Letter to the Editor

Destroying our statues

By  Jeff Gliedman, Marlboro
Posted 7/2/20

Recently we have seen spray painted hate messages on our public statues, buildings and memorials while others criminals tear down or destroy statues previous Americans had erected to recognize those …

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Letter to the Editor

Destroying our statues

Posted

Recently we have seen spray painted hate messages on our public statues, buildings and memorials while others criminals tear down or destroy statues previous Americans had erected to recognize those who have contributed to our heritage to make our country a better place.

 On June 19th a statue of George Washington was torn down in Portland Oregon. On June 20th   Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s statue was torn down in San Francisco.  A statue of Thomas Jefferson, the United States’ third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, was defaced and torn down on June 15th outside a high school in Portland, Oregon. New York’s Rev. Al Sharpton has called for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC to be abandoned because the third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence was a slave owner.
 

“Protesters” in Saint Paul, Minnesota tore down Christopher Columbus’s statue while another statue of Columbus was beheaded in Boston.

 During an interview with NBC on June 23rd Governor Cuomo said “I think it’s a healthy expression of people saying let’s get some priorities here and let’s remember the sin and mistake this nation made and let’s not celebrate it.” But earlier this month on the 11th the Governor defended New York City’s Christopher Columbus statue, calling it a “point of pride for Italian Americans like himself, as similar tributes to the explorer have been removed or targeted by protesters in recent days.” I assume he’s already been in contact with Mayor de Blasio to ensure Mrs. de Blasio doesn’t have the statue on her hit list.

 Governor Cuomo said during a briefing in Albany. “I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support, but the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. For that reason, I support it.”

 So according to our Governor it’s OK to trash our founding fathers and wipe away reminders of our history but don’t mess with Christopher Columbus? If citizens want reminders of our history removed, they need to petition their grievances as provided by the 1st Amendment to our Constitution and not revert to the lawless acts currently on display.