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. 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. 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. Columbus day understood that the world was round, but they did not yet. 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. It does not matter how great and influential he was, he wiped out an entire people.
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 only after this voyage that the europeans started to take over america and create their own settlement in the area. The first columbus day was celebrated in 1792 in order to remember the historical landings 300th anniversary. Columbus was also not the one who proved the earth was round. 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. Christopher columbus is a man worthy of the honors and accolades bestowed upon him. However, should this date coincide with a tuesday, wednesday, thursday or. 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. The landing is celebrated as columbus day in the united states but the name. The answer we get is yes because we have a holiday on monday of the second week of october.
Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day 1200 words cram. Consequently, we were told that we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, and that it would be better to replace the holiday with something to honor his victims. Across the country, states, cities and schools are observing indigenous peoples day instead of columbus day. Before he got there, the native population was up to 3 million people with a good life that they lived. Columbus day is the celebration of the day christopher columbus apparently discovered america. 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. Why we should celebrate columbus day vesely revised youtube. Why we should still celebrate columbus day the daily campus. Nearly 60 percent of respondents to a recent poll on the controversial.
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. People think as him as a hero,but most people havent heard of the things he had done. First off i feel the need to point out that no one really actively calibrates columbus day, or honors columbus on that day. Getting rid of columbus day entirely is a sad development. Oct 09, 2017 before i get into the why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, im going to explain why we do. As known by many, columbus day commemorates the discovery of the new world by none other than christopher columbus himself. They argue that it creates a false narrative about the discovery of the americas and contributes to the disenfranchisement of native americans. 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. Oct 09, 2017 and, while we celebrate columbus day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor native americans. The holiday should celebrate the advancement of western civilization, warts and all. Apr 22, 2019 columbus day became a federal holiday in 1937, in part because of efforts by roman catholic italian americans.
The columbus day problem harvard graduate school 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. While columbus day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. Some of the states that dont celebrate columbus day include oregon, hawaii and alaska. When it comes to celebrating indigenous peoples day, i want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. In the more than 80 years since columbus day became an official holiday, it has drawn criticism. Oct 05, 2017 back in 1992 500 years after columbuss fateful landing in the caribbean berkeley, calif. The con for columbus day written by elliot lassitter. Posted oct 06, 2017 dennis bellisario dresses as christopher columbus on the st.
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. Columbus day, which is on the second monday of october, remembers christopher columbus arrival to the americas on october 12, 1492. Columbus day is a national holiday in many countries of the americas and elsewhere which. 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. Its an american tradition, as american as pizza pie. 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. Then once he showed up and stayed there for 70 years there was no native people to be found. Consequently, we were told that we shouldnt celebrate columbus. Before i get into the why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, im going to explain why we do. Second, without him there would be people still wondering if the world is flat or round. Columbus day originated in the united states primarily as a way for. To change this, activists opposed to these celebrations have launched a multipronged argument to demonstrate why columbus day should be eradicated.
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. 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. Columbus day with indigenous peoples day, also known as native americans day. Personally, i dont think we should celebrate columbus day. Causing death and illness from the small pox disease. President franklin roosevelt made columbus day a federal holiday in the 1930s, but opposition to it has only snowballed with time. People debate e if he is even relevant because he obviously did not. Few american holidays have been as controversial as columbus day. Columbus day when asked should columbus day be celebrated. 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. First of all, columbus didnt actually discover the americas, despite what you may have been taught in elementary school.
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. Columbus day, the second monday in october, is a nationally recognized holiday. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day essay 1187 words. 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. They argue that it creates a false narrative about the discovery of the americas and contributes to the disenfranchisement of native. In fact several regions have taken to renaming the day indigenous peoples day. By 1555, there were zero fullblooded natives left on the island. It was commonly accepted by greek philosophers before 1400 that the earth was round. 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. According to a census taken by columbus men, in 1496 there were more than 1 million natives on the island of haiti. 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.
Over time, as attitudes and perspectives changed in american life, many people have come to question the merits of celebrating. Every year, on the second monday of october, the u. Why we shouldnt celebrate columbus day essay 1191 words. We should not celebrate it because columbus did not discover america. 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. Though we have this day marked in our calendars, many people are wondering if we should still celebrate this day. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th. Some cities and states are opting to celebrate national indigenous peoples day instead. Sep 27, 2015 why we should celebrate columbus day, the ordering sons of italy in america in washington, d.
During the late 19th and early 20th century, members of the stigmatized ethnic and. This proclamation did not lead to the federal holiday we have today. Whether you have to work, or youre off on monday for columbus day, youre in the majority if you decide to celebrate. Columbus was not a hero, the america discovery was for a better nation but for economics and monarchical titles. Columbus and his gang brought disease to the americas. Oct 10, 2016 columbus day was established in 1937 to honor his discovery of the americas in 1492, although columbuss voyage was celebrated even in colonial times. Oct 05, 2017 personally, i dont think we should celebrate columbus day. 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. I think that a reason we celebrate it is that without columbus s journey things today would be very different.
Columbus day should be changed to indigenous cultures day because we should not celebrate a genocide of an entire culture. For some people, columbus day isnt just about celebrating his arrival in america. A genocide happened in the americas, and it began with columbus. Its also about honoring italianamerican heritage as a whole. The meaning of the holiday honored on the second monday in october.
Twelve reasons not to celebrate columbus day daniel. 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. 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. A viking named leif ericson founded the americas 500 years earlier. If i was asked that question i would say most definitely we shouldnt celebrate columbus day.
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. Our morals and standards will be very different from what the people of 2512 will think, as well. Another reason we should celebrate columbus day is because, it changed history enough to be worth celebrating. On the plus side, ever since the year 1990 south dakota has been celebrating native american day. There have been countless numbers of attacks on whether or not we should celebrate columbus day. 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. 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. Getting rid of columbus day entirely is a sad development the. 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. 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. The tradition of observing columbus day dates back to the 18th century.
These are a couple reasons why we should celebrate columbus day. On the second monday in october each year, we celebrate columbus day this year, its on october 11th. We teach our school kids a cute little song that goes. Columbus day became a federal holiday in 1937, in part because of efforts by roman catholic italian americans. 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. Really, we shouldnt celebrate columbus day because columbus mistreated the native americans to work them as slaves.
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. I do not think we should celebrate christopher columbus. Columbus day is the day we celebrate when christopher columbus landed in the new world. Then in 1892, benjamin harrison issued a proclamation encouraging americans to celebrate the voyage of columbus. Here are three reasons we shouldnt celebrate columbus day, as a country. Celebrating cultural heritage, or the colonization of. 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. Rocco float for the columbus day parade october 12, 2015. Columbus day is celebrated every year on the second monday of october in the united states. 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. Many cities and states across the country have shifted away from celebrating columbus day, and thats because more and more. 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. Many people believe that columbus day should not be celebrated because christopher columbus committed atrocities against native americans.
Why people are celebrating indigenous peoples day instead. 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. In 1451, christopher columbus known in italy as cristoforo colombo was born in genoa, italy. The columbus day problem harvard graduate school of education. This commemorates columbus s journey to north america, as he touched on land on october 12, 1492. We shouldnt celebrate people that have committed genocide, said. Back in 1992 500 years after columbus s fateful landing in the caribbean berkeley, calif. Oct 26, 2017 the con for columbus day written by elliot lassitter. They were the original immigrants to the new world, and deserve their remembrance. 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. Celebrating columbus day was, and continues to be, a way of saying we re proud to be americans, and equally proud of our italian heritage and ancestry. 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. Columbus day and the columbus day 958 words bartleby. The city council recently voted to get rid of columbus day and replace it with indigenous peoples day, commemorating indigenous.