| I know Columbus
Day is a federal holiday, so banks are closed, but otherwise, it's barely
celebrated. Growing up, it seemed like
it was an important part of fall, not only because we had off from school, but
because I can still remember (yes, those straight-A student school memories)
learning about America being discovered by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Especially since he was trying to find a new
way to get to the "riches" of Asia (without having to sail around Africa) and
found the Americas instead! I still
recall hearing that some people thought the earth was flat and his ships would fall
off, and although it may not have been many people – it still made a lasting
impression. Regardless, he became one of
the most famous explorers in history.
I love history, so I loved everything about the holiday and even remember the names of the three ships, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, all these decades later. And although I've long forgotten most dates in history (after knowing them for the test, of course), the year 1492 is etched on my memory, as I suspect it is for many people. |
| Obviously, Red needs to "update"
her history on Christopher Columbus, and I am not talking about "obscure facts" like that
might not have been his real name. Information
has been discovered (pun intended, although this is a serious situation),
leading to significant discussion and controversy about Columbus "the person" versus the romanticized
hero originally depicted in history books.
As you would expect from any explorer traveling the world, there would be encounters with indigenous people. However, historians now believe Columbus' interactions were despicable (my word, not theirs) due to his use of violence and slavery, and forcing people to become Christians. In addition, he exposed the New World to diseases and other complications in what is now referred to as the "Columbian Exchange." |
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Black
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So, in keeping with the spirit of today being a holiday to celebrate, a "replacement" holiday, Indigenous People's Day, was created. And, although technically not a federal holiday, it does fall on one and hopefully will help us all refocus. In fact, this past Friday, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day, stating,
"For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures. Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples' resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society."
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