Are we doing Columbus Day this year?

[jberryhill]

I'm sure that many of our newer members would be impressed with the traditional DU Columbus Day festivities.

I'll start: So, are you doing anything special for Columbus Day?

[JonathanRackham]

1. Working.

[FrodosPet]

2. We're gonna put up the Columbus Day pole

Then we will have the airing of the grievances, followed by the feats of strength.

Oh, wait. That's Festivus.

I'm working Columbus Day, so I will sleep in as late as possible, hang out with my sis, my brother-in-law, and my niece, eat dinner, and answer phones from all the Columbus Day revelers.

[PatrickforO]

3. I have it off.

But won't be 'doing' much of anything

[BlueStreak]

4. I see that Denver is declaring this "Indigenous peoples day". I sympathize with that sentiment, but

we are all immigrants. There are no indigenous people in North America. It is just that some migrated here much sooner than others. I am perfectly happy to celebrate those earliest races rather than the Europeans who came to conquer and colonize. But let's understand we are all Africans, when it comes down to it. We just took different paths to get here.

[catbyte]

9. Well, yeah, but my ancestors didn't commit wholesale genocide, then turn it into a national holiday.

[Drahthaardogs]

12. Columbus Day has nothing to do with celebrating Columbus

It is a day to celebrate Italian Americans and was created such. It was created to win back some positive feelings from southern italian immigrants who were treated very poorly in this country in the early 1900's.

I will be celebrating my heritage by making 100 pounds of sausage and sopressata.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. While i Agree in Principle. . .

. . .if it's about italian-americans (and i'm one of them) why not rename it Garabaldi Day, or Marconi Day, or Fermi Day?

At least those guys did something positive, and a couple of them actually lived in the United States.

On Edit: Actually i'd be ok with Luciano day! What the heck difference does it make?

[BlueStreak]

25. And when do the Brits, Poles, Norwegians, Nigerians, Scots, French etc get their holidays here?

Well, at least the Irish got St Pat's Day

[Drahthaardogs]

42. Italians were not considered white in this country

And prejudice still exists today. The largest mass lynching in America had 12 Italian Americans from Calabria hanged by law enforcement in New Orleans. President Theodore Roosevelt thought it was a good deal.

A law was passed prohibiting Italians from immigrating to America. They took our food and our language and made us work for little or no pay. Colombia Day was Americas apology to Italian Americana.

If you want to know why others don't get their day I suggest you watch Pane Amarone, a documentary on how Italians were treated in this country.

And St. Patrick was a Roman son of Calpurnicus and Conchetta, high Romans sent to RomanBrittania to govern it.

[jberryhill]

34. What was wrong with St. Valentine's day?

Wasn't he Italian?

[ProfessorGAC]

49. I Suppose

I'm still pursuing Luciano day! If we're going to do the italian thing, let's go sicilian!

[Drahthaardogs]

45. I would be good with that

But selling Columbus day as a day for him is dishonest. I also think a native American day is appropriate but not on the current Columbus Day.

[Yavin4]

35. So, Let's Celebrate Frank Sinatra's Birthday instead

That man had one of the greatest lives of all time.

[Drahthaardogs]

43. That's not funny

It has been a generational fight against anti Italian racism in this country

[Yavin4]

47. I'm not trying to be funny.

If we're going to celebrate Italian Americans, there's no better choice than Sinatra.

[Drahthaardogs]

48. There are many superior choices

That is just absurd

[Iggo]

41. Yeah, but that's not how they sell it in the nowatimes.

[Drahthaardogs]

46. That is because they are pushing a dishonest agenda.

If you go to areas with a large Italian American population, they k ow what it is about. Misinformed people pushing an erroneous message is no reason to change things

[MADem]

5. Well, I am retired. One weekend is the same as the next.

There's usually a parade - the North End and East-a Bost trade off to host it. I'm not planning on attending...

There's a very amusing old "Sopranos" episode that pretty much covers the waterfront on the Columbus Day issue. It's probably as instructive to watch that as revisit the archives here at DU....

[Coyotl]

6. "Columbus Day" is so 1492. Maybe I'll feed my attack dogs Native children.

Or, maybe I'll celebrate the Indigenous Nations and their culture instead, a bit more peaceful, less genocide, terrorism, and no searing the wounds of horses with fat of dead Indians. Oh, and no religion too.

[Warpy]

7. This seems appropriate

[catbyte]

8. Well, being 5/8 Ojibwe, I won't be attending any of the Columbus Day. festivities...

I'm retired now, but in previous years I would participate in panel discussions at the university I worked at about rethinking Columbus and the impact"discovery" had on indigenous peoples and First Nations. I'm just going to relax this year, so the only practical impact on me will be not getting my mail. I will be thinking of my ancestors, though, and the devastation wrought by "discovery."

[Warren DeMontague]

10. ..that dude was a DICK!

[GWC58]

11. When is Columbus Day?

i know it's some Monday in October. Never really paid much mind to it. Why isn't there an "Amerigo Vespucci" day? That would make more sense.

[Drahthaardogs]

13. Because it is not about Columbus

it is a day to celebrate Italian American heritage and was created as such. October 15 is the start of National Italian Americna heritage month.

[Nye Bevan]

14. That GENOCIDAL MANIAC..... worse than Hitler..... "discovered" America my ass....

offensive.... disgusting..... should be abolished.... blah blah blah

Does that pretty much cover it?

[NaturalHigh]

15. My wife and I have the day off together.

[FSogol]

16. Although, Columbus Day is just a warm up for Thanksgiving.

[jberryhill]

21. Skipping Halloween are we?

[FSogol]

23. Isn't DU pro-Halloween? Thanksgiving combines the unjustness of Columbus Day with having to

spend time with hated family members. i doubt DU could complain about anything more unless they held Thanksgiving in high school gym classes on cable tv.

[jberryhill]

26. I suppose taking the family to Olive Garden for Italian food is right out

But, sure, Halloween....

[FSogol]

29. They won't let our pit bull eat at the table.

[FSogol]

30. BTW, Robinson is channelling Jack Chick

In the comic, Timmy went to a haunted house and died! Because that's what happens to everyone who goes outside on Halloween.

Scroll down he and read the entire goofy comic:
https://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0032/0032_01.asp

[Blue_Tires]

18. After the Mets lost, I'm not really in the mood

[ismnotwasm]

19. Sending money to the Native American protesters at Standing Rock

As I can't go in person.

10 Ways You Can Help the Standing Rock Sioux Fight the Dakota Access Pipeline
Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/10-protest-dakota-access-pipeline/#hmxF0L9bYV1AApDb.99

[guillaumeb]

52. Winning answer.

[LWolf]

20. I can't remember a time

in my entire real life, or here at DU, when I "did" Columbus Day.

[jberryhill]

24. The only thing I can recall ever "doing" for Columbus Day

Is engaging in the annual discussion about Cap'n Colon.

[Thor_MN]

37. Cap'n Colon? Is that a sugary high fiber breakfast cereal?

[a la izquierda]

22. I'm participating in a panel discussion

Put on by Latin@ students at the university where I am a professor.

[tonyt53]

27. I celebrate October 12th every year. It is my daughter's birthday!

Speaking of celebrating certain days, how many Trump supporters do ya think go out and get shit-faced on May 5th while eating tacos?

[Tikki]

28. Remembering my Native heritage and family history....

..and sharing this with my grandchildren.



Proud daughter of the Lakota
Tikki

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. I'm at a loss this year.

Did a DNA test recently and discovered that I am not even the slightest percent First American, but am 11 percent Italian. Thus my dilemma.

[tritsofme]

32. I'm just curious to see how Harambe will fit into all of this.

[ileus]

33. Hope to celebrate it as I always have.

[yellerpup]

36. I'll be celebrating Indigenous People's Day!

All by myself in NY. Columbus is very big with those of Italian descent. Not so much with native tribal people.

[LeftInTX]

38. Breastfeed a pit bull at the Olive Garden

However, this Columbus day will be special because my husband, who has indigenous ancestry due to his Mexican-American heritage, will also be celebrating his "Mexican Thing"

[The Polack MSgt]

39. The usual

Take over my neighbors backyard, raid his fridge, shit in the pool.

Gotta keep the spirit of Cristobol Colombo in the day

[Maeve]

40. Living in the greater metropolitan area of the capital of Ohio

I'll celebrate by having no mail, no trash pick-up, few libraries open and many govt offices closed--but parking meters are free!

[hardluck]

44. Hmm... I don't have it on my (out-of-date) calendar.

[madinmaryland]

50. Columbus Day is every Saturday from September through November in Ohio!!

GO BUCKEYES!!!1!!!

[guillaumeb]

51. Celebrating the poster child for genocide?

Right.