◆ Mourning, celebrating and dreaming for the future: Readers sound off on destruction of Plaza obelisk.
The toppling of the obelisk on the Santa Fe Plaza — the Soldiers Monument, dedicated to those who fought and fell in New Mexico Civil War battles and Indian Wars — has struck in a nerve like few other issues. In the days after the monument came down Monday, letters and columns poured in. And so, today readers will have their say.
The power of voice
So the obelisk in our historical Plaza celebrating the 19th-century victories of Union soldiers in the Civil War and in battles fought against “savage Indians” has been roped and brought down like a rodeo steer. Some applaud, some are angry. All of us, even Cowboys for Trump, are forced to confront the issue of who now owns history. Once it was those who brandished swords and guns and firepower. The conquistadors in their blinding armor and the Anglos in their buttoned wool jackets who rode their great horses into this region seized and owned it through violence, enslavement, sexism, racism and propaganda, political and religious. Now it is time to hear the voices of those who met these uninvited foreigners when they arrived. Now it is time to question how history is inherited. Is a reach for equality by the invaded, by minorities, by women, a power grab? Yes it is, a grab for the power of truth, for the power of having a voice. The Santa Fe Plaza will have a new kind of monument in the future tuned to the modern essence of our city and our state. Now is the time to look forward, embrace our differences, examine the evolving nature of art and monuments, and bring a fresh perspective to the great, ongoing story of Santa Fe and New Mexico.
Georgia Jones-Davis Santa Fe
It was offensive
The obelisk on the Plaza equated those who died implementing the U.S. government’s policy of genocide and relocation of Indigenous people with those who died fighting treasonous slaveholders and their army. Anyone not seeing the offensiveness of this is willfully blind to the reality of “honoring” these two groups together. The obelisk was not “part of our shared history.” It was instead an example of the conquerors’ self-serving telling of history. The idea that we must preserve such examples of false, one-sided narratives because they have been allowed to stand for many years is absurd. The obelisk was offensive and its message false. I say to those who are now lamenting the pulling down of this shameful display in the center of Santa Fe and “how it was done”: Blame instead our own complacency in letting it stand for more than 150 years and our elected leaders’ failure to address its presence while they had the chance.
David Kitts Santa Fe
Disturbing action
I am quite disturbed by the tearing down of the obelisk on the Plaza. The manner in which it was taken down is just wrong. Who gave a mob the right to do what they did? Yes, we as a society need to recognize oppression and racism. Yes, we all need to work to change the existence of racism in our country. Mob rule is not the answer. All people and cultures need to be respected. I realize change does not come fast enough for some people, but unless we put our energy in communicating and negotiation, we will never truly go forward as a community. We need to recognize all our history, both the good and the bad. How can the positive contribution New Mexican soldiers made in the Civil War not be erased? How can the atrocities committed toward Native people not be erased? I am not sure why a reconciliation commission was not established sooner, but during this time of COVID-19, life is just plain difficult. I also wonder how many of the protesters were from New Mexico. I do hope whoever was involved in this violent act be will held accountable. This is not the way toward harmonious living.
Vicki Rivera Santa Fe
Celebrate courage
When reading about Mayor Alan Webber’s condemnation of protesters taking down the obelisk on the Santa Fe Plaza, my first reaction is anger. Anger that a white man of privilege in a position of power condemns the actions of a population that has been abused from
the beginning of the white man’s arrival to this continent. Come on! Celebrate the courage, determination, strength and accomplishment of those who say, “We are here and we will make you listen.” Mayor Webber, please hear the voices and pay attention. It is beyond past the time to start acknowledging our hugely violent and disrespectful behavior to the first people of this continent.
Polly Eliason Santa Fe
Namby-pamby leaders
Kudos to Milan Simonich (“Webber, Santa Fe police unworthy of command after Plaza violence,” Ringside Seat, Oct. 14) for calling out the weak-kneed mayor and namby-pamby Chief Andrew Padilla for failing to maintain law and order, cowed by the mob of vandals who easily got away with willful destruction of public property. Thanks, Mr. Simonich, also for the contrast of your accurate portrayal of this sad event vis a vis the woke New Mexican’s benignly describing the “Indigenous” thugs as “activists.” The woman pictured smearing the obelisk hardly strikes one as “Indigenous.” Is the mayor channeling the likes of the mayor of Portland, Ore., who has for over 100 days and nights been unwilling and/or unable to keep the peace in that beleaguered city? The tourists who are a main source of revenue in Santa Fe likely will take note if unrest threatens in Santa Fe. The fearful mayor and police chief may well be of no assistance. I suggest we defund the mayor and the flabby City Council.
Michael Pschorr Santa Fe
Support for the mayor
I would like to support Alan Webber, our mayor, in his present efforts to bring the various parties to a a discussion about what has happened on our Plaza. It is premature to ask for a recall, although I do understand that Hispanic people are angry. This is a real feeling, but it is not the fault of the mayor that he is not born Hispanic or Native. But he has and is trying to bring the various sides to the table for a discussion toward a resolution of this dispute. He is not insensitive or incompetent, because he doesn’t do what you wish.
Mai Ting Santa Fe
The definition of “plaza” is an open space. From now on, let’s just leave Santa Fe’s Plaza as an “open space.”
Ann Young Santa Fe
‘Together in amity’
Your editorial (“Out of the rubble, Santa Fe must create something beautiful,” Our View, Oct. 14) was very well-said. The forward to the book New Mexico’s Troubled Years (Calvin Horn, 1963), concerning the early Territorial governors of New Mexico, was written by President John F. Kennedy. His words are an eloquent tribute to our state and are noteworthy in light of today’s troubles: “The History of New Mexico is a distillation of the American spirit. … For New Mexico offers a compact illustration of the way a diversity of races and cultures pooled their traditions and skills to build an American state — and, in so doing, displayed impressive qualities of courage and resourcefulness . ... Today New Mexico stands as an example of the ability of people of diverse backgrounds to live and work together in amity.” Hopefully, out of the rubble, JFK’s words will inspire us to carry on and to create something beautiful.
J.H. Polk Santa Fe
Organized destruction
The failure of Santa Fe’s mayor and chief of police to protect Santa Fe property and to allow the destruction of our 152-year-old historic monument is both shocking and appalling. The equipment used to pull down Soldiers Monument and the cutting off of the park’s surveillance speak to the fact of purposeful and organized destruction. If these events are allowed to go unpunished, the City Different will become a “City the Same,” ruled by lawlessness and ongoing damage to property, both civic and private. The demands made by these destructive forces are insatiable and unending. It is the job of the mayor and police chief to protect the citizenry and the city’s property. Without such pursuits, criminality will be further perpetuated, and more violence and more criminality will be forth coming in our “City the Same.”
J.D. Vasquez Santa Fe
Heal the wounds
There are two sides to the removal of the obelisk, two opinions that make this story hard to choose just one side. The Native Americans removed the obelisk during a protest. They are seen by some as the bad ones in this story, although as history proves, the press can be one-sided. You have to consider what the Native Americans were feeling and thinking. History shows that Spanish conquistadors came in and conquered their land. But for the Hispanos, the obelisk meant something good for them; it was a part of who they are and were. I personally cannot take a side. Both sides could be wrong or they could be right, but I do know what has been done shouldn’t be undone. I hope this event can bring the people of New Mexico together to heal old wounds.
Sammei Koetter Los Alamos
Offended by removal
As a U.S. Navy veteran, I am deeply offended, as should every veteran be, by the toppling of the obelisk. For those ignorant of history, it commemorated those who fought and died to preserve the Union and eliminate slavery during the Civil War. As for the placard on the north side, it should have been taken off. History tells us that both sides committed “savage” acts during the Indian Wars, and both sides had “heroes.” But neither side should be honored over the other.
Martin Halvorson Santa Fe
Open season
Kudos to Mayor Alan Webber and Police Chief Andrew Padilla for declaring open season on public monuments in Santa Fe. No permit required. Also, for clarity of message to any citizenry and businesses in the vicinity of unfolding criminal destruction: You are on your own.
Sharon Ahern Santa Fe
New beginning
Broken treaties were on my mind as I walked to the Plaza on Monday, and I was there through the whole event. Broken treaties. Broken promises. Inevitable. Sad. Not the end of Santa Fe. Hopefully, a new beginning.
Judy Henry Santa Fe
Why here?
When my wife and I moved here 30 years ago, I found that memorial offensive. More so because the word cut out became stronger with the telling. And why in a Spanish town a big memorial to mostly Anglo soldiers from a battle at Glorieta? Of course there are laws and good ones, too, protecting property, but we are better off with the memorial gone, and we can start anew and see if our state capital can somehow collect leaders from the Native Americans, the Spanish and the Anglos and unite us, appreciating our differences.
Monsignor Jerome Martinez y Alire and several Protestant ministers got together at Christmas time to celebrate their unity in the love of God, the ministry of Jesus, leaving aside the parochial arguments. Violence comes from people who feel nobody will listen to them. Every side wants to be heard. So let’s cool off, limit the sentencing of the lawbreakers and all of us, please, come together.
Gerald Hotchkiss Tesuque
Stop the hatred
It is sad to see that people have so much hatred as to devolve into wanton destruction. You can destroy symbols of history, but you gain nothing. You do not get rid of the history, only the symbol; history never goes away. You stoke the ire of the masses, not sympathy. Why not take this energy and build a statue to stand beside or close to the hated monument? That would show the good in your hearts for your cause and people. It also would demonstrate that you are better than what the statue or monument stands for and the people who put it there.
Let’s show the world we have evolved and love what we are. Not devolved, willing to destroy at all costs what we don’t like. Stop the hatred and start the loving. Everyone will be a lot happier.
Karl Herman Santa Fe
Monumental issues
Mayor Alan Webber has monumental issues.
The monumental debacle he initiated is coming home to roost. It is beyond belief that his initial monument pronouncements have led us to the dismantling of a historic monument on the Plaza. Shame on him.
The police presence in this town has deteriorated dramatically over his tenure. Safety and security is the first responsibility of government. Shame on him.
Our streets, parks and medians are in terrible disrepair. What happened to the infrastructure plan?
Shame on him.
For my part, I am hopeful a better candidate than you emerges in the next election cycle.
Newton White Santa Fe
Seek reconciliation
The monument on the Plaza was destroyed.
When I came to Santa Fe, I saw there were three dominant cultures here:
Anglo, Hispanic and Native American. This reproduced what I was familiar with on Maui, where there were also three cultures: Anglo, “local” and Native Hawaiian.
The mayor has spoken about “reconciliation” but has not done enough to make it happen. I was encouraged about progress when the Entrada celebration for Fiesta de Santa Fe was revised by negotiations between the different groups. South Africa needed reconciliation following the end of the horror of apartheid. Maybe Santa Fe could look at how Nelson Mandela pushed reconciliation and establish similar principles.
Being a newcomer, I had no emotional investment in the monument on the Plaza. I thought that obelisks were a sign of their times, like the Washington Monument. Perhaps it could be repurposed for a more fitting dedication. “Heroes” who killed the “savage Indians” should not be honored today.
Let’s move ahead with reconciliation among the different cultures, and less destruction.
Sally Raisbeck Santa Fe
Opportunity lost?
Did the obelisk have to be torn down without community involvement? Maybe there was no other way? Maybe it’s a fitting end based on past injustices or some of what it symbolized? I don’t know.
Or was this an opportunity lost for Santa Fe to send a gentler message of unity to the nation and our pandemic-stricken community by removing it peacefully without adding further division? Together.
Isn’t it worth asking these questions to ourselves on how we accomplish things and build our community together in the future?
I think it was time for the obelisk to come down, but not in this manner. This is the result of the mayor’s earlier unilateral action under cover of darkness and demonstrates the importance of community involvement and discussion. It also shows that during these difficult times, being gentle with one another is more important than at any other time. I look forward to a beautiful, community-unifying replacement. I’d personally like to see and hear a fountain on the Plaza. A gathering place for all cultures for generations.
Charles Streeper Santa Fe
Perpetuating our propensity
Peaceful intent now displaced anger vented, all hope for truth now dashed upon the altar of destruction, complete, a goal achieved as in eons past when vanquishing another took precedence over peaceful goals, and harmonious outcomes had no place in human discourse. Such practice of ours led not to peace and harmony, rather to the satisfaction of defeat, and the humiliation of others.
Edward M. Jones Santa Fe