Today is Columbus Day and even though we don't have school, it doesn't really feel like a holiday. Why exactly are we celebrating? Is this the day when he stepped on "American" soil for the first time? Or is today the day he set off to search for the New World? Who is Christopher Columbus anyway? Sure we know that he "discovered" America in 1492 and that he is considered a hero in many beginning level history classes. But in reality, there are lots of different sides to him. Some say that he was brutal to Native Americans while others hail him for his bravery. Why are we celebarting a man whom we really not know a lot about. I bet that a majority of the people only know the fact that "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue" and based on that little sentence they percieve him as a hero. But really, who is this man and why are we taking a day off to recognize him?
3 comments:
hey sami
I think that your blog was really interesting and challenging on how well do we really know these great men who were so innfluential on America. I mean when you think about it there are only 2 holidays in America that are actaully named after people but really when I think of those holidays I think of a long weekend and sleeping in. But really i have no idea who these famous men are? I mean I know the " I Have A Dream Speech" and Martin civil rights act but i mean he didnt have a dark side or nay skeletons in his closet. I mean really Martin Luther KIngs Day wasnt started all that long ago and with Colombus there are some sources that he was horrible and did have these skeletons in the closet which makes him all the more interesting that he was a real guy who made some bad mistakes. But when i think about it i have no idea really who these iconic men in america really were.
Sami,
Part of the answer to your question might be that politicians needed to respond to the increasing numbers of Italian-American immigrants. (I don't know when they day became a holiday, do you?) In IL, for ex., a powerful congressman, Dan Rostenkowski, got Pulaski Day passed -- a holiday that I think fell by the wayside when Rostenkowski left office in a scandal.
I agree with sami's opinion of Columbus Day. Should a national holiday really be placed in honor of a man that we truly don't know eveyrthing about. He raped Indians, and wasn't the first person to America. Of course it's great getting a day off school and sleeping in, but maybe this "holiday" should be reconsidered.
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