In the article "The Complicated History of the Christopher Columbus Statue' by Jenifer Vanasco, the author debates whether the Columbus monument in Columbus Circle should remain or go. The Mayoral Commission on City Arts, Monuments, and Makers is discussing whether the statue should continue to stand. Some argue that the statue should come down because the history behind Columbus was inaccurate and misrepresented. However, others believe the statue should remain, as it stands for America and the hard-working Italian immigrants who came to the country. Additionally, a proposal is to replace the statue with another historical figure that better represents the Italian American community.
The article discusses how Christopher Columbus impacted the Italian American community, particularly the controversy surrounding the Columbus statue on Columbus Circle. According to Mary Anne Trasciatti, "He became so identified with the community that they felt like any attack on Columbus was an attack on them." Americans feel strongly connected to Columbus and view his criticism as a personal attack. However, some argue that the statue should accurately represent Italian immigrants and suggest replacing it with one that better reflects this community.…show more content… One side argues that the statue is one-sided and does not tell the true story. The other side argues that the statue should not come down, as Columbus stands for the determined Italians who came into the country illegally to find jobs and a new opportunity in life. Trasciatti said, "We were mostly working people, typically at the bottom of the rung of the employment ladder, above only African Americans." There are better first-hand representations of Italians than Columbus, who could tell a story about settling in a new
