And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: "CATHERINE DAVIDS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: The University of Michigan - Flint
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 15:51:37 EDT
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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Subject: Re: 600 Ton Columbus Statue
I spent the day researching the damn statue of Columbus in Puerto
Rico and made this report from a bunch of articles I found in various
newspapers, etc. At the end of this are contact informations.
This statue is a monument and celebration of genocide both in the
islands and throughout these continents. It is incomprehensible to
me that anyone would do this. It is also costing the very poor people
of Puerto Rico who are doing without basic necessities in order to
cover the $30 million dollars needed to put the statue up. This statue
is nothing like the Statue of Liberty because the statue of liberty is
based on "nobody" and the statue of liberty is not guilty of crimes
against humanity. A group in Costa Rico held a trial last year and
convicted Columbus of genocide.
Please write or fax or e-mail about this matter. Remember that most
of the government leaders are far removed from their indigenous
roots and the people of Puerto Rico have been taught that their
indigenous roots are something to be ashamed of. None-the-less, in
their hearts and minds, I wonder how all of us are going to feel with a
300' statue of Columbus dominating Puerto Rico. Columbus and his
genocidal actions on these continents have already been celebrated
by cities naming themselves for him and by a legal national holiday
that honor him - and now - this statue. A monument to genocide.
I wonder where the first 300' statue of Hitler or the Kyhmer Rogue will
be erected? Who will proudly sponor them and pay for them? Who
will speak on their behalf? They must all be related to the people who
are putting up the statue of Columbus.
Catherine
**************************************************
The statue of Columbus is 600 tons and stands 30 story's tall and is
completely bronze. Russian sculptor Zurab K. Tsereteli gave it as a
gift of friendship to the United States in the early 1990s. Then the US
had to find a place for it. Cities like Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale
passed on it because of its size and the cost of erecting it - about $25
million dollars. Columbus, Ohio almost took it. American Indians
protested because it glorifies someone who represents 500 years of
genocide.
The statue is about to be erected in Catano, a city of 36,000. It is
known for its flooding, industrial pollution. It is across the bay from
San Juan. Catano's leaders believe the statue will bring in tourism.
The statue will stand 295 feet above sea level to become the
centerpiece of a waterfront tourism complex that would also feature a
shopping mall, restaurants, shops, and botiques inspired by Epcot
Center at Disneyland.
Sergio Cordero, a Miami consultant, who is manager of the statue
project has stated in past interviews, "people will recognize it like
they recognize the statue of liberty."
The statue is called "birth of the new world." Anibel Marrero, Vice
President of the Puerto Rico Senate heard that the statue needed a
home and he thought it would be perfect for his district of Catano.
Marrero says the statue honors Columbus' daring spirit and not his
conquest. Marrero also envisions booming economic bonanzas.
Sadly enough the $25 million to erect the statue is more important
than Puerto Rico's 13% unemployment rate and the fact that most of
its citizens live below the national poverty level.
The statue depicts Columbus standing at the historically inaccurate
wheel of his ship, his right arm raised in greeting. Three sails snap in
the wind behind him while the three caravels are posistioned on a
map of the New World at the base. The statue arrived in Puerto Rico
in more than 2,500 pieces from St. Petersburg, Russia and some from
the United States where the 11-ton head had unceremoniously sat for
6 years in a Fort Lauderdale warehouse.
A great majority of Puerto Rican people are extremely angry over the
statue's $30 million cost which is going to be covered through a
private bond issue. Residents wonder why a monument is a focus
when their streets flood every time it rains and when most
neighborhoods lack sewage hookups.
Rafael Roman, an 84-year old Catano resident states that the money
should be used for hospitals, and other public services. Other
residents joke that the weight of the statue could sink their city.
The statue's pieces are heavily guarded because of threats from anti-
Columbus people plus tourists already looking at the pieces as
collectibles.
Governor Pedro Rosssello is an enthusiastic ally. "I just picture an
imposing structure at the entrance of San Juan Bay which can be
seen by air, sea and land and which will be a landmark in the United
States territory where Colulmbus actually landed."
In mid-1999 a crew of 50 Russians will come to Puerto Rico to being
assembling the statue which the government of Puerto Rico hopes to
unveil on October 12, 2000.
***********************************************
I am trying to figure out why the hell a Russian sculptor would do
this and then expect others to spend $30 million to erect the damn
offensive statue. This guy is about as knowledgeable as the people
carving out the statue of Crazy Horse in the Black Hills of South
Dakota.
Catherine
************************************************
Pedro Rossello, Governor of Puerto Rico
La Fortaleza
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Carlos Ramero-Barcelo
2443 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
phone: 202-225-2615
fax: 202-225-2514
or in San Juan:
PO Box 0923958
Old San Juan
Puerto Rico 00902-3958
Senators: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
AT LARGE MEMBERS
New Progressive Party
Charlie Rodriguez, Senate President, Roberto Rexach-Benitez,
Luz A. Arace-Ferrer, Kenneth McClintock-Hernandez,
Sergio Pena-Clos, Enrique Rodriguez-Negron
Popular Democratic Party
Antonio Fas-Alzamora, Velda Gonzalez-de Modestti,
Mercedes Otero-de Ramos, Eduardo Baez-Galib,
Eduardo Bhatia-Gautier
Independence Party
Ruben Berrios-Martinez
Ssan Juan District
Jorge Andres Santini-Padilla & Francisco Gonzalez-Rodriguez
Bayamon District
Anibal Marrero-Perez & Ramon Rivera-Cruz
Arecibo District
Victor Marrero-Padilla & Norma Carranza-De Leon
Mayaguez District
Carlos Pagan-Gonzalez & Jorge Alberto Ramos-Comas
Ponce District
Modesto Agosto-Alicea & Bruno Ramos-Olivera
Guayama District
Jose Melendez-Ortiz & Carmen Berrios-Rivera
Humacao District
Luis Felipe Navas-De Leon & Carlos Davila-Lopez
Carolina District
Luisa Lebron-Vda. de Rivra & Roger Iglesias-Suarez
there are some e-mail addresses to a newspaper & two political action
organizations:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
doctrine of international copyright law.
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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