Screw Columbus Day

[Kevin]

After reading this, I can't believe Columbus Day is a thing. The following comment might be something which Godwin's Law does not apply to, but Columbus Day is pretty similar to having a Hitler Day.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day

[PersistentDST]

I don't even need to read the post, because I already agree with your sentiment. Unfortunately, since this country continues to misinform during the education process, many people will not be aware of the truth about Columbus. Slavery (sexual and labor), violence and disease all because he was a greedy bastard.

AND HOW CAN YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INHABITED!?

Okay...I'm done ranting again.

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

I don't even need to read the post, because I already agree with your sentiment. Unfortunately, since this country continues to misinform during the education process, many people will not be aware of the truth about Columbus. Slavery (sexual and labor), violence and disease all because he was a greedy bastard.

AND HOW CAN YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INHABITED!?

Okay...I'm done ranting again.

Indeed. Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!

[DrPhil]

I just hope this thread isn't the first time some GCers have learned the foundation of Columbus Day. We cannot rely on the K-12 school system for the rest of our lives. Some of us received additional education at home when we were kids and we definitely used college and beyond to challenge what was always taught to be "history" and "conventional wisdom."

Most people do not celebrate Columbus Day other than getting a day off from work or school. I am thankful to work for private entities that do not acknowledge most government holidays. Yesterday was a regular Monday for us.

[chi-o_cat]

I'm so glad I had a teacher in high school who had us read The People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.

[Kevin]

I knew he was a horrible person, but I was really not aware of the fact that he sold children as sex slaves and was largely responsible for the African slave trade's beginning, although it is arguable that the African slave trade would have happened with or without Columbus' involvement at some point.

[DrPhil]

Christopher Columbus is not the cause of any of that stuff. Servitude and slavery existed at some level before Columbus and perhaps would have strengthened for hundreds of years without Columbus. He just made it a power house and did a damn good job at getting what he wanted from whom he wanted. It's nothing personal. Just pursuit of profit and exploiting groups of people who can be alienated and exploited--even by their own ethnicity and culture of people.

[squirrely girl]

Thank you DrPhil!

I'm curious about the opinions of folks with perhaps a closer connection to the insult in terms of race/ethnicity/acculturation (i.e., Native Americans) as well as folks from groups that may also perceive any cultural connection to the day (e.g., Portuguese, Italian).

Culturally I'm split... between German Quakers who broke off and mixed among local Cherokee and Italian immigrants...

I get the outrage over essentially immortalizing a very flawed man... but when folks take issue with this day but not with the $20 bill, continued US violating of tribal nation sovereignty (see: hemp; passports), or the fucked state of Native American psychosocial and physical outcomes... well... the faux Internet outrage seems trite...

Hoping all the folks taking issue with Columbus Day remember their outrage for St. Patrick's Day... and Thanksgiving...

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

AND HOW CAN YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INHABITED!?

[honeychile]

I appreciated the article, Kevin.

[flirt5721]

I appreciate the article too. My dad is the one that taught me the truth about Columbus.

[moe.ron]

Columbus wasn't even the first European to set foot in America, Leif Ericson was there 500 years before Columbus.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

Columbus wasn't even the first European to set foot in America, Leif Ericson was there 500 years before Columbus.

Thank You but will History ever change? Hell, Chris never hit America! America name after Another dude anyway, LOL!

Actually first were Aliens from Mars!!!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Hell, Chris never hit America!

Yes, he did—unless you're being provincial and confusing America (as in the United States of America) with the Americas (North and South).