The Farce ‘Holiday’ That They Call Columbus Day

The Fall season marks the beginning of a sequence of American celebrations that independently do their part to whitewash history. The holidays that we celebrate are shaped by lies in order to support our capitalist democracy. Capitalism thrives on holidays as they are marketed to increase sales and spending. Instead of focusing on the history behind American holidays (usually because the history behind each of these holidays is shameful) the past is swept under the rug, twisted and marketed to the uneducated masses in order for corporations to make money.

Columbus Day celebrates Christopher Columbus, a European sailer, and his ‘discovery’ of the land we now call the United States. He at the time he mistook the U.S. for India, calling the native people ‘Indians’. Regardless of this, American history decides to praise his ignorance and the patterns of genocide that follow. Columbus’ actions resulted in the genocide of Native Americans and enslavement of African Americans. It’s outrageous to see how many individuals fail to recognize the barbarity of celebrating Columbus Day.

However, some cities and orgnizations have independently done their part to expose and denounce the

UW students protesting Columbus Day from nationofchange.org

UW students protesting Columbus Day from nationofchange.org

whitewashed history that Columbus Day perpetuates. For example, in Seattle and at the University of Washington recognizes the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Native American’s Day. This acknowledges the fact that Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas did change that there was already a rich culture of people that inhabited this land for centuries. Only white supremacist culture would believe that a land is not properly ‘discovered’ before White man’s arrival. This reflects a pattern that occurs even today when Whites ‘claim’ pre-existing cultural traditions, inventions and land. In all of these cases the original owners (people of color) are disregarded and never compensated or recognized for their creations. In some cases groups are ethnically cleansed, just as the Natives were in order to make room for White colonization.

The Celebration, and even the recognition, of Columbus Day over Native American’s Day is the perpetuation of a white-washed history that refuses to recognize the terror and abuse that occurred when Natives were beaten, tortured, killed and forced out of their homes into reservations in order to make room for White Americans. The Natives inhabited and developed this land for any generations before Columbus accidental arrival. Only ignorance could allow for the complete disregard of the genocidal attacks that that American government funded in order to deplete the Native American population.

We should use the second Monday of October to recognize Columbus as a criminal, not a hero. On this day we should take the time to acknowledge the tragedies that have occurred as a result of Columbus’ actions, we should learn more about and appreciate Native American culture, respect that this land which originally belonged to the which was taken through lies, fake peace treaties, poisonous gifts and violent attacks.  True heroism lies in the Native American people who continue to fight against the devastating effects that white-supremacist culture has had on their culture.

I stand in solidarity with Native Americans and support the national recognition of Native American’s Day in place of Columbus Day.

Below I’ve included a video by SeriouslyTV that illustrates the absurdity of celebrating Columbus Day.

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