Recently, the NAACP made a public statement that the obelisk in Santa Fe must be removed because it portrays native Indians in a negative fashion. While it is true that the monument was erected to commenmorate those who had fallen during violent encounteres with native Indians, this monument, as does the Confederate Battle Flag, stands for much more.

In this case, "The monument was erected to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War battles of Valverde and Glorieta. An inscription was included to remember victims who had died in Indian attacks," said Shonda Novac, NAACP wants Plaza obelisk removed, The New Mexican, 2 August 2000.

At least there was a connection between the Confederate Battle Flag issue and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Here there is absolutely none. Even if this monument centered on the native Indian issue only, it marks a point in history that Americans need to remember, not forget. I ask you, when will it end?

And please, don't tell me that the NAACP is suddenly the champion of all minorities because I find that difficult to believe. Naturally they want everyone to believe that so folks don't begin to question their motives and tactics.

Do we not have plenty of events and monuments that remind us of what our great-great-great grandpappies did to native Africans, even though it was a Dutch trading ship that brought the first slaves to the English settlement of Jamestown in 1619? Did I forget to mention that it was actually African blacks who had sold their very own countrymen to the various foreign slave traders in the first place?

In a sense, if this stage in history had not taken place, the black community would certainly not be here to complain about what their great-great-great grandparents had gone through. In a sense, it was a blessing in disguise for today's black generations, even though it was a terrible practice that deserved to end.

Those of us who live in America could easily boast of our foreign heritage. I, as a Colombo, am a third-generation Italian. Although I'm proud of that, I am an American first and an Italian-American second.

My black brothers and sisters, the same applies to you. You are an American first, then an African-American second. Together, whites, blacks and Indians are now native to America. Let us put this behind us and learn to live together without constantly reminding one another of our great-great-great grandparents' woes.

Al Colombo
Journalist/Writer