Your comment post should be at least 260 words this week due Thursday by 11:59 pm and you will be responsible for responding (respectfully) to one of your classmates in at least a one paragraph reply entries by Sunday at 11:59 pm.
Should the United States Celebrate Columbus Day?
Should the United States Celebrate Columbus Day?
By NATALIE PROULX OCT. 5, 2017
Does your school recognize Columbus Day as an official holiday? What do you know about Christopher Columbus?
In this 2014 piece, “Columbus Day, or ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’?,” Jake Flanagin writes:
It’s a controversial day with a turbulent history. “This historically problematic holiday — Columbus never actually set foot on the continental U.S. — has made an increasing number of people wince, given the enslavement and genocide of Native American people that followed in the wake of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria,” writes Yvonne Zipp for The Christian Science Monitor. “The neighborhood wasn’t exactly empty when he arrived in 1492.”
Back in 1992 — 500 years after Columbus’s fateful landing in the Caribbean — Berkeley, Calif., was the first American city to repurpose his day in honor of Native America. “Talk of an alternative Columbus Day dates back to the 1970s,” writes Nolan Feeney for Time, “but the idea came to Berkeley after the First Continental Conference on 500 Years of Indian Resistance in Quito, Ecuador, in 1990. That led to another conference among Northern Californian Native American groups.” Attendees brought the idea in front of the Berkeley City Council, after which they “appointed a task force to investigate the ideas and Columbus’ historical legacy.” Two years later, council members officially instated Indigenous Peoples’ Day in lieu of Columbus by a unanimous vote.
The California state senator Lori Hancock, then the mayor of Berkeley, remembers encountering Italian-American pushback similar to that in Seattle. “We just had to keep reiterating that that was not the purpose,” she told Mr. Feeney. “The purpose was to really affirm the incredible legacy of the indigenous people who were in the North American continent long before Columbus.”
And it’s worth noting that not all Italian-Americans tote Christopher Columbus as a symbol of cultural pride. “Those supposed leaders in the Italian-American community who oppose Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same day as Columbus Day do not speak for all of us of Italian descent,” writes Margaret Viggiani of Seattle in a letter to The Seattle Times. “They certainly don’t speak for me. I, and many others, agree wholeheartedly with the long-overdue change and applaud the Seattle City Council for doing it.”
“Why should anyone take pride in honoring the life of a man who brought misery and degradation of the native peoples of this hemisphere?” she asks. “It’s time to give due to the important and overlooked accomplishments of the many indigenous people who inhabited this hemisphere long before it was named the Americas.”
Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:
— Why does the United States celebrate Columbus Day? In your opinion, is the holiday problematic?
— What do you think of the argument for changing the name and focus of the holiday from Columbus to “indigenous peoples”? Does it dishonor the heritage of Italian-Americans, a group that has also faced discrimination? Or does it serve to recognize and affirm the overlooked history and contributions of Native Americans?
— Do you think changing the name of the holiday can change the way indigenous peoples are treated and remembered in United States history? Or is this move largely symbolic?
— Do you think the United States should continue to recognize Columbus Day as an official holiday? If so, why? If not, should we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead — or something else?
The United States celebrates Columbus day because it’s like the discovery of the country. It’s also the day Columbus arrived in the Americas. In my opinion I don’t think that this holiday is problematic because It’s not like you have to celebrate it but some do, and also it’s not like getting in between things because most of the businesses don’t close down for the holiday or anything.
ReplyDeleteI think that changing the holiday to “indigenous people” is really just a waste of time because yes I think the Italian Americans should be given credit but I think most of the people are still going to recognize it as Columbus Day so I think that they should be no point of it if throughout all our lives we basically know it as Columbus Day.
I think the changing of the name can change the way indigenous people are treated because they’re basically just giving credit to someone else when there were people here already but I don’t think that people will really care about it or think it’s important because like I said I think people will always remember it as Columbus Day.
I don’t really consider Columbus Day as an official holiday because so many people out there don’t really like get into it especially when it’s said that he wasn’t the one who discovered America and did many horrific things but If people were to keep celebrating the holiday, I think that it should stay as Columbus Day because it is a historical event and many recognize it as that name for it.
The U.S celebrates Columbus Day because that is the day that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. It is a day made out to Christopher Columbus.The U.S celebrates columbus day because today is the day Christopher Columbus founded the Americas, Without him we would have never started a civilization here. I do not think the holiday is problematic because it’s a big part in our history, even tho he killed Native Americans to get the land who knows what the world would have been without him.
ReplyDeleteI do not think there should be a name change for the national holiday. Native Americans are not the only ones who suffered from discrimination, Also the Italian- Americans did as well. If it was that serious of an issue the name would have already been changed.
Changing the name of Columbus day is largely symbolic, But the name does not change the way we look at a certain group of people.
I think we should keep celebrating Columbus day we have been for the past thousands of years. There is no point in changing it now, also he's the reason Americans here. If not the country would be run by Native Americans
The U.S. celebrates Columbus Day because Calif. was the first American City to repurpose his day in honor. It is also when the U.S. was discovered. I think this holiday is problematic because he didn’t step foot on the continental U.S. I don’t think it should be recognized as Indigenous People’s Day because no one is really going to remember to call it that. Also, it would have to be changed in all of the calendars. Everyone is so used to “Columbus Day”. It wouldn’t sound right. Though, I do think changing it will give the Italian Americans recognition. It’s pretty unfair to them because it is a holiday celebrated for someone who did nothing for the U.S. They went through a hardship. Going through discrimination. In my opinion, I don’t think we should celebrate it at all. Some schools even have off. I don’t think it makes sense to celebrate a holiday given to someone who did not discover the U.S. Not many people really pay attention to this ‘holiday’ so I don’t think the name really matters either. It isn’t some big holiday where everyone gets together like Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s just a simple recognition day that shouldn’t really even be a thing. To conclude, Columbus Day should just stay the same, but should still recognize the other groups of people during that time who actually contributed to the discovering of the U.S.
ReplyDeletei agree. we shouldnt celebrate it. its a whack holiday. nothing good has came from colmbus day. Changing the name would be stupid. It doesnt sound right.
DeleteThe United States celebrates Columbus day to celebrate the Italians, the spirit of exploration, and the spread of western civilization. Yes I think the holiday is problematic, many people believe it should be a holiday all US citizens should celebrate and people think it shouldn’t be a holiday at all. I think that they shouldn’t change the name of the holiday. Also it shouldn’t be considered a holiday Columbus never founded the USA he founded the islands and parts of South and Central America. It wouldn’t dishonor the Italian-Americans because even though Columbus was Italian he sailed for Spain. Spain aloud him to do this so it should partially their fault. Changing the name probably would bring some popularity to the indigenous people but not a lot. It would be largely symbolic because the holiday’s name is getting changed to something different that nobody is used to. The USA should not continue to recognize COlumbus day as an official holiday. As I said before Columbus didn’t even find the US so why should we be celebrating it. Also he hurt many of the natives whether it be killing them, selling them into slavery and etc. I think there just shouldn’t be a holiday at all. Yes it is important to remember all the natives who were brutally attacked on but I think there is no point for us to have a holiday.
ReplyDeleteBlog # 5
ReplyDeleteIts problematic because some say columbus was the first to step foot on America others say he wasn't the first. I think it's problematic. Reason why is because we could have video proof and someone would still contradict this. Even if people new they were wrong they would still argue it.
I think it would be pointless to change the name. We know columbus day as Columbus. Even if we changed the name people still would still call is Columbus day. That is how we were raised. I'm not really sure which side is better. The Italians getting discriminated against and called a bunch of rapists and disrespectful snobs. For something they might have or might have not done. No one knows what actually happened. Other then some white man saying “hey i found land”
Like i said before changing the name would be pointless because we were taught one thing in school and people are arguing over if it's factual or not. I believe what i do and as well with you. Maybe if they changed how it was taught then it could work but not until then. I know i wasn't really taught about the native americans getting treated horrible.
I feel as if we don't celebrate the holiday. Some schools have school and others don't. When we used to have off for this day i just thought it was a different day. So i couldn't tell you if changing the name would make a difference or not. The only time i recall this day as a holiday was in elementary when we would actually do something for it.
ReplyDeleteThe United States celebrates Columbus Day because he was the first one to set foot on continental US. I do
not think that this day is a problematic day because some businesses still stay open, some schools do not get a day off. But at the same time i think its a problematic day because they are giving all the credit to someone else. I thinlnthey should change the name because Christopher Columbus was not the first one to set foot on Continental US. Yes it does dishonor the heritage of Italian-American group because they gave all the credit to Columbus. Yes i feel like it will change the way indigenous peoples are treated because they would be like after so many years why do you want to take all the credit now. It can be both largely symbolic because since everyone is used to it getting it called “Columbus Day” it would be another name. Its fine to celebrate Columbus Day, since he did take all the credit but at the same they should celebrate the indigenous people days because it was other people like the native americans that were on the continental US.
After reading this article i learned a lot about Columbus Day. For example, the United States only celebrates Columbus Day because when they set foot on the continental U.S. , it had made an increasing number of people wince, given the enslavement and genocide of Native American people that followed in the wake of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Also, 500 years after Columbus landed in the Caribbean, was the first American city to repurpose this day in honor of the Native Americans. No, i do not think this holiday is problematic. You are dumb if you do. I am not sure if my school recognizes Columbus as an official holiday. Reading this article and just learning about Christopher Columbus i know a couple of things. Just like how he almost did not get to make his historic journey. I say this because Columbus became convinced of the possibility of reaching Asia by traveling west. His birthplace was Genoa, Republic of Genoa. He accomplished four journeys across the Atlantic and discovery of the New World. He also had two sons named Diego and Fernando, and was married to Filipa Moniz Perestrelo.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article i learned a lot about Columbus Day. For example, the United States only celebrates Columbus Day because when they set foot on the continental U.S. , it had made an increasing number of people wince, given the enslavement and genocide of Native American people that followed in the wake of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Also, 500 years after Columbus landed in the Caribbean, was the first American city to repurpose this day in honor of the Native Americans. No, i do not think this holiday is problematic. You are dumb if you do. I am not sure if my school recognizes Columbus as an official holiday. Reading this article and just learning about Christopher Columbus i know a couple of things. Just like how he almost did not get to make his historic journey. I say this because Columbus became convinced of the possibility of reaching Asia by traveling west. His birthplace was Genoa, Republic of Genoa. He accomplished four journeys across the Atlantic and discovery of the New World. He also had two sons named Diego and Fernando, and was married to Filipa Moniz Perestrelo.
ReplyDelete