Spring Break
Columbus Day is a celebration of violence
Aaron Igdalsky
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Commentary
Sadly, it is doubtful that the State legislature or Gov. Rell will ever change the way Columbus Day is observed here in Connecticut. There is a significant leaf-peeping industry in our state, which includes bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, etc. Tourists come from around the U.S. and Canada to catch a glimpse of Connecticut's fall foliage, and Columbus Day weekend is by far the most financially important weekend during the leaf-peeping season. Much of our tourism industry depends on this weekend financially, and neither the legislature nor the Governor has the guts to offend those business people.
Let's be honest: very few people actually commemorate today in any special way anyway. Most people just look at it as another three-day weekend, paying no attention to what today means. Today is just another excuse for stores to have sales and car dealerships to run extra commercials. However, for members of the Native American community, today glorifies a man who wiped out an enormous number of their ancestors by means of murder, enslavement and disease. This viewpoint should be respected and honored, and Columbus Day should be abolished in Connecticut.
Let's be honest: very few people actually commemorate today in any special way anyway. Most people just look at it as another three-day weekend, paying no attention to what today means. Today is just another excuse for stores to have sales and car dealerships to run extra commercials. However, for members of the Native American community, today glorifies a man who wiped out an enormous number of their ancestors by means of murder, enslavement and disease. This viewpoint should be respected and honored, and Columbus Day should be abolished in Connecticut.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Brian
posted 10/13/08 @ 9:35 AM EST
Columbus Day is a day recognizing and celebrating the westward expansion of European culture to the New World. European curiosity, intellect, sea navigation, cartography and engineering made opened up the passageway for development and eventual birth of modern day America. (Continued…)
Webby
posted 10/13/08 @ 11:14 PM EST
Brian, isn't that a little value laden? Who's to say European culture is better than any other culture? What has all this development gotten us? We still have people starving to death every hour, we still have theft, murder, rape, etc. (Continued…)
Native American Advocate
posted 10/14/08 @ 9:18 AM EST
I would agree with Webby, to celebrate the westward expansion of European culture and colonization is not something to honor. It is celebrating the destruction and genocide of hundreds of thousands of Native peoples. (Continued…)
Post a Comment