Friday, June 12, 2020
EDITOR, The Tribune,
I have never read so much rubbish out of the mouth of a clergyman as I read in Thursday’s Tribune giving reasons why Christopher Columbus’ statue should be removed from in front of Government House.
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. He ventured into the unknown completing four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. This opened the New World to future adventurers and permanent European conquest of the Americas. In 1492 he was the first European to set foot on Bahamian soil, and, as they say – the rest is history.
No matter how one skins this cat in the history books, it was Columbus who bravely conquered the unknown and put these islands on an official map. According to Rev Sebastian Campbell “because Columbus is posing here the way he’s posing, our children, generations unborn, will immediately think of him as some hero, as somebody with some positive work and that is unfortunate…” It is indeed unfortunate, Father Campbell. It means that we will be raising a very stupid generation, if teachers don’t put historical achievers into the context of their achievements. That is the only way that one can keep history in its historical context as the world moves on and grows in knowledge.
Columbus was a very brave seafarer in a world where it was believed that the further one sailed, one would eventually fall off the horizon into God only knows what bottomless pit of doom. Yes, Columbus was a very courageous navigator who put our part of the world on the map and dispelled many superstitious myths. And for that reason he stands in front of Government House and on many other pedestals throughout the Americas where his heroic accomplishment is appreciated – in the context of his times. It is only on his navigational skills that he is and can be judged – and for his day and time he more than excelled.
The first knowledge of our islands was through the eyes of Columbus, thus his earned position at the front of Government House.
One only expects to find saintly figures on church pedestals, earned because of the saintly life that they lived. Columbus on his pedestal represents the life of the explorer, not that of a saint.
Father Campbell then goes on to say that we need to look at our own heroes and nation builders.
He gives his list – Sir Milo Butler, Lynden Pindling, Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Dame Doris Johnson — yes, they all achieved in their narrow sphere, but – like in the case of Columbus – I would not suggest deeper examination. There is not one of them that I would want any of my children to emulate, but if the nation wants a statue – then have their statue for whatever they think their local heroes have achieved — but, take my advice, if you don’t want to be disillusioned, the rest is best left unexplored.
In my book Columbus remains. He has earned his historic position.
NUFF SAID
Nassau,
June 11, 2020
Comments
truetruebahamian says...
We are in total agreement - the Columbus statue must stay for all reasons in the two letters in print today.
Posted 13 June 2020, 10:24 a.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
Amazing how we give Columbus credit for "discovering" people as if they never existed.
Posted 13 June 2020, 3:11 p.m. Suggest removal
Porcupine says...
Yup, and put us on the map?
What an honor, just prior to genocide.
A deeper look into the man, is had by reading Las Casas, who chronicled said Columbo trip. Even good navigators can make evil people. But of course, all in historical context.
Posted 14 June 2020, 12:04 p.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
How can someone put you on a map when you are already there? Just because the east did not know about the west, means the west did not exist.
Posted 15 June 2020, 12:10 p.m. Suggest removal
tribanon says...
We should all be grateful Columbus was a brave seafaring explorer. Had it not been for him, most of us would be living an even more miserable existence somewhere on the African continent which is today for the most part under the rule of the Communist Chinese.
Posted 14 June 2020, 12:17 p.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
It is amazing how we are still in slavery by our willingness to believe the history the Europeans sold us. We may have been better off without Columbus, as African history is filled with Kings and queens and educated persons, and not the lies we have been fed through the Europeans.
Posted 15 June 2020, 12:12 p.m. Suggest removal
tribanon says...
Would you want to live anywhere in Communist China controlled Africa today?
Posted 17 June 2020, 7:57 p.m. Suggest removal
joeblow says...
@moncurcool... do you realize African kings and queens owned and traded in black slaves too!!! What a laugh!
Posted 17 June 2020, 10:17 p.m. Suggest removal
mandela says...
History of Columbus can and will always be a part the Bahamas no doubt, that being said his statue doesn't need to be there to represent his history, furthermore, I doubt our school children are taught of his cruelty and hatred for first the indigenous people he met here and then the black people they brought here, my guess is all these school children properly knows or has learned of him is the lie he discovered the Bahamas. HIS STATUE NEEDS TO COME DOWN.
Posted 14 June 2020, 1:59 p.m. Suggest removal
tribanon says...
You exude racism and hatred. I suspect your existence is miserable in so many respects. Why don't you just take your cutlass and chop down the statue yourself if you find it to be such a burden on your weak shoulders? Suggest you notify the press in advance so that they can bear witness to your galant act and give you credit for restoring your self-esteem so that you can live a better less conflicted life.
Posted 14 June 2020, 3:22 p.m. Suggest removal
joeblow says...
... and what do you say of the crimes against humanity committed throughout the British Empire under Queen Victoria, should her statue come down too? In fact what sinless person in history is deserving of a statue? Only fools view the past through the lens of the present and their limited perspectives!
Posted 15 June 2020, 8:23 a.m. Suggest removal
longgone says...
What a ridiculous amount of BS this is----Moving Chris or not moving him will not put one piece of bread on any Bahamian table one way or another--There are bigger fish to fry than worrying about some statue that 99% of the people in Nassau never even bother to look at as they drive by. Lets try and get some money in the hands of the people!
Posted 14 June 2020, 3:42 p.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
This breas thing can be remedied.
Ban the importation of statues and entreprebeurs and an industry is created over night
Posted 15 June 2020, 6:19 a.m. Suggest removal
themessenger says...
@Mandela, your version of history as taught in our country is showing, the transatlantic trade in African slaves to the Caribbean began in 1662 or 170 years after Columbus passed this way.
He may have done many despicable things during his time but the enslavement and transatlantic transportation of black peoples wasn’t one of them.
Posted 14 June 2020, 4:31 p.m. Suggest removal
Dawes says...
If they do replace the statue i hope they put one of a Lucayan up, with the full history of what happened. Or maybe have both but the Lucayan higher up. We must learn from our history whether it is good or bad.
Posted 15 June 2020, 9:49 a.m. Suggest removal
tribanon says...
What about those Arawaks, Caribs, Tainos and the like? The US would never favour the Sioux over the Cheyenne! Just get off the slippery slope. This subject was only raised in the first instance to distract the weaker minded among us from the many more important matters on our country's plate right now. The Tribune once again sadly took the bait.
Posted 15 June 2020, 10:53 a.m. Suggest removal
lovingbahamas says...
While the good Father is criticizing the statue of Columbus, he should have also alluded to the fact that the Crusades, funded by the Pope, killed millions of people in the name of Christianity. Do we need to remove all the churches now too? Where do you stop with history? Better to look forward and see how to improve mankind. We can't change the past.
Posted 15 June 2020, 1:21 p.m. Suggest removal
tribanon says...
Amen!
Posted 16 June 2020, 8:23 p.m. Suggest removal
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