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by
Mickey Z.
America
is a nation built upon myth (starting with its "discovery") but the greatest
myth of all is that the land of the free is gonna last forever. But, alas, my
History Channel-watching brethren, all genocidal empires must fall. Just ask
Italy. Once the proud birthplace of DaVinci, Verdi, and my father; Italy must
now bear the blame for producing Buttafuoco, Guiliani, and Janice Soprano.
While the children of old Italia once rose up in defense of Sacco and Vanzetti,
today's paisan is busy trying to explain Fabio.
Indeed,
when the mighty fall, they do tend to go for the gusto.
I
ponder this irony as we approach yet another Columbus Day...24 hours set aside
to revere Italy's version of the Terminator. Upon encountering the Arawak
people in 1492, Columbus noted that they "would make fine servants," adding,
"with fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we
want." Yeah, Governor Arnold's got nothing on Chris "The Continent
Cleanser" Columbus.
Below
the elevated platform at the Astoria Boulevard N/W train station, my neighborhood
plays host to Columbus Square... which is actually shaped like a warped
triangle. Let Manhattan have its rather simplistic circle...we in Queens are
far more geometrically sophisticated. It's a square triangle for us.
Naturally,
a statue of Christopher Columbus adorns this triangular square. If one were to
believe this sculptor's rendition, Chris the Capo spent plenty of time in the
Santa Maria Tennis and Fitness Club. This statue is pumped. He's got biceps to
die for and a set of pecs that are literally bursting out of his manly shirt.
Yes,
Columbus is buffed and ready for genocide.
An
engraved plate on the ground under the statue reads: "But not for Columbus,
there would be no America." As I stomp on those intolerable words with my
dirt-infested sneakers, I envision that first conversation:
COLUMBUS:
Red man, we want your land and everything on it.
INDIAN:
Okay, muscular paleface, but what will you offer in return?
COLUMBUS:
Venereal disease, small pox, the destruction of your culture, genocide,
Christianity, and a really bad image in John Wayne flicks.
INDIAN:
Can you toss in a few casinos?
COLUMBUS:
Sure, but you'll have to wait about 500 years.
INDIAN:
Okay, Chris, you've got a deal.
With
that conversation in mind, I ascend the stairs to the train.
Happy
Indigenous People's Day...
Mickey Z. is the author
of The Murdering of My Years: Artists and Activists Making Ends Meet (www.murderingofmyyears.com) and
an editor at Wide Angle (www.wideangleny.com). He can be reached at: mzx2@earthlink.net.
Other Recent Articles by Mickey Z.
* In Our
Own Image: Teaching Iraq How to Deal with Protest
* "The
Truth Has to be Repeated"
* A
Ceremonial Journey: Bush's Progress
* History
Forgave Churchill, Why Not Blair and Bush?
* Incomprehensible
Reluctance? AIDS Dissent and Africa