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 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT 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. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&