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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 becuase it as when America was supposedly founded.Even though it was populated by the native americans. The holiday is problematic because columbus never actually set foot on the continental U.S. Also that since the information land to the enslavement of the Native Americans and genocide is one of the main reason the holidays is problematic. I think the argument of changing the name of the day is stupid. If people are going to fight over it like why even have the holiday.The only reason americans celebrate it is to get out of school for the children and young adults and the adults celebrate it only to have a party and a reason to have fun . I don’t think that it dishonors anyone or recognizes anyone because it doesn’t matter if you change the the name it is still going to be called columbus day to Americans. I think changing the name of the holiday cannot change the way of how indigenous people are treated or remember in the United States because people are still going to remember what happen after columbus day happen and the things that the europeans did to them and enslaving them and almost killing them all. I think the united States should make it an official holiday because everybody already celebrates it and school don't open during it. It is an already holiday even if the government doesn’t see it. I think it will always be columbus day and it should be a holiday since everyone already celebrates it.
ReplyDeletei really liked your reply. it was good.
Deleteau
ReplyDeleteaustin MacClemmy
The United States celebrates this holiday because they think that christopher columbus found thus land and named it the new world. Which in fact he did not there were vikings and indians on this land before him. He was just the one that traveled here and took over. He was not the first one to find this land himself.
I feel the changing of the name is largely symbolic to some people because they are so against changing the names of historical events. I think the name of this holiday should just stay the same. There is no reason to change it after like 4000 years. If it was a disgrace to people is the past it would already of changed but there is no reason to change the name if it now.
I do not think that the united states should keep recognizing this holiday because he
didn't even find this land. Also he tortured the indians.
i agree with you that no one will change history even though some of it is obviously not true. but i dont agree that the united states shouldnt recognize the holiday because you cant change history and something that has been the same for years.
DeleteTaliah Haughton
ReplyDeletePeriod 4-5
October 9, 2017
Why does the United States celebrate Columbus Day? In your opinion, is the holiday problematic? The United states celebrate Columbus day because of the first European sail to America. I think the argument for changing the name and focusing on the holiday from Columbus to ‘indigenous peoples” shouldn’t be as big as it is, but other people who disagree with it has their right to speak. Everyone has a mouth but not everyone wants to speak out. As Margaret Viggiani said, “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.” It can be dishonoring of the Italian-American heritage for not speaking out for them self. The Columbus Day, Overlooked the history of the native americans but not everyone is comfortable about what they heard or learned.
Changing the name of the holiday can change the way indigenous peoples are treated and remembered about the United States history. It is important that everyone knows about their culture and the history of it, because sometimes it has a background meaning. I think the Columbus day can be officially celebrate as a national holiday, even so, the Indigenous people can be celebrated, as long as it isn’t a offense toward any culture/heritage.
I agree with your comment, Indigenous people should be recognized more. That's because Christopher Columbus didn't really discover America he was the only one that spoke out that's why people think it was he who discovered this country.
DeleteThe 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.
I agree with you. Columbus Day should stay Columbus day. I think there should be another day to celebrate indigenous people.
DeleteAmerica celebrated this holiday because is the discovered of america. People saying columbus did not land some say they did. Who saying the real truth nobody knows. I been teached that columbus discovered America. Also I been listen and some people say columbus did discover America but he did not claim the land and that another person claim it and columbus the say that he did it. Who believe we never know until we ask the real persons who did but they are dead long time ago. I do not think nothing in this title to change the name to indigenous people. I just saying that people can think whatever they want. If columbus did it ok if he did not ok. People should keep believe in what they are believing. Just do not form a big of a deal keep your own believings to yourself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because no one really knows the truth. We only talk what we hear. I researched on google. Who discovered America? It says Christopher Columbus was the first, but evidence came to light that our understanding of history have changed. It's really confusing what to believe, or what not to but who knows.
Delete
ReplyDeleteDallely Arteaga
October 9,2017
The United States celebrate Columbus day because It was when the first european sailed to America. It was the day when this country was supposedly found by Christopher Columbus, which is false because native americans were already here before him. In my opinion, I don't think we should celebrate it because he wasn't even the first one who stepped foot in the U.S. What I think of the argument for changing the name from Columbus to “indigenous peoples” is that they should change it because why should christopher get all the credit when he didn't really discover America. This should be celebrated for the native americans since they were the ones here first. Indigenous peoples should get recognized even more, It can be dishonoring for the Italian-American heritage for not speaking out for themselves. Everyone's honestly not sure who really discovered America, but in my opinion i don't think it was Christopher Columbus, he just took all the credit because he was the one who actually spoke out.
y school has always recognized Christopher Columbus day. We normally have off for the school day but this year we didnt. But we always learn about him in history class every year. The things that i remember about Christopher Columbus are that he sailed in 1492. He was an italian explorer, navigator and colonizer. He began his voyage on August 3rd of 1492, on October 12th of 1492 he lands on an island in the Caribbean Sea and in March of 1492 he returned from his voyage. Christopher Columbus was determined to find a direct water route from Eurupe to Asia but he never did and instead he found the Americas. He had three ships, they were named the Pinta, The Nina and the Santa Maria. Three countries said no to christopher columbus's voyage for a decade. Portugal england and france all agreed on saying no to christopher columbus. Experts had told him that all of his calculations were wrong and that christopher columbus was wrong on how long it would take him on his voyage. He believed it was a short amount of time but they found to think that it would take longer than he thought. Some people consider Christopher Columbus as a hero and some consider him and as a villain. They considered him as a hero because he discovered the Americas, and found what we have today. Others say he's a villain because more than three million people died from war, slavery and mines due to him. He also introduced several different diseases to people. I believe that Christopher Columbus is a hero because of how he found the Americas.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I am surprise such great explanation you gave to people to read. I agree on the part that you said columbus is hero, because he is the one who discovered America.
DeleteMy school does not recognize Columbus Day as a holiday because we started going to school. Christopher columbus is an Italian explorer who stepped foot in America. He was the first European to step foot in America..United States celebrate Columbus Day because they think Columbus discovered America. I think this holiday is problematic because Columbus didn’t discover America, it was the Native Americans. I think the name indigenous peoples makes more sense than Columbus Day because when Columbus arrived in America, there were already natives living in it. I do not think that it dishonors the Italian because they should recognize that the Native Americans were in it before Christopher Columbus. I think changing the name of the holiday can change the way indigenous peoples are treated and remembered in United States history because people would recognize the natives more and would respect them a little bit. I do not think that America should still recognize Columbus day as a holiday because Native Americans was in this country first. We should celebrate indigenous day instead so that people would recognize the natives as the real people that discovered America. I think people should still credit Christopher Columbus for being the first European to step foot in America.
ReplyDeleteI really like your response Iain, I like hos you knew more about Columbus than was talked about in the article. Even though we have different ideas between our points in our responses, I think you did a great job. I liked it when you were with the natives Americans and you talked about their pain and suffering.
DeleteAs long as I can remember I have always learned about Christopher Columbus in school. We learned about his travels and his life. We learned more details as years in school past. Usually we have no school that day except for this year. We associate Columbus with the founding of the Americas. I don't think the holiday is a real issue. I don't understand that after decades of celebrating the holiday do people have a problem now with the holiday. It is a part of history. You cannot change history but you can learn from it. Italian Americans celebrate that holiday. I think we should have another day to celebrate "Indigenous People" day. We can remember and celebrate them on that day. I don't think he will change how they are treated. Long after Columbus , they were still booted off their land by Americans. There were American Indian Wars. Everyone has a holiday they celebrate like Saint Patrick's Day for Irish and Octoberfest for Germans so why not the Native Americans. They were here first. So I as you see we should develop a day for them and still celebrate Columbus Day. You cannot please everyone. If you take this holiday away who knows what will come next. Some other group can find a reason they disagree with Halloween or 4th of July. If you don't agree with it then don't celebrate it.
ReplyDeleteThis response touches upnon Columbus day in a minimal way i mean dont get me wrong this response was great but i think you could have told us a little more
DeleteThe 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.