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Omaha Steve

(99,055 posts)
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 09:58 AM Jul 2020

Columbus statue toppled by Baltimore protesters

Source: AP

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore protesters pulled down a statue of Christopher Columbus and threw it into the city’s Inner Harbor on Saturday night.

Demonstrators used ropes to topple the monument near the Little Italy neighborhood, news outlets reported.

Protesters mobilized by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police have called for the removal of statues of Columbus, Confederate figures and others. They say the Italian explorer is responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples in the Americas.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the statue was owned by the city and dedicated in 1984 by former Mayor William Donald Schaefer and President Ronald Reagan.



FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 9, 1984, file photo, President Ronald Reagan addresses a ceremony in Baltimore, to unveil a statue of Christopher Columbus. Baltimore protesters pulled down the statue of Christopher Columbus and threw it into the city's Inner Harbor, Saturday, July 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Lana Harris, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/f4a689a39daf6a1b8b7e4f503d26c2aa

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Columbus statue toppled by Baltimore protesters (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jul 2020 OP
Good job. dalton99a Jul 2020 #1
Horrible Polybius Jul 2020 #2
Right.... paleotn Jul 2020 #3
No, it wasn't Polybius Jul 2020 #5
American patriots toppled King George statue in 1776 IronLionZion Jul 2020 #6
The difference is that they overthrew the government Polybius Jul 2020 #7
Lets topple our government legally in the November election IronLionZion Jul 2020 #8
I'm all for doing things the legal way, so I'll agree voting Biden is the way to go Polybius Jul 2020 #22
I feel the same way you do. CBHagman Jul 2020 #12
Notice in the picture the other pos rockfordfile Jul 2020 #25
Indeed Archetypist Jul 2020 #4
Welcome to DU niyad Jul 2020 #18
thank you Archetypist Jul 2020 #24
I agree. Remove it through the legal process. RelativelyJones Jul 2020 #21
Of course Columbus is a controversial historical figure. And taking down his statutes in an orderly totodeinhere Jul 2020 #9
The media is hammering Trump for caring more about statues than the lives of Americans JonLP24 Jul 2020 #10
Trump cares more about statutes because he thinks he has hit on a campaign issue that will totodeinhere Jul 2020 #11
Bingo. They are already pushing that narrative. CBHagman Jul 2020 #13
Go far to the left and you'll meet the far right demosincebirth Jul 2020 #14
I disagree JonLP24 Jul 2020 #15
The far left helped put Nixon in office twice. demosincebirth Jul 2020 #16
And Bush in 2000 and Trump in 2016. n/t totodeinhere Jul 2020 #17
They steal offensive flags off private property Polybius Jul 2020 #23
You are correct. Although an unpopular opinion. oldsoftie Jul 2020 #19
I agree... BlueIdaho Jul 2020 #20

paleotn

(17,778 posts)
3. Right....
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:34 AM
Jul 2020

It could be a navigation hazard depending on where in the harbor and it's orientation.

Oh....wait....that wasn't your concern, was it.

Polybius

(15,235 posts)
5. No, it wasn't
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:42 AM
Jul 2020

I know my view might not be popular here because it's Columbus, but I'm not a fan of breaking the law.

IronLionZion

(45,250 posts)
6. American patriots toppled King George statue in 1776
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:48 AM
Jul 2020

to erase our history and break the law. They also destroyed property by dumping someone else's tea into Boston harbor like criminals. Polluters! Littering!

Polybius

(15,235 posts)
7. The difference is that they overthrew the government
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:51 AM
Jul 2020

I'm fine with statues being toppled by people only if a regime change is happening, like with what they did in Iraq to Saddam statues.

IronLionZion

(45,250 posts)
8. Lets topple our government legally in the November election
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:59 AM
Jul 2020

in a way that erases the GOP's political influence for at least a generation.

CBHagman

(16,968 posts)
12. I feel the same way you do.
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 01:35 PM
Jul 2020

In the end, this works against progress, and not only because suddenly the subject is toppling the statue and not the larger issues. We want elected leaders and changed policies, and things like this actually work against those goals.

totodeinhere

(13,034 posts)
9. Of course Columbus is a controversial historical figure. And taking down his statutes in an orderly
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 12:42 PM
Jul 2020

fashion might be justified. But not this way. This looks like mob rule and it only plays into Trump's hands. I can envision a Trump campaign commercial depicting unruly mobs tearing down statutes. What better way to get his base all riled up and determined to vote?

I would rather wait until Joe takes office and then we can have a reasoned and orderly national conversation about this issue. And while we are at it we could remove Columbus Day as a national holiday and replace it with June 19. But we have to win the election first and demonstrators tearing down statutes is not the way to win the election.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
10. The media is hammering Trump for caring more about statues than the lives of Americans
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 12:49 PM
Jul 2020

I live in Arizona which is making national news as a coronavirus hotspot. I couldn't give a shit about statues but more concerned about the lives lost to police brutality & coronavirus.

Playing into Trump's hands only works if he doesn't blow it which he always does. He could have found a George Washington statue somewhere and made his point. Instead he picks a site that is sacred to Native Americans.

He is also constantly playing to his base which is a very narrow group of voters.

totodeinhere

(13,034 posts)
11. Trump cares more about statutes because he thinks he has hit on a campaign issue that will
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 12:58 PM
Jul 2020

help him with his base. But off course he has committed criminal negligence with his approach to the covid-19 crisis. I feel for you Arizonans. And now even in my rural community in Northern Nevada we too are seeing a spike in cases. A few weeks ago it looked like the crisis had passed us by but not now.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
15. I disagree
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 02:04 PM
Jul 2020

Wiki

Choat also argues that although proponents of the horseshoe theory may cite examples of alleged history of collusion between fascists and communists, those on the far-left usually oppose the rise of far-right or fascist regimes in their countries. Instead, he argues that it has been centrists who have supported far-right and fascist regimes that they prefer in power over socialist ones.[16]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_theory

An example is antifa doxxing neo-Nazis. If anyone is scared of Trump they need to look at the poll numbers. Even CNN is criticizing Trump for caring more about symbols than American lives. Even CNN is further to the left of DU on this issue.

Polybius

(15,235 posts)
23. They steal offensive flags off private property
Mon Jul 6, 2020, 12:03 AM
Jul 2020

Last edited Mon Jul 6, 2020, 01:13 AM - Edit history (1)

The far-left aren't Saints either. I was for the left in the primaries but now I'm glad Biden won. The extremists are making me nauseous.

BlueIdaho

(13,582 posts)
20. I agree...
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 04:26 PM
Jul 2020

I’m sorry but - this looks like mob rule because it is mob rule. I understand the deeply help passions and real rage that leads to these actions but any changes need to be arrived at democratically and through consensus.

Now - if this or any other government uses its considerable power to stop the very process that leads to change it should be removed. By any means necessary.

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