Too Hot to Ignore

    We all know Taco Bell's most famous sauce, the Diablo Sauce. It's that little black packet filled with what they call "next level". The deep red inside feels like fire that won't stop quickly, spreading across your tongue with an intense feeling. It's more than just the flavor, it's the thrill of waiting for the heat, and drinking milk after (the ones that can't handle some spice).That same color, representing anger and intensity, showed up on the Christopher Columbus Monument in Riverside Park when citizens splashed red paint across it. Unfortunately the splash of red wasn't vandalism, it was a form of protest where "protesters dressed in traditional Native American garb and tossed red paint" (UPI Archives). Just like how the Diablo sauce is more than a flavor, it's a warning. The red paint symbolized blood, resistance, and an appeal to recognize the painful part of history people have often ignored. The paint on the monument wasn't a random color, it was specifically chosen to challenge his legacy and actions. Although Columbus might've inspired many following explorers, his way of treating the indigenous people has left a deeper mark in history. Both the sauce and the protest remind us of how powerful and attention-grabbing the color red is. So whether it's a late night taco bell run or a protest in Riverside Park, the color red always burns and makes sure we do not look away.