Some of the states that dont celebrate columbus day include oregon, hawaii and alaska. If youre like me, you were taught in grade school that columbus was an awful person who killed peaceloving natives, and is a symbol for western oppression. Personally, i dont think we should celebrate columbus day. Why we celebrate columbus day the holiday honoring christopher columbuss sighting of america on october 12, 1492, is observed in the states of the united states and also in parts of canada, in puerto rico, and in some cities in italy and spain. Columbus day should be changed to indigenous cultures day because we should not celebrate a genocide of an entire culture. Ask students what myths on the wholegroup kwl need to be crossed out, what should be added to the l column and what they are wondering because of the. Columbus instead thought the earth was much smaller than most other people believed and that is why he attempted to sail across the globe to the east indies. Oct 14, 20 we have to settle for a small gesture, like throwing a columbus day party where bad directions result in our going to the wrong house and accidentally giving the occupant an incurable wasting disease. As known by many, columbus day commemorates the discovery of the new world by none other than christopher columbus himself. He traveled from spain to north america trying to find the northwest passage on august 3rd, 1492. I do not think that we should celebrate christopher columbus because he was not the first to find the americas. Back in 1992 500 years after columbus s fateful landing in the caribbean berkeley, calif.
Over time, as attitudes and perspectives changed in american life, many people have come to question the merits of celebrating. First of all, columbus didnt actually discover the americas, despite what you may have been taught in elementary school. Columbus was not a hero, the america discovery was for a better nation but for economics and monarchical titles. Oct 09, 2018 consequently, we were told that we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, and that it would be better to replace the holiday with something to hono if youre like me, you were taught in grade school that columbus was an awful person who killed peaceloving natives, and is a symbol for western oppression. Twelve reasons not to celebrate columbus day daniel. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th. Our morals and standards will be very different from what the people of 2512 will think, as well. Its also about honoring italianamerican heritage as a whole. In the more than 80 years since columbus day became an official holiday, it has drawn criticism. Columbus was also not the one who proved the earth was round. To change this, activists opposed to these celebrations have launched a multipronged argument to demonstrate why columbus day should be eradicated. Columbus day was established in 1937 to honor his discovery of the americas in 1492, although columbus s voyage was celebrated even in colonial times. There have been countless numbers of attacks on whether or not we should celebrate columbus day. Really, we shouldnt celebrate columbus day because columbus mistreated the native americans to work them as slaves.
Columbus day is a national holiday in many countries of the americas and elsewhere which officially celebrates the anniversary of christopher columbus s arrival in the americas on october 12, 1492 julian calendar. Columbus day originated in the united states primarily as a way for. Columbus day became a federal holiday in 1937, in part because of efforts by roman catholic italian americans. Before he got there, the native population was up to 3 million people with a good life that they lived. On the plus side, ever since the year 1990 south dakota has been celebrating native american day. By 1555, there were zero fullblooded natives left on the island. On the second monday in october each year, we celebrate columbus day this year, its on october 11th. Then in 1892, benjamin harrison issued a proclamation encouraging americans to celebrate the voyage of columbus. Celebrating columbus day was, and continues to be, a way of saying were proud to be americans, and equally proud of our italian heritage and ancestry. Columbus day understood that the world was round, but they did not yet. Rocco float for the columbus day parade october 12, 2015. The landing is celebrated as columbus day in the united states but the name. Second, without him there would be people still wondering if the world is flat or round.
The columbus day problem harvard graduate school of education. I believe we should not celebrate columbus day because i m sure we are celebrating a murder and the person supported in owning or controlling of a person. Yes, columbus exposed the native peoples of the americas to many atrocities, but you cannot apply the ethics of 2012 to the ethics held by people who lived in 1492. Getting rid of columbus day entirely is a sad development. During the late 19th and early 20th century, members of the stigmatized ethnic and. Then once he showed up and stayed there for 70 years there was no native people to be found. I do not think we should celebrate christopher columbus. Here are three reasons we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, as a country.
Getting rid of columbus day entirely is a sad development the. Oct, 2014 many cities and states across the country have shifted away from celebrating columbus day, and thats because more and more americans are learning the real history behind christopher columbus and his discovery. Some cities and states are opting to celebrate national indigenous peoples day instead. According to an analysis by vox, only 15 percent of all private sector workers take the day off and the holiday is only recognized by 22 states. The tradition of observing columbus day dates back to the 18th century.
Consequently, we were told that we shouldnt celebrate columbus. The columbus day problem harvard graduate school of. People say christopher columbus founded america, but really he didnt, he didnt even lay eyes on north america, but he did make it possible for others come later and make america what it is today. The city council recently voted to get rid of columbus day and replace it with indigenous peoples day, commemorating indigenous. Apr 22, 2019 columbus day became a federal holiday in 1937, in part because of efforts by roman catholic italian americans. The first columbus day was celebrated in 1792 in order to remember the historical landings 300th anniversary. Columbus day and the columbus day 958 words bartleby. The answer we get is yes because we have a holiday on monday of the second week of october. It does not matter how great and influential he was, he wiped out an entire people.
The con for columbus day written by elliot lassitter. We should not celebrate it because columbus did not discover america. Why we should still celebrate columbus day the daily campus. Thats because last week, the seattle city council unanimously passed a resolution to honor the contributions and cultures of native americans on the second monday of october while seattles decision may seem unusual, its actually part of growing trend. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day 1200 words cram. People debate e if he is even relevant because he obviously did not. Oct 05, 2017 personally, i dont think we should celebrate columbus day. Oct 09, 2017 before i get into the why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, im going to explain why we do. For my three essays i wrote a rhetorical analysis on president obamas 2008 inaugural address, a paper on if college worth it, and why we shouldnt celebrate christopher columbus day, but instead celebrate a native american. While columbus day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. Its an american tradition, as american as pizza pie.
When it comes to celebrating indigenous peoples day, i want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. These are a couple reasons why we should celebrate columbus day. Causing death and illness from the small pox disease. It was only after this voyage that the europeans started to take over america and create their own settlement in the area. In fact, thats probably all you really remember about the genoaborn explorer, christopher columbus and only when columbus day rolls around, if youre fortunate enough to get a day off.
Every year on october 10, we celebrate the bloodshed and the destruction of a very complex society but we also celebrate the opening of a great safety valve in the americas and the introduction of the americas to the advanced society of europe. It was commonly accepted by greek philosophers before 1400 that the earth was round. The meaning of the holiday honored on the second monday in october. Columbus day is the celebration of the day christopher columbus apparently discovered america. Oct 26, 2017 the con for columbus day written by elliot lassitter. Sep 27, 2015 why we should celebrate columbus day, the ordering sons of italy in america in washington, d. Why we should celebrate columbus day vesely revised youtube. The holiday should celebrate the advancement of western civilization, warts and all.
He failed to find the passage,but instead he found new land. Instead of looking back 500 years and judging a man who lived before the military use of gunpowder by todays mores, those who oppose columbus day should celebrate his discovery and be thankful. According to a census taken by columbus men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of haiti. They argue that it creates a false narrative about the discovery of the americas and contributes to the disenfranchisement of native. Few american holidays have been as controversial as columbus day. Posted oct 06, 2017 dennis bellisario dresses as christopher columbus on the st. Oct 15, 20 columbus day, which is celebrated today in the usa and honours the arrival of christopher columbus to the new world, is an example of outdated and misguided history.
Currently 22 states dont celebrate columbus day due to the debates about columbus day and how some people feel about him, 22 states dont celebrate it. Origins of columbus day christopher columbus may have first left his mark on the americas in the 15th century, but the united states didnt establish a federal holiday in his honor until 1937. It is mostly celebrated with a day off from school or work, which is used for recreational activities such as trips to parks or relaxing. It was first celebrated on october 12, 1792, when the new york society of tammany honored columbus on the 300th anniversary of his first voyage. Many cities and states across the country have shifted away from celebrating columbus day, and thats because more and more. Nearly 60 percent of respondents to a recent poll on the controversial. The holiday honoring christopher columbus s sighting of america on october 12, 1492, is observed in the states of the united states and also in parts of canada, in puerto rico, and in some cities in italy and spain.
In my opinion injury should only be for holy dates like christmas, because it has deeper meanings and the columbus day only celebrate his arrival in america. A viking named leif ericson founded the americas 500 years earlier. In 1451, christopher columbus known in italy as cristoforo colombo was born in genoa, italy. Cities, states, and universities across the country have been pushing to drop columbus day a national holiday that celebrates christopher columbus s colonization of the americas starting in 1492in favor of celebrating indigenous peoples day. Columbus and his gang brought disease to the americas.
We teach our school kids a cute little song that goes. Oct 09, 2017 as an antipaean to a holiday most americans hardly acknowledge unless they get a day off, here are a list of reasons that we should remove columbus day from our list of federal holidays. Whether you have to work, or youre off on monday for columbus day, youre in the majority if you decide to celebrate. Columbus day is the day we celebrate when christopher columbus landed in the new world. This commemorates columbus s journey to north america, as he touched on land on october 12, 1492. Columbus day is celebrated every year on the second monday of october in the united states. Before i get into the why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, im going to explain why we do. Columbus day is a national holiday in many countries of the americas and elsewhere which. If i was asked that question i would say most definitely we shouldnt celebrate columbus day. Many people believe that columbus day should not be celebrated because christopher columbus committed atrocities against native americans. First off i feel the need to point out that no one really actively calibrates columbus day, or honors columbus on that day. Instead of looking back 500 years and judging a man who lived before the military use of gunpowder by todays. For some people, columbus day isnt just about celebrating his arrival in america.
Columbus day with indigenous peoples day, also known as native americans day. Columbus day, which is celebrated today in the usa and honours the arrival of christopher columbus to the new world, is an example of outdated and misguided history. Across the country, states, cities and schools are observing indigenous peoples day instead of columbus day. A genocide happened in the americas, and it began with columbus. Why people are celebrating indigenous peoples day instead. They were the original immigrants to the new world, and deserve their remembrance. Columbus day for me recalls my childhood with my dad and his family, from the region of campania, italy, who struggled so that we might all achieve the american dream. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. Christopher columbus is a man worthy of the honors and accolades bestowed upon him. Oct 05, 2017 back in 1992 500 years after columbuss fateful landing in the caribbean berkeley, calif. People think as him as a hero,but most people havent heard of the things he had done. I celebrate columbus day because i, for one, am glad he discovered america the only country in the entire history of mankind that has accomplished so much, helped so. Every year, on the second monday of october, the u. Celebrating cultural heritage, or the colonization of.
This holiday is controversial because the european settlement in the americas led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples. Oct 09, 2017 and, while we celebrate columbus day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor native americans. Columbus day when asked should columbus day be celebrated. However, should this date coincide with a tuesday, wednesday, thursday or. Columbus day, which is on the second monday of october, remembers christopher columbus arrival to the americas on october 12, 1492. They argue that it creates a false narrative about the discovery of the americas and contributes to the disenfranchisement of native americans. President franklin roosevelt made columbus day a federal holiday in the 1930s, but opposition to it has only snowballed with time. Oct, 2017 i celebrate columbus day because i, for one, am glad he discovered america the only country in the entire history of mankind that has accomplished so much, helped so many people around the. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day essay 1191 words. In fact several regions have taken to renaming the day indigenous peoples day. Oct 10, 2017 columbus instead thought the earth was much smaller than most other people believed and that is why he attempted to sail across the globe to the east indies.
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