Columbus Day is upon us.
For me, it is a day filled with conflicting emotions. Don't get me wrong, I care about my country and am grateful for the privileged life I lead here. Yet, I struggle with the actual celebration of a Federal holiday such as Columbus Day. Why do we celebrate this man? What exactly did he do? How do you discover land that is already inhabited?
Here in Oregon, not much happens on Columbus Day as far as mainstream society goes. No parades, no feasts, no rituals of recognition. In truth, all that happens is that most financial, governmental, and some educational institutions close for the day. It seems to have morphed into one of the few and precious three day weekends we get a year. Yes, I do appreciate the paid time off.
Except... I can't dismiss the nagging feeling that perhaps we are a bit apathetic in our celebration of Columbus Day. What does the holiday actually mean?
I propose that this year, we all take a moment to look at Columbus Day in a new light. That we take a minute or two of October 12, 2009 to gain a little perspective. Maybe even go to school if you will, on what Columbus Day means to parts of our society that may or may not identify as mainstream. For many indigenous people of North and South America, Columbus' arrival began a 500+ year genocide of culture, traditions and people.
If you've a mind to, here are some links on your Columbus Day - feel free to share what you find:
What if we had a National Day in Honor of All Indigenous People or even a Hey Take a Three Day Weekend - You Deserve It holiday? Wouldn't that be grand?
On this Columbus Day I celebrate the strength of Indigenous People around the world. I ponder the cost of progress and consider what it could have looked like had it been gained in a different manner. I reflect on the wonders of history, those who write it and what that means for our present and future.
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