Columbus day should not be celebrated every year, on the second monday in october, the people in the united states celebrate a national holiday in memory of christopher columbus, the one who discovered the new continent. If columbus is off limits to celebrate, so are indigenous peoples. 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. In fact several regions have taken to renaming the day indigenous peoples day. The first state celebration was in colorado in 1905, and in 1937, at the behest of the knights of columbus a catholic fraternal service organization named for the voyager, president franklin delano. 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. 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. Although many people may think that bosss day was created by the greeting card industry, it was actually started by a secretary back in 1958. Celebrating columbus day was, and continues to be, a way of saying.
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. He traveled from spain to north america trying to find the northwest passage on august 3rd, 1492. Over time, as attitudes and perspectives changed in american life, many people have come to question the merits of celebrating. In fact, in some places, government has started doing just that. Why i proudly celebrate columbus day washington examiner. Why the us celebrates columbus day, vox video, october 8, 2018. The explorer was originally credited with discovering america, but. 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which is celebrated today in the usa and honours the arrival of christopher columbus to the new world, is an example of outdated and misguided history. The meaning of the holiday honored on the second monday in october. Why some italianamericans still fiercely defend columbus day. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day columbia daily. Celebrating columbus day was, and continues to be, a way of saying were proud to be. Every october, grateful americans get a day off work to, ostensively, celebrate the life of explorer christopher columbus.
That is why we celebrate columbus day each year, and why we should continue to do so. Once we do this, columbus day can be a truly inclusive holiday. First off i feel the need to point out that no one really actively calibrates columbus day, or honors columbus on that day. It doesnt have to be 3 just how ever many you can come up with. He failed to find the passage,but instead he found new land.
By christina thornell and mallory brangan oct 8, 2018. Then, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at presentday panama. There are far more similarities between columbus day and remembrance day than there are between columbus day and happy celebrations like the 4th of july or christmas. The holiday honoring christopher columbuss sighting of america on. Consequently, we were told that we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, and that it would be better. Roosevelt was the first to proclaim columbus day as a federal holiday. Columbus day has been a federal holiday since president franklin d. Starting with new york citys tricentennial celebration of columbus voyage, columbus day has been recognized in the united states since the late 18th century. Why we should still celebrate columbus day the daily campus. Traditionally observed on the second monday in october, columbus day commemorates the landing of columbus in the new world on a small island off florida on october 12, 1492. Rather than celebrate, we believe it should be a day to mourn the destruction of an indigenous population which had lived in peace for tens of thousands of years before. In the more than 80 years since columbus day became an official holiday, it has drawn criticism.
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. Columbus day should not be celebrated essay example. If the commemorations dealt at all with the impact of european exploration on the indigenous civilizations already flourishing in these discovered lands, it. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on columbus, 57 percent of americans believe its a good. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day essay 1187 words. And, while we celebrate columbus day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor native americans. One can think of many reasons to stop celebrating any hoiliday mothers day for example was apparently created by the greeting card industry as an example of crass commercialism. Then once he showed up and stayed there for 70 years there was no native people to be found. See how columbus day actually become a holiday and find out who celebrates it. According to a census taken by columbus men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of haiti. Its true that these factors did lead to a lot of destruction, but they arent cause for removing columbus from his pedestal. Really, we shouldnt celebrate columbus day because columbus mistreated the native americans to work them as slaves. Once upon a time, teachers celebrated columbus day by leading children in choruses of song about the nina, the pinta, and the santa maria. Some cities and states have stopped celebrating columbus day, replacing it with indigenous peoples day or other holidays that celebrate the rich heritage and history of native americans.
Im having a debate in class and i must state 3 good reasons why columbus day should be celebrated. Top 5 reasons not to celebrate columbus day and 1 reason to patrick. 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. Nearly 60 percent of respondents to a recent poll on the controversial.
Id consider celebrating columbus day in this house if it was treated the same way we observe remembrance day. Direct students to write down 23 new things they learn about columbus as they. Then in 1892, benjamin harrison issued a proclamation encouraging americans to celebrate the voyage of columbus. Consequently, we were told that we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, and that it would be better to replace the holiday with something to hono. Whether you have to work, or youre off on monday for columbus day, youre in the majority if you decide to celebrate. Columbus day was first celebrated by italians in san francisco in 1869, following on the heels of 1866 italian celebrations in new york city. Before i get into the why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, im going to explain why we do. Columbus day, named for the italian explorer who sailed to the americas on behalf of spain more than 500 years ago, has become a painful reminder of. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day 1200 words cram. The columbus day problem harvard graduate school of. Twelve reasons not to celebrate columbus day daniel.
Although christopher columbus clearly was not the first european to visit the new world vikings had traveled here centuries earlier. What are 3 reasons we should celebrate columbus day. People think as him as a hero,but most people havent heard of the things he had done. Those campaigning against columbus day are in the minority.
They were the original immigrants to the new world, and deserve their remembrance. On his third, he named trinidad and landed in presentday venezuela. T he district of columbia and other jurisdictions have passed laws to rename columbus day indigenous peoples day or native americans day. Here are 3 reasons its important to acknowledge your boss on october 16th. Here are three reasons we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, as a country. Not to celebrate the deaths of native americans or even to celebrate him crossing the atlantic which is an astonishing feat in and of itself. Columbus day is a national holiday in many countries of the americas and elsewhere which. Columbus day and the great italianamerican arrival. However, because columbus brought disasters to the native americans, many people opposed the columbus celebrations. The landing is celebrated as columbus day in the united states but the. Some cities and states are opting to celebrate national indigenous peoples day. The 15th century explorer is known for discovering the new world subscribe. 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.
893 1148 1157 1018 664 191 856 750 1102 448 53 519 408 978 67 1347 355 272 1637 417 737 613 1560 1231 4 1424 699 187 597 864 57