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This Speakout has not been edited.

By Martin Palumbo

I am a racist. It must be true since so many people, whom I’ve never met in my life, so informed me on Oct. 6 as I participated in the annual Columbus Day parade in downtown Denver.

While waiting for the police to clear the protesters from the road, I observed one white man walking along the sidewalk carrying a small sign that read, “Would you march for Hitler?” I approached him and asked him, “How can you compare our gathering honoring our country to the hateful behavior of the Nazis?” His reply was the standard response that Columbus was a slaver and history proves he is responsible for genocide.

I told him, “Look, if you want historical accuracy let’s look at it like this. Yes, he was a slaver, a despicable part of life at that time all over the world. You want accuracy? You want to tell the truth? Well then let’s tell the whole truth and not just revised history. Columbus,” I informed him, “stumbled on the island of Hispaniola known today as The Dominican Republic, which at that time was occupied by a band of people numbering a few thousand called the Tainos, who were consequently enslaved, though many also died of European diseases. Because they died of disease, which was not planned, it can hardly be called genocide.

“As for historical accuracy, at the same time this was happening, Indian tribes all over the Western Hemisphere were waging war on neighboring bands and tribes, committing wholesale slaughter, rape and slavery on a level that makes Columbus’ forays small potatoes. Let he who is without sin,” I admonished. “In fact, the very reason the Indians lost their lands and their way of life is because they were so busy fighting amongst themselves they could not form a cohesive resistance to the European invasion.”

I went on to say I came here from Vermont in 1990 with the well-meaning hope of doing something — anything — to address the issue of native rights. In 1991 when the Italians allowed AIM and its supporters to participate in the parade, which they did, it was I and a Hispanic gentleman who carried the AIM banner that year. And, as much as I am and remain sympathetic to the plight of the world’s downtrodden, it still serves no purpose to violate the constitutional rights of another person or group of persons.

Besides, I asked, what do the hundreds of protesters hope to accomplish with their one-finger salutes, hysterically shrieking obscenities in front of innocent men, women and children? And, I asked, what are they teaching their own kids? That it’s OK to repeat the cycle of hate over and over again? They’re doing that in places like the Middle East and look at all the innocents that die every day as a result.

My friend had no answers and in the end we both agreed we were getting tired of the whole thing. We shook hands and wished each other a safe day.

Not only did they hold up the parade for almost two hours that day but, as we finally were allowed to go on, one Indian protester walked up to me and told me “This is gonna stop right now,” and tried to wrestle my banner from my hands. I suppose I don’t have any rights because I’m a racist. He accomplished nothing other than to get arrested, which brings up a crucial point hinted at in a recent article in Westword in which the current leadership of AIM warily admit they are starting to lose control of the younger faction as I myself can attest.

Will this hateful juggernaut run out of control? Will innocent people be hurt next year because the protesters feel they have “a right to make a statement”?

Will more Indian lives be destroyed because once again a few men would use them to accomplish their own political agenda? There are 47,000 Indians in Colorado alone. What is AIM and its supporters doing about real-life issues in Indian communities like health, education, drugs and abuse?

Will the Hickenlooper administration be soft on AIM’s transgressions as they have in the past? I was assaulted and had my rights violated. Who will defend me? I would warn all those protesters flipping me the bird that windy morning of Oct. 6: Beware, lest you become the very monster you once set out to destroy. Racist indeed.

Martin Palumbo is a resident of Wheat Ridge.

READER COMMENTS

Better to celebrate Columbus day as Cinco de Mayo. At least Columbus day is relevant to this country.

Did Indians commit rape? I don't think Indians knew that concept so how can you call it rape? By your modern day definition? That's exactly what COAIM is doing with Indian history, twisiting and interpreting facts to support their own conclusions.

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Wow Fact checker, Mr. Palumbo has more control over your children than you. I must assume this since you find it necessary to admonish him for brainwashing your children. Of course, you could teach your children your version of history.

De la Cruz you are so typically racist with your stereotyping closing remark.
Yes, stereotyping is a form of racism and even minorities are guilty of the same types of racism as the majority.

All the problems in the world and you two get bent out of shape over a parade honoring someone who died hundreds of years ago.

The most amusing thing is that you both may very well be genetically linked to him or others that sailed with him of that time.

Actually, according to numerous sources there were 3 million Indians on the Island Hispaniola when Columbus arrived and twelve years later there were only 60,000.

I wont even go into the details but a good book to read would be Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.

In addition, it is pointless for me to address all the questions that you have begged, but it is important to point out that the true monster are closed minded ideologues like yourself.

STOP trying to brainwash my children into thinking that the United States is infallible!

You might be a racist but you are definitely a horrible writer. I could care less if you like filling out the paperwork to have a parade and besides there's no historical value in holding a Columbus parade in Colorado. Try the east coast. Yo Adrian!

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