Discoverer or destroyer?
Columbus at center of storm over historical perception
The Associated Press
Whither Columbus?
Explorer or evildoer? Discoverer or de
spoiler?
Nearly five centuries after his epic 70-day
voyage, this native of
Italy and agent of Spain is
at the center of a tricky
cross-current equal to any
encountered when he
headed West to find East
in 1492.
Just consider some Co
lumbus Day events this year.
Replicas of the Nina, Pinta and Santa
Maria depart Spain on Saturday for a journey
retracing Columbus’ Atlantic route. In the
District of Columbia, a ceremony at the
Columbus statue and a reception at the Co
lumbus Club kick off a year-long national
observance.
But at sunrise, in another comer of the
nation’s capital, an American Indian group
known as the 1992 Alliance will read the
names of native tribes exterminated by sword
or disease after Columbus landed. The
memorial begins what is called “The Year of
the Indigenous Peoples.”
This lime, it seems, the Indians are ready
for Columbus, and they aren’t laying down a
welcome mat.
“Indians had a lax immigration policy
back then,” said Suzan Harjo, national
coordinator of the 1992 Alliance and a
Cheyenne and Creek Indian. She offered this
short history: “They came, we welcomed,
they killed.”
Such arc the sensitivities that the national
Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee
Commission will commemorate, not cele
brate, what is called an encounter, not a
discovery. Some call it an invasion.
Although Columbus died in relative ob
scurity, he is the world’s best-known
explorer. More pieces of America are named
for him than anyone other than George
Washington, including 47 cities and towns in
the United States, plus universities, rivers,
streets and plazas.
But Columbus-bashers now blame him tor
genocide, slavery, colonialism, plunder of
tons of gold and silver, and environmental
destruction.
The National Council of Councils set
aside 1492 as a year of repentence and
reflection. The discovery of America, the
organization asserted, brought “legalized
occupation, genocide, economic exploitation
and a deep level of institutional racism and
moral decadence.”
Columbus “makes Hitler look like a juve
nile delinquent,” said Indian activist Russell
Means. “TTie Spanish conquest must be repu
diated. Celebrating it would be shameful and
the justification of a massacre,” said Ecuador
Indian leader Manuel Castro.
Indian groups are greeting the replicas of
Columbus’ caravels with protest canoes, sail
ing to Europe to discover Spain and grieving
the loss of life and lands with periods of si
lence.
Columbus’ champions are pressing ahead
with their celebrations. In addition to spon
soring an anniversary voyage that will end in
San Francisco on Oct. 12,1992, Spain is host
to a world’s fair. Italy also plans obser
vances.
But the anti-celebrations have sucked
some of the wind from their sails.
“These groups are seeking to associate
Columbus with every ill that has beset the
New World since it was introduced to the
Old World,” said Philip R. Piccigallo,
executive director of the Order of Sons of
Italy in America.
Some scholars see the 500th anniversary
as an opportunity to tell the unvarnished
story. Maybe it’s time to discover Columbus.
Out
of the
cradle
‘Mr. Babyproofer’
makes homes safe
NEW YORK (AP) — They listen
to whale sounds at birth, they eat
special-delivery baby food, they ride
around in $1,000 European prams.
And now the babies of yuppies can
take their first steps in homes ba
byproofed by a professional — Mr.
Babyproofer.
“There’s no place like home,” says
Mr. Babyproofer, “for things that are
dangerous to the young.”
Mr. Babyproofer is Anthony
Simnowski, a young father and con
tractor who was spending a lot of time
adapting apartments and houses for
children. So last year, he branched
out and formed New York Baby Proof
ing Co. For a fee, he will rid a home
of the myriad threats to young life and
limb.
Most of his clients are young pro
fessional couples who are security
conscious — or security obsessed —
but lack the time or the know-how to
babyproof their own places.
For $45, Simnowski will evaluate
a home and explain what must be
done to make it safe for creeping,
crawling and toddling. The work it
self can cost thousands, but most
apartments can be babyproofed for
about 3>JUU — less tnan a sironer,
according to Simnowski’s wife and
partner, Mary Ann.
Although some prudent souls re
tain the Simnowskis before the chil
dren are ambulatory (and sometimes
even before they are bom), most call
for help only when the need has be
come all too apparent.
Engineering, science
scholarships available
Applications for 25 scholarships
arc available for undergraduate stu
dents majoring in engineering and
science disciplines.
The scholarships, which arc spon
sored by Ihe U.S. Department of Energy
and administered by Oak Ridge As
sociated Universities, are designated
for students interested in pursuing
careers in environmental restoration
or waste management.
The Environmental Restoration/
Waste Management Scholarship Pro
gram includes full payment of tuition
and fees at a DOE-approved institu
tion, a $600 monthly stipend and a
three-month praclicum assignment at
a DOE facility engaged in environ
mental restoration and waste man
agement.
For applications or more informa
tion, contact Peggy Gibson, Environ
mental Restoration/Waste Manage
ment Scholarship Program, Oak Ridge
Associated Universities, Science/
Engineering Education Division, P.O.
Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 37831
0117.
OCTOBER STUDIES
STUDY # REQUIREMENTS
14224 MEN 19-50
(Non-Smokers)
13866 MEN 19-50
I38ii MEN& WOMEN 19-99
(with psoriasis)
LENGTH OF STAY
Thurs. Evening to
Mon. Morning
Weekends &
Weekday returns
Weekends &
Weekday returns
PHYSICAL PATE PAY
Thursday «2Sft
October 10
Wednesday
__October 16_ I l
October^ ) $*<*>0 )
I_._._._
STUDY# REQUIREMENTS
M107-2 MEN 19-45
1409, 2 MEN&WOMEN 19-45
(With Heartburn) *
13953 MEN 21-40
(Heavy Smokers)
J4354 MEN 19-40
, (Non-Smokers)
14285 MEN 19-40
14369 MEN 19-55
LENGTH OF STAY
Mon. Evening to
Fri. Morning
Wed. Evenings to
Fri. Mornings
Sun. Evening to
Fri. Morning
Mon. Evenings to
Wed. Mornings
10
Days
Sun. Evenings to
Fri. Mornings
PHYSICAL DATE PAY
Sunday -
October 20
Wednesday 4
October 23J>auu
Thursday .
October 24$400
Monday
October 28 $450
Monday cenn
October 28*guu
Tuesday
October 29 $750
" ' if
STUDY# REQUIREMENTS
13838 MEN&WOMEN 19-65
14166 MEN&WOMEN 19-75
(with high blood pressure)
LENGTH OF STAY
Six Brief Visits
. . 20 Brief Visits
PHYSICAL DATE PAY |
Wednesday
October 16
Call For Dates $650
For Wookonds, Short A Long-Torm Studios, Call 474-0627, Mon-Thur 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Frl. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
For Daytimo Studios, Call 476-6548 Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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