Ohio City to Remove Christopher Columbus Statue

Progress is a messy business.  The pathways that have led, and are leading, and will lead to societal change have not been straight shots.  The nation is now tightly focused on pursuing racial justice, which has entered the 401^st year of a journey that has yet to meet its destination.  You can site your own examples of necessary reforms that were the result of years or decades of struggles that have been wrenching, frustrating and even violent.  None of these successes and ongoing works in progress are easily accomplished.  It’s hard for folks to feel they must give up something, particularly if they do not feel personally responsible for the injustice that is being legitimately targeted. 

The reform process is not clean and many friendly fire casualties often result.  We saw this when the nation become revolted after learning about the horrible and pervasive culture of sexual harassment that permeated many businesses and industries.  I felt that in this instance, and elsewhere, that the net being wielded to snatch up the perpetrators became too wide in another example of zero tolerance.  Whenever zero tolerance is invoked, brace yourself for unfair and absurd outcomes. Do we really think, for example, that Al Franken had to be thrown out of the U.S. Senate for irreverent actions and speech he committed prior to public service when he was a comedian?  And, in our zeal to come to the assistance of harassed women, we were counseled to ‘believe the women’, as if any allegation should be assumed to be true. These examples of overshoot make me uncomfortable.    I endorse our current system when the accused is presumed innocent and the burden of proof is on the accuser.

This past week, I came across an example of overshoot that merited Whistleblower attention.  A city in my own state of Ohio plans to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus, a figure who many  believe to be a dishonorable person who should be removed from the public square.  The city has taken this act to promote diversity and tolerance.   The statue has stood watch over the City Hall since 1955.

The Flag of the City of Columbus Still Waves

There are many Americans who oppose efforts to scrub out Columbus Day and to dismantle statues honoring him.  However, I can understand why a city, particularly in the current political and social climate we are now in, might feel that a Columbus statue is improper.  Here’s what I don’t understand.  Explain to me how a city named Columbus takes down a statue of Columbus but still keeps its name?

If the leadership and citizenry of Columbus aim to remove a statue of the explorer because it is deemed too offensive for public display, then shouldn’t they enthusiastically jettison the city’s name for the same reason?  And if they opt to keep the city’s name, what is their explanation?