The City of Philadelphia should repeal the name change of "Columbus Boulevard" and reinstate "Delaware Avenue".
The City of Philadelphia should repeal the name change of Columbus Boulevard and reinstate the street name to Delaware Avenue. Street names are bestowed as an honorific. The City made this name change in 1989, less than 30 years ago! Columbus is not worthy of such an honor and naming streets after him is antithetical to the values espoused by the City and its residents. For those of you unfamiliar with Columbus’ resume, I offer some notes:
1. Indigenous peoples lived in the “new world for approximately 14,000 years before Columbus “discovered” it.
2. Upon his first visit, Columbus demanded that the indigenous Lucayan residents give his men food, gold, and allow them to have sex with the women. When the Lucayans refused, Columbus ordered his men to cut of their ears and noses as a warning of the consequences of disobeying.
3. When the Lucayans first rebelled against Columbus and his men, they were slaughtered due to a lack of military technology. Columbus ordered his men to feed injured, but living, Lucayan warriors to their hunting dogs.
4. When he wasn’t able to find gold, Columbus kidnapped 500 Lucayan Natives to serve as slaves in Spain. Only 300 survived the transatlantic voyage. Columbus, effectively, started the transatlantic slave trade.
5. Columbus ordered his men to enslave an additional 500 Lucayans to serve in the “New World”. Columbus’ men tortured and hunted the Lucayan people for sport using their maimed bodies to feed their dogs.
6. Columbus implemented a policy whereby natives were required to bring gold to his men. If natives failed to bring their requisite allotments of gold, Columbus ordered his men to cut off their hands and force the Lucayans to wear their own hands on necklaces.
7. Columbus “gifted” his lieutenants young native girls to serve as sex slaves. These girls were as young as 9 and 10 years old and were exchanged as currency.
8. The spread of disease and slavery lead to ecological imbalance that catalyzed the starvation and death of 3-5 Million indigenous peoples in the 50 years following Columbus’ arrival.
Not a dude worthy of a street, let alone a national holiday.