General Discussion

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)

33. It's a ridiculous holiday, and shameful to boot

Sat Oct 6, 2012, 11:20 AM

Oct 2012

Colombia was not just responsible for opening up the new world for exploitation, he was personally responsible for the wholesale slaughter of what some historians estimate to be millions of American Indians.

But leaving aside the genocide for a moment, what are we celebrating? He was an incompetent navigator; he was from Spain and/or Italy; he never came to North America. So why the hell do we have a holiday in the US for him?

I (and others) propose Armstrong Day (or at least Explorers Day), a day on which we can celebrate American heroes who did things far more amazing than Christopher Columbus ever dreamed of -- like walking on another planet.

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Does anyone in the private sector have Columbus Day off, or even the public sector? [View all] pstokely Oct 2012 OP

MA holiday for schools etc. virgogal Oct 2012 #1

I know I gotta work! Curtland1015 Oct 2012 #2

Do you mean American Indian Genocide day? we can do it Oct 2012 #3

Exactly. Thank you. nt DLevine Oct 2012 #21

a day of shame not celebration nt bowens43 Oct 2012 #26

I'm off. :) nt justiceischeap Oct 2012 #4

Our private school is closed in MD. (K-2). kelliekat44 Oct 2012 #5

My friend is off on Monday. Lugnut Oct 2012 #6

NYS worker and I get twelve holidays AndreaCG Oct 2012 #7

What states have a holiday on election day? pstokely Oct 2012 #10

Meh Cirque du So-What Oct 2012 #8

Florida state employees don't have Columbus Day off. Not sure about others. n/t porphyrian Oct 2012 #9

Do they get any Jewish holidays off? pstokely Oct 2012 #11

Nope, just these... porphyrian Oct 2012 #12

My husband has off HockeyMom Oct 2012 #28

No. When is it? nt Honeycombe8 Oct 2012 #13

Monday pstokely Oct 2012 #16

I think they do in Columbus Ohio n/t doc03 Oct 2012 #14

schools, gummint, banks and those of us who interact with same daily, get monday off. ellenfl Oct 2012 #15

my day job right now is in a federal setting... MrsBrady Oct 2012 #17

My office is closed. My wife is off too, but works for the water company. n/t FSogol Oct 2012 #18

County government in Illinois. We are closed on Monday. davsand Oct 2012 #19

What about the schools? pstokely Oct 2012 #20

My daughter's high school is closed. davsand Oct 2012 #30

I get that day off BlueinOhio Oct 2012 #22

Banks do in my part of the world. Whovian Oct 2012 #23

They do all across the country FBaggins Oct 2012 #27

In my town the schools are open krispos42 Oct 2012 #24

Shit no. But I will be... RagAss Oct 2012 #25

got one foot on the platform......and the other..... Gabi Hayes Oct 2012 #32

Both of us do. HughBeaumont Oct 2012 #29

Saw a sign on my bank door that it IS open Columbus Day treestar Oct 2012 #31

It's a ridiculous holiday, and shameful to boot Nevernose Oct 2012 #33

We gave it up years ago for the day after Thanksgiving. Jazzgirl Oct 2012 #34

My office is closed onenote Oct 2012 #35

Off on Monday BlueInPhilly Oct 2012 #36