I started asking people about it.

"It says welcome to the red light district."

"It points the wrong way." (The toe points south. They think it should point toward Main Street, or maybe another direction. I didn't think to ask.)

"They should let everyone climb on it." (Signs say "Keep off the shoe.")

"It's dumb."

"It's hideous."

"It's cool."

"I like it."

"I hate it."

"It beats the cars they used to put there." (Car dealers were allowed to put cars on the spot for advertising purposes.)

For a lot of people sculpture is like any other art. They may not know much about sculpture but they know what they like.

The other stuff in the Sculpture in the City program also draws comments, but nothing like the shoe. The thing is, if you do something, anything, like art and spread it around the city, you are going to have hits and misses. Which is which is opinion.

There is nothing new about controversy and disagreement about sculpture. Experts can't even agree on a definition of sculpture. Some say it needs three dimensions. Some say two will do.

For that matter, there is nothing new about differences of opinion in Belleville. I have yet to find a single subject, question or event upon which everyone has agreed.

If differences of opinion make for a healthy community, we are there.

Personally, I like the shoe.

Have a column idea? Call Wally at 239-2506 or 800-642-3878; or email wspiers@bnd.com.