Columbus Day

[jayem]

…is today. Of course, Columbus landed in the Bahamas on Oct. 12. But the federal holiday was moved to the 2nd Monday in Oct. to give government employees a long weekend. His day is now observed to honor Italian-Americans. We all know Columbus was a terrible colonial administrator. As governor of Hispaniola, his treatment of the indigenous people was so barbaric, he was recalled and shipped back to Spain in shackles. (Though King Ferdinand later pardoned him)

There are so many worthier Italians who could be honored. Why not DaVinci Day? Leonardo is probably the greatest man of learning and intellect who ever lived. So what if he has no connection with the western hemisphere? Neither did St. Patrick. But his day is observed to honor Irish-Americans.

 

[d taylor]

-
​

I always thought of Leonardo as an overrated artist. Maybe he should be celebrated as a great thinker, but not so much for his art.

 

[Aldebaran]

…is today. Of course, Columbus landed in the Bahamas on Oct. 12. But the federal holiday was moved to the 2nd Monday in Oct. to give government employees a long weekend. His day is now observed to honor Italian-Americans. We all know Columbus was a terrible colonial administrator. As governor of Hispaniola, his treatment of the indigenous people was so barbaric, he was recalled and shipped back to Spain in shackles. (Though King Ferdinand later pardoned him)

There are so many worthier Italians who could be honored. Why not DaVinci Day? Leonardo is probably the greatest man of learning and intellect who ever lived. So what if he has no connection with the western hemisphere? Neither did St. Patrick. But his day is observed to honor Irish-Americans.

Columbus discovered America. That's why he's the particular Italian honored.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY EVERYONE!!!

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Five hundred years before Columbus, a daring band of Vikings led by Leif Eriksson set foot in North America and established a settlement.

 

[jayem]

Columbus discovered America. That's why he's the particular Italian honored.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY EVERYONE!!!

Strictly speaking, he did not. The Norse Viking explorer Leif Eriksson landed in what is now Newfoundland around 1000 AD. But he didn’t make a big deal of discovering a new continent.

 

[RileyG]

Columbus discovered America. That's why he's the particular Italian honored.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY EVERYONE!!!

agreed

 

[RileyG]

I know in South Dakota, and some other states, "Native American Day" is honored today instead of Columbus Day. It was a day off for students and such.

 

[Sparagmos]

Columbus discovered America. That's why he's the particular Italian honored.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY EVERYONE!!!

He did?

 

[Sparagmos]

Columbus discovered America. That's why he's the particular Italian honored.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY EVERYONE!!!

He did?

 

[RileyG]

He did?

He came to the new world, but never set foot on the now United States. That much is correct.

 

[public hermit]

Lot of folks didn't even realize today is a holiday. There has to be a better rep for Italians. What are we supposed to do on this day, brutally abuse those over whom we have absolute power? That's no kind of celebration. It's a throw away holiday; we need a better reason to get off work.

 

[Michie]

Lot of folks didn't even realize today is a holiday. There has to be a better rep for Italians. What are we supposed to do on this day, brutally abuse those over whom we have absolute power? That's no kind of celebration. It's a throw away holiday; we need a better reason to get off work.

Lots of people unless they try to hit the bank or post office.

 

[public hermit]

Lots of people unless they try to hit the bank or post office.

I was walking to the post office and a gentleman warned me it was closed, and then he related to me his surprise it was a holiday. I was going to the po box and knew the office was closed, but that was one of a number of encounters that has verified, for me, that people are oblivious to this holiday.

 

[Michie]

I was walking to the post office and a gentleman warned me it was closed, and then he related to me his surprise it was a holiday. I was going to the po box and knew the office was closed, but that was one of a number of encounters that has verified, for me, that people are oblivious to this holiday.

Honestly, I think people have been oblivious to this holiday as much as they were to President’s Day or MLK back in the day. Anything other than personal birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. have been pretty much ignored until we got into these PC wars. Unless I’m going to the bank or a government office of course, I just don’t think about it. Inconvenience wakes me up. Inconvenience is a powerful thing.

 

[Landon Caeli]

…is today. Of course, Columbus landed in the Bahamas on Oct. 12. But the federal holiday was moved to the 2nd Monday in Oct. to give government employees a long weekend. His day is now observed to honor Italian-Americans. We all know Columbus was a terrible colonial administrator. As governor of Hispaniola, his treatment of the indigenous people was so barbaric, he was recalled and shipped back to Spain in shackles. (Though King Ferdinand later pardoned him)

There are so many worthier Italians who could be honored. Why not DaVinci Day? Leonardo is probably the greatest man of learning and intellect who ever lived. So what if he has no connection with the western hemisphere? Neither did St. Patrick. But his day is observed to honor Irish-Americans.

Change it to Hernán Cortés day!

 

[jacks]

My bank had a sign that said "Closed for Indigenous People Day." Columbus Day is a lot easier to say...

 

[Michie]

My bank had a sign that said "Closed for Indigenous People Day." Columbus Day is a lot easier to say...

Whatever. The bank is closed nonetheless.

 

[durangodawood]

He came to the new world, but never set foot on the now United States. That much is correct.

That could apply to a lotta people.

What makes Columbus special - aside from his horrific anti Christian behavior toward others?

 

[Tinker Grey]

anti Christian

*Antihuman

 

[Landon Caeli]

What makes Columbus special - aside from his horrific anti Christian behavior toward others?

Good point. He was only half the killer Cortes was, and doesn't even have a good song dedicated to him.

Original by Neil Young

Dave Matthew's / Warren Haynes