Deciding Columbus’ Fate: Blas’ War on Monuments
As a native New Yorker and third-generation Italian-American, I am outraged by Mayor de Blasio’s cowardly decision to impanel a group of his cronies to decide on what to do about a few controversial city monuments, particularly that of Christopher Columbus (“The PC Police,” Sept. 9).
De Blasio should have grown a backbone. Rather than tear these monuments down, adding a marker citing the icon’s history, including a condemnation of inhumane acts, would hopefully teach us not to repeat the worst of our history.
Italian-Americans do not embrace the foul deeds of Columbus. His monument serves as celebration of our heritage and the contributions millions of Italian Americans made in serving and building our beloved nation.
The mayor will hear the voices of ItalianAmericans on Election Day.
Joann Norris Brooklyn
The very idea of pulling down statues that celebrate a person’s positive contributions to our society deserves sharp repudiation. The statues, especially of persons such as Columbus, celebrate extraordinary achievements by a wide variety of people. These people were imperfect in ways that were typical of their times. Their mistakes mark them merely as flawed humans, not villains to be rejected on the whole. Their imperfections do not overshadow their accomplishments.
Roger Kirby Millbrook
I’d like the mayor to explain why the statues, which have stood in New York City a lot longer than he’s been in office, are inconsistent with the city’s values.
It’s called history. Stop trying to rewrite it. Learn from it, grow and change.
Janet Shinick Shrewsbury
It’s totally crazy for de Blasio to appoint a panel to decide whether any statues and monuments should be taken down. This is what dictators do to rewrite history to fit their agenda.
Our history is both good and bad. We should celebrate the good and let the bad be a reminder that we must do better.
What makes this mayor thinks he can decide what represents New York City values? We must let the mayor know we object. Get rid of the panel.
Gene Lindsay Mastic
Enough is enough. De Blasio was elected mayor, not king. He does not represent my or my family's native New York values.
At this point, the best thing that can happen is not to tear down statues but to vote this clown out of office.
He just doesn’t under- stand you can’t change history by destroying art.
I am so relieved that the city is going to finally address its most pressing problem: monuments that are deemed offensive.
We need statues of real heroes, such as Che Guevara and Oscar López Rivera. These will replace the statues of imposters who fought for and defended the illegitimately founded United States. All hail, Comrade de Blasio.
Michael Becher Bethel, Conn.
Instead of destroying these symbols, many of which are works of art, why not just place another statue or plaque next to the offensive one?
Next to the statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle, place a statue honoring Native Americans.
This is a better idea than destroying every statue or plaque that offends someone.
Michael Gorman Whitestone
I was born and raised on the Lower East Side, and to see what the city has come to in the last few years brings a tear to my eye.
Why should people who can’t seem to remember why we erected these monuments have any say in whether they remain?
This is our history. Whom will we erase next? How far should we go?
Think about what this panel is doing and what it can lead to.
Andrew Rizzo Jackson, NJ
Tony Rotunno Staten Island