^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
12 OCT 04: REMEMBER MY NAME
"Columbus?" asked the big front-page headline in Monday's Ledger-Enquirer. I'm sure that will inspire some veterans' groups, who might want the entire area named Fort Benning.
The question was raised because Monday was the Columbus Day holiday. Some people like to raise the question about how Columbus obtained that city name. I'm personally more puzzled about Hatchechubbee - and how much the founder of that Russell County town weighed.
Did you hear what one man said about the holiday on the Monday evening news? "Columbus - he discovered the world, you know." He did?!?! Then where's his spaceship, and what planet did he come from?
The post office was closed for the federal Columbus Day holiday. So was Columbus Bank and Trust - which leads me to wonder if that hand-crafted table in the board room even has Christopher Columbus's portrait on it.
But it's puzzled me for years that a city named Columbus does nothing formal or official to mark Columbus Day. Why, I'm not even sure an Italian restaurant like the Olive Garden had a weekend sale.
There used to be a downtown music festival to mark Columbus Day weekend. But "Uptown Jam" was turned into a series of concerts on Broadway a few years ago -- because it turned out the real jam was financial.
Perhaps it's because Columbus Day has become controversial for some groups. An alternative "Native American Day" even has developed on the Alabama state calendar - where some residents probably misunderstood it Monday, and flew Confederate flags.
Some area school districts are closed for a few days - but most of them are NOT calling it Columbus Day. For instance, Harris County students are on a "Fall Break." Based on what happened Monday night, I think that's also what Atlanta's baseball team calls it now....
BLOG UPDATE: Muscogee County Marshal Ken Suddeth gave still more documents to WRBL Monday, about the private donations to buy new pistols. It's almost like he wants the station to bring in Judge Joe Brown and Judge Judy, to hear his case.
The new documents show there's still about $1,400 in an account for buying weapons for the Marshal's Department. Ken Suddeth promises the money will be used for the department. But if he's not answerable to Columbus Council, how can we
be sure? Does Mr. Suddeth really want all the voters visiting his office to check?
(By the way, Instant Message to WRBL: A "withdrawal" is what you do to take money from an account. A "withdrawl," like you're spelling it on the air - well, I think that describes some country music announcers.)
To offer a story tip, make a donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.
If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.
© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.