Young adults don’t know what Columbus Day is anymore. The long weekend is called “Autumn Break”. Less and less is this holiday considered “legitimate”.
Read this Wiki entry on why folks don’t want to celebrate Columbus Day any longer. It is NOT politically correct or sensitive. My friends in the Knights of Columbus aren’t very happy now. Enjoy the Autumn Break parades today.
Reading about how the schools deal with Columbus Day now, I’ve decided it should be renamed “Triple E day” (Evil European Explorers). Nobody today can evaluate historical figures based on the context of their times. Truman was evil, he dropped the Bomb; Lincoln was evil, he freed the slaves only when he was sure it would help preserve the Union; Washington owned slaves, he was two-faced; etc. etc.
Ted,
I think it’s time to “repackage” this US holiday completely.
First of all, I grew up as an Italian-American and Columbus Day was important to me, but not anymore. I’ve heard the stories of what a SOB captain he was and how all this subsequent horror was unleashed on the native Americans, but that’s not the only reason there should be change to this outdated holiday.
Instead we should take the day, perhaps move its timing, and emphasize “Discovery (or Science) & Exploration Day.” Rather than focus on one man, who is now controversial, we should celebrate American scientific and exploratory triumphs, from Lewis and Clark to Thomas Edison to Craig Venter to Amelia Earhart to Neil Armstrong…
A national, celebrated emphasis on hard sciences and exploration should help teach younger Americans. No US sanctioned holiday should be associated with a particular group at the exclusion of others.
My 2 cents.
Peace.