Is it time to remove the Nicolas de Ovando statue?

[Dolores]

Journalist Vianco Martínez writes in Acento that now that there is a new global awareness of who should be our heroes, it might be time to remove the statue of the first Spanish governor of the island of Santo Domingo, Nicolás de Ovando. Ovando is credited with constructing the first Spanish city in the New World, complete with its aqueduct and port area, and its historic buildings that have survived for centuries. But Martínez says few Dominicans today are aware he was a cruel ruler, and the original inhabitants, the peaceful Taino Indians would die at a pace of 20,000 a year during his rule. Ovando’s statue is located in Plaza de España, in front of the Columbus Alcazar.

Read more in Spanish:Acento...

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[I love Azua]

123 History then and History now are 2 different things . 20-20 hindsight is always screwed up by people who have no real understanding of History. This is my personal take on History not my feelings which don't count

 

[NanSanPedro]

123 History then and History now are 2 different things . 20-20 hindsight is always screwed up by people who have no real understanding of History. This is my personal take on History not my feelings which don't count

Completely agree. The Trujillo comment above was me trying to be facetious.

The taking down of statues is stupid, but it makes those who can't do anything feel like they did something.

 

[AlterEgo]

This thread is about one person. Nicholas de Ovando. Stay on topic please.

 

[Auryn]

This man was not a hero and should not be recognized as such. But taking down his statue does not erase the atrocities of the encomienda system or bring back the Taínos.
Re-write the plaque on his statue to reflect the brutality of abuses, and place a statue of a famous Taino Chief next to him.

The government of Nicolas de Ovando (1502-1509) - Historia del Nuevo Mundo

¡Compartir!1 1Share 4 minutos Frey Nicolás de Ovando arrive in Santo Domingo in 1502 with the very clear orders of the Catholic Monarchs of what their government would be in the Indies. They can be summarized in two points: putting order in the administration, after the disastrous management...

www.historiadelnuevomundo.com

 

[Auryn]

Anacaona be the most appropriate, although she is already grovelling at the foot of Cristobal Colon.

 

[Andre14615]

Tear that crap down

 

[melphis]

He did what he thought was best at the time. It was the way world worked back then. Tearing down statues of people who built this world will not change anything.
If you want to put a plaque at the statue that lists what todays generation thinks is wrong that's great. The next generation can come along and change it whatever they want.

 

[Auryn]

Hopefully in the future we don’t think wiping out entire populations and slavery are the way to go. But hey 🤷🏻‍♀️.

 

[NanSanPedro]

This man was not a hero and should not be recognized as such. But taking down his statue does not erase the atrocities of the encomienda system or bring back the Taínos.
Re-write the plaque on his statue to reflect the brutality of abuses, and place a statue of a famous Taino Chief next to him.

The government of Nicolas de Ovando (1502-1509) - Historia del Nuevo Mundo

¡Compartir!1 1Share 4 minutos Frey Nicolás de Ovando arrive in Santo Domingo in 1502 with the very clear orders of the Catholic Monarchs of what their government would be in the Indies. They can be summarized in two points: putting order in the administration, after the disastrous management...

www.historiadelnuevomundo.com

I pretty much agree here. I hate the tear down statue syndrome. But I also hate excusing him for murder and mistreatment of the Tainos because of culture. He was purported to be a Christian. He should have acted like one.

 

[CristoRey]

Tearing down statues..
What´s next? I don´t think
any of them should be torn
down for any reason. The DR
doesn´t need to start embracing
this sh<t storm that is tearing
other countries apart from within.

 

[etolw]

Hopefully in the future we don’t think wiping out entire populations and slavery are the way to go. But hey 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I believe if the prognosis regarding climate change comes true, some persons/culture will be seen in another light.
Just an example. I do not want to go there.

 

[Chirimoya]

H U G E elephant in the room when it comes to who should be honoured or reviled for their role in the conquest of the Americas.

 

[Caonabo]

While yes, a discussion piece for expatriates within this proper web forum, hopefully the ultimate decision making process of any of these "ideas/suggestions" rests solely with Dominicans.......without foreign influences interjecting.
Foreign advice, in the name of "global awareness" is neither needed, nor desired, for domestic issues of such.
You can tear down your statues and monuments, while reinventing your own history.
Leave ours alone! 🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴

 

[bob saunders]

Hopefully in the future we don’t think wiping out entire populations and slavery are the way to go. But hey 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Actually under this governor they brought in African slaves to save the remaining aboriginals.

 

[bob saunders]

While yes, a discussion piece for expatriates within this proper web forum, hopefully the ultimate decision making process of any of these "ideas/suggestions" rests solely with Dominicans.......without foreign influences interjecting.
Foreign advice, in the name of "global awareness" is neither needed, nor desired, for domestic issues of such.
You can tear down your statues and monuments, while reinventing your own history.
Leave ours alone! 🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴

Absolutely no reason to take down the states, just as there isn't in any other country. Now for example in the states they took all these statues, some of whom the removers knew,nothing about the reason for the statue, but in Seattle they left the statue of Lenin????? I am not a Christian but have no valid reason for asking forcstatues of Christ, or Budda. .etc be removed. As somebody suggested just put a plaque with the unvarnished truth on it and let people draw their own conclusions about the person in the statue.

 

[melphis]

I don't think any statues or monuments should be removed or torn down. The people on these things built this world as we know it and people of their generation obviously liked some of their actions as these statues didn't erect themselves. The narrative on these should be accurate and explain why the did what they did no matter how repulsive it is.

The world has given us many cruel and brutal leaders over the years. Tearing down any markings of them does absolutely nothing. If the actions of these people can be explained on their statues hopefully we can learn from history and not repeat it. All we need is some non partisan historians (if such a thing exists) to write the real truth not todays version of it.

 

[Big]

you mean there were brutal leaders several hundred years ago.. shocking !!! We should erase all of history and let the invertebrate run the world.

 

[NanSanPedro]

you mean there were brutal leaders several hundred years ago.. shocking !!! We should erase all of history and let the invertebrate run the world.

Mollusk lives matter!

 

[Caonabo]

you mean there were brutal leaders several hundred years ago.. shocking !!! We should erase all of history and let the invertebrate run the world.

It is truly a pointed trail of this generation, by their respective handlers.
All are invited to investigate times and occurrences throughout the course of history....globally, where such actions have occurred.
The intended, and directed eradication of one's history.
None progressed positively.
The situations/occurrences may have corrected themselves in time, but the price had to be paid due to the irresponsible actions of groupings of persons, and their handlers.
I do not want to see my birth nation fall victim to this evil pursuit, that happens to be currently popular globally.