Columbus Day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Acknowledge" is a weird word to use in this question?

I acknowledge that both are holidays. Columbus Day seems kind of stupid in light of what we know about his "discovery," that he wasn't even the first European to bump into North America, and that he was a worse-than-average human even considering the standards of his time.

But, all of that said, the holiday doesn't provoke strong emotions in me. Yes, European contact was horrible for indigenous peoples. But that was inevitable. Whatever mistreatment was inflicted by the Europeans, the impact of disease was always going to be several orders of magnitude more destructive than anything the Europeans could inflict intentionally.

I'm more sympathetic toward the sentiments behind Indigenous People's Day, but it feels artificial and contrived. It's not its own thing but is rather a reaction to Columbus Day; so there is still a European frame about the whole thing.

This. Don’t indigenous people have their own months (November)? Can’t Italian-Americans who were responsible for building many parts of this country and who made numerous other contributions have just one day?

[Anonymous]

The British, Portuguese, and Spaniards did much more damage to the natives of America than the Italians ever did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Acknowledge" is a weird word to use in this question?

I acknowledge that both are holidays. Columbus Day seems kind of stupid in light of what we know about his "discovery," that he wasn't even the first European to bump into North America, and that he was a worse-than-average human even considering the standards of his time.

But, all of that said, the holiday doesn't provoke strong emotions in me. Yes, European contact was horrible for indigenous peoples. But that was inevitable. Whatever mistreatment was inflicted by the Europeans, the impact of disease was always going to be several orders of magnitude more destructive than anything the Europeans could inflict intentionally.

I'm more sympathetic toward the sentiments behind Indigenous People's Day, but it feels artificial and contrived. It's not its own thing but is rather a reaction to Columbus Day; so there is still a European frame about the whole thing.

This. Don’t indigenous people have their own months (November)? Can’t Italian-Americans who were responsible for building many parts of this country and who made numerous other contributions have just one day?

Sure! Declare Isabella Rossellini Day and I'll celebrate it every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you acknowledge it or do you acknowledge today as Indigenous People's Day?

Neither.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: What exactly is there to acknowledge about Columbus? seriously. Unless you consider that being a pioneer in genocide is worth celebrating. The guy was no Thomas Edison or the Wright brothers. So, again, what is there to celebrate about him?

I mean, I’m still glad that people colonized North America or I wouldn’t be here. Obviously it could have been handled better.

[Anonymous]

It’s Columbus Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What exactly is there to acknowledge about Columbus? seriously. Unless you consider that being a pioneer in genocide is worth celebrating. The guy was no Thomas Edison or the Wright brothers. So, again, what is there to celebrate about him?

I mean, I’m still glad that people colonized North America or I wouldn’t be here. Obviously it could have been handled better.

You have no way of knowing this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What exactly is there to acknowledge about Columbus? seriously. Unless you consider that being a pioneer in genocide is worth celebrating. The guy was no Thomas Edison or the Wright brothers. So, again, what is there to celebrate about him?

I mean, I’m still glad that people colonized North America or I wouldn’t be here. Obviously it could have been handled better.

"It could have been handled better" gave me a legitimate belly laugh. I agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents were Italian immigrants in the early 1900s. So for them, Columbus Day was always important given the history of the events preceding the holiday.
However, in our small nuclear family we think of this day as immigrants day in Lou of Columbus Day in addition to indigenous peoples day. So perhaps a melting pot day.

+1. It always blows my mind that people don’t know why “Columbus Day” became a thing, or why people whose last names end in vowels might be a little salty that it’s been taken away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I celebrate both, you can acknowledge both.

How?

You can celebrate Hitler and the Jews?

Leave Hitler and Jews out of this. They are not comparable.

[Anonymous]

This is a power grab. On the other hand, those who want to preserve the history of Columbus are pushing a Christian agenda on all of us.

[Anonymous]

I never understood that Columbus Day wasn't for the explorer. It was for Italian Americans being murdered and discriminated against. My Italian husband had to tell me that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents were Italian immigrants in the early 1900s. So for them, Columbus Day was always important given the history of the events preceding the holiday.
However, in our small nuclear family we think of this day as immigrants day in Lou of Columbus Day in addition to indigenous peoples day. So perhaps a melting pot day.

+1. It always blows my mind that people don’t know why “Columbus Day” became a thing, or why people whose last names end in vowels might be a little salty that it’s been taken away.

It became a thing following a massacre of Italian Americans in New Orleans…and then children were taught that we have Columbus Day to honor the explorer…

Can’t blame people for not knowing! It all makes little sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a power grab. On the other hand, those who want to preserve the history of Columbus are pushing a Christian agenda on all of us.

How is it a power grab?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: What exactly is there to acknowledge about Columbus? seriously. Unless you consider that being a pioneer in genocide is worth celebrating. The guy was no Thomas Edison or the Wright brothers. So, again, what is there to celebrate about him?

How was Columbus a pioneer in genocide?