Should Columbus Day even be a holiday?

[Grimm]

I mean, come on, who actually "celebrates" Columbus Day?!?!

Now, many people celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day, why not do that one instead? Give the Federal employees the day off and require companies to tolerate TLAPD. Bill it as a day to celebrate tolerance, without specifying any real minority. It's all about practicing tolerance, right?

[BigJon]

I know your point. Why do we have Columbus day when people still have to work? I thought the idea of a national holiday was to let everyone take the day off... :shrug:

[oblongmelon]

I mean, come on, who actually "celebrates" Columbus Day?!?!


I do. My family does. My relatives do. My friends do..because I am an Italian American. Myself, along with 700 chapters of O.S.I.A celebrate, that's about 600,000 people. Why don't you get informed. Just because this day has no apparent significance to you, doesn't mean it shouldn't be a holiday.
www.osia.org (http://www.osia.org)

[Maarchk]

I mean, come on, who actually "celebrates" Columbus Day?!?!


Umm pretty much everyone in new england and the east coast celebtrate it. I mean the guy is more or less the reason we have a place to call home. Other wise we'd all be brits, and other peoples... shoot, maybe we should not celebrate christmas or any of those religous holidays either... i mean, what did those people ever do for us? :spock:

[Grimm]

I do. My family does. My relatives do. My friends do..because I am an Italian American. Myself, along with 700 chapters of O.S.I.A celebrate, that's about 600,000 people. Why don't you get informed. Just because this day has no apparent significance to you, doesn't mean it shouldn't be a holiday.
www.osia.org (http://www.osia.org)
Why do I get attacked for asking the question?

I don't see the point in celebrating it though. There are many other Italians who did much greater things.

Columbus found America for the Europeans... second.
He started a migration that crushed the native population.
He did it for a country other than Italy, Spain made out on this one.

We would do much better having a day celebrating Leonardo da Vinci.

Now, Talk Like a Pirate Day includes everyone, not just a mere 600,000 people.


Umm pretty much everyone in new england and the east coast celebtrate it. I mean the guy is more or less the reason we have a place to call home. Other wise we'd all be brits, and other peoples... shoot, maybe we should not celebrate christmas or any of those religous holidays either... i mean, what did those people ever do for us? :spock:
He thought he found India... :disa:
Columbus wasn't the only one who wanted to try it. The idea of a spherical world was gaining popularity and someone was gonna find it so, again. People knew because of the documents they had from the Vikings.

What does Columbus Day have to do with celebrating a religious holiday? :disa:

[oblongmelon]

Why do I get attacked for asking the question?

I don't see the point in celebrating it though. There are many other Italians who did much greater things.


It's not your right to question it. If you don't celebrate that's fine, but don't try and hijack this thread and turn it into a battle. If you don't believe in Columbus day, then my suggestion to you is stay out of the thread, and leave it for those of us who are proud of our heritage. And yes, there are MANY MANY other Italians who are responsible for great things.
I suggest you take a GOOD look at the websights of the organzations to which I belong-perhaps if you read their statements, you'd understand WHY we celebrate.
(Order Sons of Italy in America, Unico, National Italian American Foundation, Abbruzzee Club,Committee for Social Justice, Mutual Aid Society, American Civic Association..just to name a few..and I'm an active member in each and every organization, and a board member in some as well...please don't talk to me about this silly question of yours. It's not even worth discussing anymore.

[Yossarian]

It's not your right to question it.
yes it is. free speech.

[Airencracken]

:stupid:

Hell, it's bullsh*t that christmas is recognized by the gov't...

Native american slaught...er...Columbus Day is bullsh*t too.

[InfiniteNothing]

] Just because this day has no apparent significance to you, doesn't mean it shouldn't be a holiday.
www.osia.org (http://www.osia.org)

Ahhh but the same argument could be made for TLAPD

[avlena]

:stupid:

Hell, it's bullsh*t that christmas is recognized by the gov't...

Native american slaught...er...Columbus Day is bullsh*t too.

isn't Columbus Day protested by a lot of people? Essentially, Columbus "finding" America was the beginning of the Native American racial and cultural destruction. When we studied this period in humanities, there wasn't much glory to behold.

-edit-
a quick google shows yep, it is!
http://transformcolumbusday.org/
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/10/273216.shtml

[InfiniteNothing]

but don't try and hijack this thread and turn it into a battle.

Can someone hijack a thread they started?

[avlena]

It's not your right to question it. If you don't celebrate that's fine, but don't try and hijack this thread and turn it into a battle. If you don't believe in Columbus day, then my suggestion to you is stay out of the thread, and leave it for those of us who are proud of our heritage. And yes, there are MANY MANY other Italians who are responsible for great things.
I suggest you take a GOOD look at the websights of the organzations to which I belong-perhaps if you read their statements, you'd understand WHY we celebrate.
(Order Sons of Italy in America, Unico, National Italian American Foundation, Abbruzzee Club,Committee for Social Justice, Mutual Aid Society, American Civic Association..just to name a few..and I'm an active member in each and every organization, and a board member in some as well...please don't talk to me about this silly question of yours. It's not even worth discussing anymore.

is it REALLY meant to be a celebration of Italian heritage? because I've never heard of it as being an ethnic holiday, and in school they certainly don't teach it as such. For that matter, ethnic holidays are typically not enforced by the federal government. For instance, when was the last time your post office was closed for Ceasar Chavez Day? So if it's truly an Italian pride day, then why is it more special than other ethnic holidays, and deserving of bank closures, which is terribly inconvenient for those non-Italians who don't celebrate the day?

If you believe it's not just about celebrating Italians, and it should be a federally recognized holiday because Columbus "found" America, then why are you jumping down someone's throat with the argument that you have a right to celebrate your Italian pride? because in that case, it's about more, and thus we as US citizens have a right to question a federal holiday which celebrates something that some view as oppression.

[avlena]

Can someone hijack a thread they started?
:heh: i was wondering about that too

[Thesifer]

The Military took the day off .. atleast the ones stateside..

[molecularfire]

I can't believe that I'm saying this but I've gotta agree with Grimm. I don't quite agree with the destruction of a population thing because he didn't know that was going to happen. Heck, you could've said that if the roman senate hadn't killed Cesar then the destruction of a population might not have happened either. I'm not sure that picking a guy who is famous because he got lost is the best way to go about picking an idol to represent your race. Heck, if he had stopped for directions he probably would've been forgotten in history (and girls wonder why we never stop to ask directions). If you really wanna celebrate an italian for the sake of celebrating an italian (an argument which I found pretty racist by the way) and tie it into national pride to justify it why not celebrate Amerigo Vespucci?

Btw... was this thread a spin-off of the other columbus day thread or is Obby siphoning cooking sherry again?

[Kevster]

A sizable portion of my heritage is American Indian (it's a big reason why I don't look very Irish!). and I know lots of people who have strong feelings about this holiday, both for and against. I agree with Grimm and Avlena and I have to question why this is a bank & federal holiday. I personally would rather see MLK and Cesar Chavez day celebrated more than this.

[Merlin]

Fools dissing ethnic holiday....what's next? Trying to kill St. Paddys Day?

[LegendKiller]

Ok, as the self-designated Norwegian/Swedish spokesperson of this forum, I think this whole Columbus day is nothing more than a crock of bullspit intended to minimize our impact on the world. Yes, we have contributed more than Ikea (http://franchisor.ikea.com/showContent.asp?swfId=facts3) and a story plot for Fightclub. We have contributed more than downhill skiing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_skiing), Lutefisk (http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/ic/lutefisk.html).


WE, not some stuffy Italian who has taken undue credit, found this country. Our Viking ancestors braved the North Atlantic 500 years before Columbus and his silly ships. No, Randy Moss was not a Viking back then, but Leif Ericson (http://www.mnc.net/norway/ericson.htm) was. This Columbus guy is a pretender, a fake, false, faux, facade! It is a travesty, a sham, and a mockery, it is a travishamockery that he has been given his own day while us Scandinavian masters of the ocean and one time Roman Empire conquerers are forgotten.

I hereby put forward that Columbus Day be renamed to Leif Ericson & Hagar The Horrible day!!!

[InfiniteNothing]

Fools dissing ethnic holiday....what's next? Trying to kill St. Paddys Day?

You mean, Drink Guinness Day?

[ialsohaveadream]

I can't believe that I'm saying this but I've gotta agree with Grimm. I don't quite agree with the destruction of a population thing because he didn't know that was going to happen.
As Columbus wrote in his journal: "I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I pleased."

[Kevster]

We have contributed more than downhill skiing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_skiing), Lutefisk (http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/ic/lutefisk.html).



*ahem* Not downhill, more like cross-country skiing, and you guys can keep the lutefisk! :puke: That stuff is worse than irish cooking, and that's not even food, it's penance!

[ialsohaveadream]

WE, not some stuffy Italian who has taken undue credit, found this country. Our Viking ancestors braved the North Atlantic 500 years before Columbus and his silly ships.
No, your people found Canada....which you can keep if you want. ;)

[Merlin]

Ok, as the self-designated Norwegian/Swedish spokesperson of this forum, I think this whole Columbus day is nothing more than a crock of bullspit intended to minimize our impact on the world. Yes, we have contributed more than Ikea (http://franchisor.ikea.com/showContent.asp?swfId=facts3) and a story plot for Fightclub. We have contributed more than downhill skiing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_skiing), Lutefisk (http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/ic/lutefisk.html).


WE, not some stuffy Italian who has taken undue credit, found this country. Our Viking ancestors braved the North Atlantic 500 years before Columbus and his silly ships. No, Randy Moss was not a Viking back then, but Leif Ericson (http://www.mnc.net/norway/ericson.htm) was. This Columbus guy is a pretender, a fake, false, faux, facade! It is a travesty, a sham, and a mockery, it is a travishamockery that he has been given his own day while us Scandinavian masters of the ocean and one time Roman Empire conquerers are forgotten.

I hereby put forward that Columbus Day be renamed to Leif Ericson & Hagar The Horrible day!!!
And let's not forget the mighty contributions that are ABBA and Ace of Base! :sing:

[LegendKiller]

No, your people found Canada....which you can keep if you want. ;)


US, Canada, remove the frogs and it's the same country anyway ;)

[guiseppewv]

Fools dissing ethnic holiday....what's next? Trying to kill St. Paddys Day?

:stupid: :disa:


No, your people found Canada....which you can keep if you want. ;)

:stupid:

[cadetevon]

I personally would rather see MLK and Cesar Chavez day celebrated more than this.
These are, at least in California.

Are they only state and not federal holidays?

[nickel]

These are, at least in California.

Are they only state and not federal holidays?
i believe MLK Day (his birthday) is a federal holiday.

[Cubsfan]

I know that at least South Dakota calls it "Native American Day", and not "Columbus Day"

[oblongmelon]

Can someone hijack a thread they started?
he wouldn't have started this thread if I had not posted a Columbus day thread-hence the hijack from something meant to bring well wishes to those who celebrate the holiday into something negative-his usual M.O.

[oblongmelon]

yes it is. free speech.
That's not free speech-that's flame baiting, and trolling..all wrapped up in one tidy little package..used every October to ensue a flame war over an event he doesn't believe in. Like I asked before..would he question Kwaanza? or a Chinese Lantern Festival? Or any day a Jewish person might celebrate? I think not..

[Grimm]

It's not your right to question it.
Oops, my bad, I thought I lived in the United States, where I have 1st Amendment protection. I must actualy be in Communist China. I must have been confused by all the people speaking english and the US flags flying all over the place. :rolleyes:


That's not free speech-that's flame baiting, and trolling..all wrapped up in one tidy little package..used every October to ensue a flame war over an event he doesn't believe in. Like I asked before..would he question Kwaanza? or a Chinese Lantern Festival? Or any day a Jewish person might celebrate? I think not..
No, for it to be trolling of flame baiting it would have to be something that actually matters to a reasonable person. Columbus day is not the things that you make it out to be. You celebrate a lot of things on the same day as Columbus Day, but that's not what it is about.

[oblongmelon]

*snip*

No, for it to be trolling of flame baiting it would have to be something that actually matters to a reasonable person. .

Wow..that was intelligent.

[Got Apex Moderator]

All right folks - let's just all settle down so I don't have to warm up the time out machine.

- GAM

[avlena]

I know that at least South Dakota calls it "Native American Day", and not "Columbus Day"

i didn't know that, that's interesting! but can a state override a federal holiday? or is it just an unofficial thing?

[Cubsfan]

i didn't know that, that's interesting! but can a state override a federal holiday? or is it just an unofficial thing?

Apparently they can. I'm not really sure how it works:

"The state of South Dakota renamed the holiday Native American Day in 1989. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day

[esme]

Apparently they can. I'm not really sure how it works:

"The state of South Dakota renamed the holiday Native American Day in 1989. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day


i think it would be nice if they did that .....i mean after the unfortunate disaster that was 9/11 we have a holiday so why not do it for the Native Americans who had their lives changed after that day ..... :shrug:

[DarkFury]

i didn't know that, that's interesting! but can a state override a federal holiday? or is it just an unofficial thing?
Yup.. although they run the risk of the scorn of the rest of the country.

Just like when Arizona didn't celebrate "Martin Luther King" day... and they called it "Civil Rights Day" or something to that effect.

[avlena]

Apparently they can. I'm not really sure how it works:

"The state of South Dakota renamed the holiday Native American Day in 1989. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day

Wow, I didn't know that other countries celebrated Columbus Day, or at least their versions of it (Venezuela has redubbed it the Day of Indigenous Resistance). Nor that Leif Erickson Day is the day before Columbus (at least it was this year). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson_Day

[cheapchinese]

yes, b/c i need more vacation days in my life

[molecularfire]

As Columbus wrote in his journal: "I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I pleased."
And he would've been miserably wrong. I'm not saying that it didn't occur to him, heck taking over countries and eradicating and enslaving the masses was the norm. back then... but giving a guy who got lost and was never even smart enough to even realize that he had gotten lost the credit for the damage done to the native americans is giving him credit I don't think he has earned.


yes, b/c i need more vacation days in my life
Hence, Amerigo Vespucci day. I mean do we need another holiday in October... It's too hot during the day and too cold during the night and everything is either dead or dying. Now, march... that is a much better month to have a holiday.

[Airencracken]

I vote for steak and a bj day.

[Grimm]

I vote for steak and a bj day.
That is how we would celebrate Option 3. ;)

[dougadam]

I know your point. Why do we have Columbus day when people still have to work? I thought the idea of a national holiday was to let everyone take the day off... :shrug:

Good point.

:agree: