Here’s a few “fast facts” about the observance of this day in
the US of A:*
1.
"Celebration of Christopher Columbus's voyage in
the early United States is recorded from as early as
1792."
2.
"President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed it as a one-time
national celebration in 1892 ("During the anniversary in 1892, teachers,
preachers, poets and politicians used rituals to teach ideals of
patriotism.)"
3.
"The first statewide holiday was proclaimed by Colorado
governor Jesse F. McDonald in 1905, and it was made a statutory holiday
in 1907." [Emphasis added].
Here’s a few “fast facts” about the man, Christopher Columbus
himself:**
1.
“…cultural
anthropologist Carol Delaney notes that Columbus himself never owned a slave
and adopted an indigenous child as his son.”
2.
“Slavery
was already here in the New World. So were cannibalism and human sacrifice,
neither tolerated in the Old World.” [Well, not in Europe, anyway.]”**
3.
“Contrary to popular belief, “Columbus didn’t
‘discover’ America — he never set foot in North America.”***
So, I don’t get it;
where is the big attitude from the Native Americans about Columbus and Columbus
Day coming from? Why all the push to re-designate Columbus Day – a holiday that
has stood in some way in various areas of the United States of America since
1792 – to “Indigenous Peoples Day.”
And, by the way, just
what – exactly – is an “Indigenous Person?” I mean, I was born here, both sets
of my grandparents were born here, so…doesn’t that make me an Indigenous
Person?
I know…. There I go
bein’ all logical again!
But, seriously now, folks…. As a history buff,
I have no problem with a national observance of the American Indian heritage
that this country has.
And, guess what? “Indigenous Peoples Day should
be a holiday … and it is: Aug. 9. [Not only that, but] …November is
Indigenous Peoples Month.”
But, even if an international observance of the
various peoples around the world who are/were indigenous to given nations were
not good enough, and it is deemed necessary that America needs its own Indigenous Peoples day of
observance, my question is, why does it have to replace Columbus Day?
The answer is, it shouldn’t. The attempt to do so is just one more way
to “un-Americanize” our United States of America. And it needs to stop.
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