Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ferrets are Cool

(21,106 posts)
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 09:25 AM Oct 2018

Never forget that we are the country that celebrates a day for

a man who was a sex slaver and child molester.

Columbus wrote to a friend in 1500: "A hundred castellanoes (a Spanish coin) are as easily obtained for a woman as for a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for girls; those from nine to ten (years old) are now in demand."

Columbus was also responsible for the genocide of the Taino people.
Eventually, Columbus and later his brother Bartholomew Columbus who he left in charge of the island, simply resorted to wiping out the Taino altogether. Prior to Columbus' arrival, some scholars place the population of Haiti/Hispaniola (now at 16 million) at around 1.5 to 3 million people. By 1496, it was down to 1.1 million, according to a census done by Bartholomew Columbus. By 1516, the indigenous population was 12,000, and according to Las Casas (who were there) by 1542 fewer than 200 natives were alive. By 1555, every single one was dead.

Yet, we still teach our children to celebrate this monster.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Never forget that we are the country that celebrates a day for (Original Post) Ferrets are Cool Oct 2018 OP
Columbus Day was made a national holiday to celebrate Italian-Americans Drahthaardogs Oct 2018 #1
For the skeptics ... GeorgeGist Oct 2018 #2
Yes. Exactly. That is why the day is gaining a new name. MineralMan Oct 2018 #3
Mineral Man, I'd be interested in your thoughts on these questions re this holiday. LAS14 Oct 2018 #4
I've always thought that we should change Columbus Day moose65 Oct 2018 #5
Columbus day is celebrated al over Latin America lunamagica Oct 2018 #6
Meh, if I have to work it, it doesn't count no matter what you name it Amishman Oct 2018 #7

Drahthaardogs

(6,843 posts)
1. Columbus Day was made a national holiday to celebrate Italian-Americans
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 09:31 AM
Oct 2018

NOT Columbus.

That's why there are Italian festivals and parades.

MineralMan

(146,288 posts)
3. Yes. Exactly. That is why the day is gaining a new name.
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 10:01 AM
Oct 2018

Today is Indigenous Peoples Day here in Minnesota. It is not a "happy" day, but a day of mourning for all those who died through the genocide brought here from Europe.

moose65

(3,166 posts)
5. I've always thought that we should change Columbus Day
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 10:05 AM
Oct 2018

I think Columbus Day should be changed into Election Day! It’s on a Monday. Many people already have the day off - it’s a Federal holiday. We could actually have elections all weekend, ending with the Monday Election Day. Sometimes the weather in November is horrible on Election Day in the northeast and west.

Amishman

(5,556 posts)
7. Meh, if I have to work it, it doesn't count no matter what you name it
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 01:00 PM
Oct 2018

Matters as much as National Pancake Day, or National Coffee Day. Actually, the last one means more to me as I can at least get free coffee from Sheetz

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Never forget that we are ...