July 4, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, July 4, 2020 Opinion Page Columbus statues need context, “ElkCituNews not disrespect and desecration Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 You may be ready for By Anthony C. Wisniews- ki, The Baltimore Sun Unlawful destruction of Columbus statues continues lumbus, there would be no United States, one of the come a great nation in spite of Columbus, but rather be- bar-hopping, but I’m In June, activists tore elsewhere throughout our relatively few countries in country, notably in Boston’s the world that guarantees cause he took high risks to introduce to the Americas not ‘reopening’ yet down a statue of Christo- North End, near its own Lit- the rights of individuals to positive aspects of Western pher Columbus outside the tle Italy. Of course, here in petition their government civilization, the rule of law Minneapolis State Capitol. Baltimore three years ago, peacefully through demon- and the Gospel. By David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times Mainstream media news the nation’s oldest statue to strations. Of course, America has The undergrad who lives in the back room keeps trying to coverage inevitably focused Columbus, an 18th century Our foundation was com- a racist past, and much has get me to rejoin the world. on the activists’ view that obelisk, was damaged by un- mitted to fostering commu- yet to be done, but statues “Let’s get coffee,” she suggests one day. “Let’s take a Columbus was a racist vil- known vandals in the middle nity service through STEM of Columbus should also re- drive to Santa Monica,” she suggests the next. lain, whose discovery of of the night. (science, technology, engi- mind us of how the struggles At 21, my daughter is long past ready to restart her life. America led to the demise of Somehow in the storyline, neering and math) grants to of our historical heroes also She’s been living at home since March 13, when her mother native cultures. Columbus and Confederate middle and high school stu- and I picked her up at LAX. The three of us went into isola- Few press reports ac- dents of all races. Perhaps, helped make much of what statues have been wrongly tion that afternoon, and she has had enough. knowledged that the statue blended as co-equal symbols however, remedial instruc- is good in America today. was erected by Italian Amer- of a racist past as the nation Their memory should be T have not. I am against reopening. I’m still hunkered tion in history and criti- down. Not forever, but for now. The pandemic isn’t over, ican immigrants, themselves grapples with the killing of cal thinking is what those treasured and respected or victims of discrimination, George Floyd, an African younger members of our at least placed in the proper and in fact, the numbers suggest it is getting worse - again. According to the COVID Tracking Project, cases are back in 1931 to celebrate American man, by a white society responsible for top- context of the time in which rising precipitously in Texas, Arizona and Florida, Re- both the man who discov- Minneapolis police officer. pling the statues represent- they lived, not reviled and uters analyzed the project data and found a 90% increase ered America as well as their Does American history in- ing our shared history need desecrated. in week-to-week new cases in Arizona, and about 80% in own contributions to our clude painful periods of op- the most right now. How un- Recently, when New York Texas and Florida, as of June 21. In California, the num- country. Nor did reports note pression against Indigenous fortunate is the double stan- Gov. Andrew Cuomo was ber of confirmed cases keeps increasing, with Los Angeles that an Italian immigrant peoples? Yes. However, dard here: to raise awareness asked whether New York still a hot spot, and statewide, hospitalizations, which were who helped build Grand atoning for past transgres- of historically oppressed City’s Columbus statue somewhat steady, are also climbing. sions best occurs by honor- Central Station, and his son, populations, while simulta- should be removed, he re- Dr. Anthony Fauci, and just about every public health of- sculpted the monument as a ing Indigenous peoples with neously green lighting that plied no, because it signi- ficer, epidemiologist and respiratory specialist in the coun- symbol of the acceptance of their own commemorations, it is still OK to marginalize fies appreciation for Italian try, is uneasy. “People keep talking about a second wave,” Italian immigrants in Min- not by retributive anger and Italian Americans as sym- American contributions. he said recently. “We're still in a first wave.” nesota. obliteration of Columbus bolized through their statue Here in Baltimore, we re- Data analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Perhaps even worse, a law statues. to the great Italian explorer. cently set a fine example of professor and criminolo- How did we come to this Archaeologists say context Evaluation at the University of Washington projects a total how to peacefully protest a of more than 200,000 COVID deaths in the United States gist, who is associated with point? As a former presi- is everything, but for“woke” horrific racial injustice. So, by the beginning of October. And yet a whole lot of us ap- an archaeological advocacy dentially appointed trustee activists, any suggestion that too, may the citizens of Bal- group, actually tweeted en- and general counsel of the a statue somehow represents pear to have come to a collective reckoning that three-plus timore remain proud of Ital- months of being careful is enough. couragement for the deed, congressionally chartered a racist past alone is enough ian American contributions The Onion evoked the absurdity of the moment with a suggesting that chains would Christopher Columbus Fel- to prompt vandalism. parody news item announcing that Dallas had entered Phase be the best way to bring lowship Foundation, which Educators - including law to our great state and ensure 4 “of completely deluding ourselves into thinking that this down this and similar stat- was created in 1992 on the professors - have an obliga- that our Christopher Colum- ues. Presumably, given her 500th Anniversary of his tion to teach our youth that bus statues stand. pandemic has somehow stopped spreading and that we’re Anthony C. Wisniewski position, she should know discovery of America, and our history and the contri- safe.” (anthonywis@ yahoo.com) incitement of vandalism is as an Italian American my- butions of those who have In California, aside from sports, live performances and not free speech. Nor does it self, I recognize Columbus merited statues is far more is a Maryland resident and conventions, just about everything has at least partly re- have anything whatsoever as a man willing to take complicated, rich and mean- former trustee and general opened. Over the last few weeks, we have seen the return of to do with our First Amend- great risks in search of new ingful than assessments counsel Christopher Colum- in-restaurant dining and limited access to retail outlets, bars ment rights to protest peace- worlds. Whatever his per- based solely on views about bus Fellowship Foundation and gyms. Houses of worship can now host services for 100 sonal faults, without Co- (2007-2017). fully. race. America did not be- congregants or less. The logic is that mandatory face coverings and social dis- tancing will keep us safe - or, at least, safe enough. But as the LA Times’ Luke Money, Hannah Fry, Stephanie Lai and Rong Gong Lin II recently reported, “a mask rebellion is Letter to editor: Water underway in some parts of the state.” (Anecdotally speak- ing, based on the walks I take most mornings, I’d say the rebellion is everywhere.) exercise is great for your body Then, of course, there’s the Trump administration’s reck- By Pauline Ringer covery therapy and are over- under your arms and bicy- rie burning and increased less approach to COVID-19. It’s possible that the presi- This summer, there will be weight. cling the legs in deep water heart rate. dent’s so-called campaign restart in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a designated ROPED OFF Water exercise is merciful will benefit the knees, waist Aerobic exercise also in- so sparsely attended because there is at least one thing I lane for “adults only” for and low back, plus provide creases oxygen and blood to the joints, as it is low im- have in common with some of his voters: I’m not ready to individuals wishing to exer- pact. Because it is in a con- for the heart. flow to every cell in the reopen. He chose to go ahead with the next rally, in Arizona, cise or lap swim at the Elk trolled environment, buoy- If you have plantar fasci- body, which aids in healing where about 3,000 of his supporters filled the Dream City City pool. ancy and water pressure itis, this is an excellent way of soft tissue. Church and hooted at the notion that masks were necessary. The rope will be installed, support the joints, ligaments to take a load off your feet Without daily exercise, the The argument for reopening comes framed, largely, as a only as one or more adults and muscle and skeletal ele- and knees. aging process accelerates, matter of economics - and why not? Since March, more than come to utilize this section ments. Total body weight is To develop upper body via decreased muscle wast- 44 million Americans have filed unemployment claims. on a daily basis. Just ask for also reduced by 80%. strength, swimming laps is ing, spine-disc degenera- The financial effects of COVID-19 have been devastating, Amanda [Hunter, pool man- Many spine doctors and the best. If you can’t swim, tion, weakened heart, loss of especially for the most vulnerable: low-income families, ager] and she will install the chiropractors support this simply walking and mov- muscle mass and prevalence rope lane. type of therapy for many of ing the arms with simulated communities of color and small businesses. The hours will remain the their patients. swim strokes are justified: of weight gain. Not unlike the institutionalized racism embodied by the same as daytime hours, 1-6 Resistance in water ranges breast stroke, front stroke Summer is not the time killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna to have a love affair with Taylor, among so many others - or, for that matter, the coro- p.m, with a $3.50 entrance between 4-42 times great- and side stroke. One can also navirus’ toll in the U.S. - this is a pandemic of another sort. fee. er than on land, depend- use empty dish detergent the remote or the La-Z-Boy. And yet, what happens if we go back too quickly? The The benefits of water exer- ing upon speed and move- bottles as weight resistance Make your health a priority cise are excellent, especially ment, so it acts as a natural similar to using free weights this summer. If not just for effect could be more ruinous. “Another round of shutdowns might have even larger ef- for those with arthritis, adjustable weight training for bicep and tricep curls. yourself, do it for the ones fects on businesses that may be on the edge of not being back problems, fibromyal- machine. Even if you are For increased heart-aero- you love - your spouse, chil- able to stay solvent,” Dr. Christopher Murray, an expert gia and knee problems. It is not familiar with special ex- bic activity, jogging in place dren and grandchildren. on the burden of disease around the world, told CNN. The also good for those who are ercise movements, simply in chest deep water for 10- Pauline Ringer lives in Elk most effective economic strategy for the short term, in other pregnant, doing surgical re- placing a flotation noodle 15 minutes is good for calo- City. words, may be to support our local businesses from home. Look, I know I’m fortunate. Thus far, I’ve been able to work from home. I never went to the movies all that much, or to the gym, and I can’t remember when last I set foot in a synagogue, mosque or church. Thus far, my version of reopening has been to set out earlier on my masked walks, to avoid the increased traffic on the streets. Until all the lines on the graphs stay level, or we get fast send your letter to the editor and accurate testing and tracking, we’re stuck. Humans aren't setting the agenda here, the virus is. That may not thrill the undergrad who lives in the back room. It doesn’t thrill me. But reopening too quickly is not just irrespon- sible, it’s societal malpractice. to [email protected] As I finished writing the count was 187,349 cases in Cali- fornia, with 5,577 deaths. And still on the rise. David L. Ulin is a contributing writer to Los Angeles Times Opinion.