Possible Columbus remedies
Stamford, Connecticut, has a large tight-knit Italian American population which honors Christopher Columbus for his courage and fortitude. The Italian people of Stamford put differences aside and rally around an issue when it comes to a question about their heritage. In addition to this oneness of spirit, Stamford is home to an active chapter of UNICO. The chapter president Dr. Al Fusco is leading the effort to retain the statue of Columbus in Columbus Park as well as retain the name of the park. I can think of no better person for the job than Dr. Fusco, who is a well-read authority on Christopher Columbus.
As evidenced by attendance at the peaceful rally held recently in Columbus Park, supporters of Columbus outnumber opponents by about 10 to one.
Some blame Columbus for killing hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people. He didn’t do that. Native people died from small pox and other diseases brought from Europe to the new world. Native Americans didn’t have the antibodies to resist the microbes. We are dealing with the same thing today as we battle COVID-19 because we haven’t yet built up the antibodies.
Research submitted by acclaimed anthropologist Carol Lowery Delaney refutes much of the negative criticism about Columbus. Professor Delaney served as assistant director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard. She is a professor emerita at Stanford University as well as a research scholar at Brown University. Her in-depth research indicates that Columbus never sought to pillage or enslave Indigenous people. He also never owned slaves. He befriended the people he met and they remained friends throughout his four voyages. Against his orders, battles did occur when he returned to Spain. Upon his return to the new world, he found his men and his fort destroyed by the Taino people.
Recently, a letter was submitted to the newspaper by Esther Marie Giordano. She is the daughter of former Mayor Bruno Giordano. On the question of renaming Columbus Park in honor of her father, she said she didn’t want the park to be renamed. She said the statue and the park name must remain. In the letter she said renaming Columbus Park for her dad would not be appropriate. She indicated that while her father was a local public servant, Christopher Columbus changed world history. She went on to say that to honor her dad the city might consider naming a recreational area (preferably a field track) in his name.
I grew up on West Main Street and I can say the Stamford has always been a multi-cultural/ multi-ethnic community. Just like steel, Stamford is made up of different elements. That’s what gives us our strength. That’ s what makes us special as a community.
We have always been known for our religious and ethnic tolerance. Part of the reason for this outlook is due to the ideals and values instilled in their children by the Italian immigrants who settled here. Kim Harke in her new book “Italian American Recollections in Stamford, Connecticut “quotes an Italian American from the West Side who said “The West Side was like a League of Nations. Stevens School had every race and nationality. Everyone helped each other.” Sports were an important part of childhood which brought the multi-ethnic community together. Dan Burke with the Stamford Historical Society said: “We didn’t care where anyone’s parents were from. We just wanted to field a team.” Kim Harke also noted in her book that an African American leader of the 1990’s remarked about the closeness of the Italian American and African American families on the West Side.
As a former mayor of the City of Stamford, it is my hope that a fair and peaceful solution on the question of Columbus would be to have the City of Stamford designate a day (other than Columbus Day and other days currently celebrated) for Indigenous People to celebrate their heritage. I would also suggest the statue of Columbus remain in Columbus Park and that the park not be renamed. Further, I think that a parcel of open space (other than parcels already named) be designated as Indigenous People’s Park.
While we look forward to a bright future together as a community, we must never forget our past.