It's a No.
October 12 was Native People's Day.
As many of you may know, Columbus day is an invented holiday and I'm not really too keen to it. To start things, Columbus never set foot on North America. So how does he have a permanent place in American mythology? Well, apart from the idea that he 'discovered' America, they don't mention the mass deaths of indigenous people that Columbus and his men massacred. The whole thing started when the US wanted a non-British symbol and they chose Columbus. Washington Irving also contributed to his lionizing: he wrote about how great Columbus was, without telling the whole story about his brutality and his mass murdering. Again, whitewashing of American history is nothing new, right?
Then, apparently, in the late 1800's Italian immigrants -who were treated as vermin- chose Columbus as their symbol. They alleged that they too, belonged to the United States by proxy. So Columbus Day was created and it was even celebrated in Chicago's Fair: Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893. The Knights of Columbus also promoted the myth. Not surprising, taking into account that they were an oppressed group that went on to oppress other groups.
But not everybody is happy about Columbus Day. Especially Native Americans. And they have all the right to despise the holiday. The man and the legacy related to him have both been revised to include the atrocities that he committed in the name of 'civilization'. Not to mention that he started the blind pursuit of capitalism that would doom millions and millions of lives of BIPOC throughout the centuries in this continent. Don't believe me? If you watched the video, you'll see that even Amazon benefits from the model implemented by Columbus (I know I got your attention there, Maddie!). Columbus did not invent capitalism but he certainly laid the foundation for it. I always tell people that America (the continent) was conquered through lust, blood and greed. Want more proof? Cheeto is all for it. Enough said.
So I don't celebrate Columbus Day. That's why I did not post this on Monday. I despise colonialism and all its repercussions. I have made my mind as to which myths to explore and which to discard. And Columbus Day is one I have already discarded. Illinois is doing its part to ditch Columbus Day. We all should follow that example and ditch it and also try to help Native American communities. Especially during the pandemic.
XOXO
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There has been a cleansing going on this year. A reevaluation of those that we elevated in the past. Columbus was one of them. In Chicago statues of him were removed from public display and put into storage. A park in Chicago named for Stephen Douglas, a US Senator and opponent of Lincoln, was renamed for Frederick Douglass the abolitionist.
ReplyDeleteThis re-examination is long overdue. Many of the people we held in high esteem were not very good people. Some of it can be attributed to the time in which they lived, but some of those ideals are still present today as shown in the video.
We must rethink who we admire and why.
XOXO 👨❤️💋👨
Baby steps, bae.
DeleteBut there's been a reckoning. You see, history is only as accurate as the people who write it. We have been fed a steady diet of distorted bits of information that fit a narrative, and that has been revised.
It was about time.
XOXO
He was either lost, or he lied (or both) and he was a bigot. There is a translation of his ships log books - an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteWell, he did sail West instead of South, that's for sure.
DeleteAnd he had the mentality of the European of his time: anything not-European was there for the taking. I'd like to see what his ship log books say....
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my city boxed up its columbus statue til they figure out what to do with it. I saw an idea - get rid of columbus day as a holiday and make election day a holiday instead. FUCK COLUMBUS!
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteGood job for local government!
They should put the statues in a museum. Period.
And making Election Day a holiday should have been done YEARS ago!
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It's a holiday that isn't a holiday - no body gets off work - no holiday pay. Personally, I don't even know if they need to replace it.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't make sense.
DeleteIt's all for show. It should be Indigenous People's day. Simple.
Indigenous people were here when Columbus made it here. They're still here.
XOXO
It's like New Year's Eve and New Years day in October. Seriously. Do we need it? I'd much rather have a National Stay and Cuddle at Home day, which is exactly what my manservant, Clive, had to do to me all day yesterday given all the crap that's happening in the news.
ReplyDeleteNobody needs it. Well, Italians needed it back then, when THEY were considered vermin.
DeleteAnd a National Stay and Cuddle at Home day is a great idea. We'd make Clive the spokesperson.
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The simple question is how did you discovery a country where people were already living?
ReplyDeletePlus, he's a murderer.
Well, that's the genocide of the century question, Bob.
DeleteThey were 'discovered' because they were 'savages' (which means non-European).
It's the result of colonialism.
XOXO
I love that more and more people are waking up these facts. Sadly, those that still believe in the Confederacy are the same ones who claim this holiday important - because 'that is how it's always been and you can't deny history'. Of course, what they don't get is that they are the one's in denial. When that statue came tumbling down in St. Paul... I cheered. My Mom was aghast and I had to explain things to her... which is exactly how we dismantle this thing - one mind at a time. Love your post. You rock.
ReplyDeleteOh absolutely.
DeleteAnd you know that people who need a whitewashed view of the world will try to maintain their hegemony. They'll try to stick to the version that paints them in a better light at all costs. It's so cool you talked to your mom about it. One mind at a time.
And I heart ya back!!
XOXO
Mondays are Laundry Days.
ReplyDeleteAnd we wash the whites separately.
DeleteAnd use bleach when needed!
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"To the victors go the spoils." "Those who win write history." Two very telling statements, no? Well, it is time for us to win...so we can correct the history books. xoxo
ReplyDeleteVote, my beautiful people, vote!
Well, Big.
DeleteSome history books have been written with the losers in mind. Also, see 'confederacy'.
And you are right. Voting FTW.
XOXO
Yeah, those losers down south wrote their own books. They cheated - like they continue to do today, because: States Rights...until is doesn't suit their wants.
DeleteIt's definitely one holiday that should be deep-sixed.
ReplyDeleteOh, totally.
DeleteAs Anne Marie says, why not make Election Day a holiday? It makes more sense!
XOXO
I don't know I ever thought of Columbus day as a holiday and certainly never celebrated it. I don't recall it being a huge brew ha ha around here. And your right. doesn't surprise me in the slightest Amazon benefits from this. Their evil. I hope I'm still here when that company burns. My friend harass me about it to. They're like "you know, you could have got that on Amazon for like more then 3/4 the price?" Don't care. Ill pay or go without before shopping them . LMAO.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Oh, it's been there.
DeleteIt's celebrated in schools all around the country. All around the continent, I'd say. And Amazon is the pinnacle of consumerism and a beacon of capitalism. I rather shop local. Always.
XOXO
Columbus, as I recall, was eventually removed from his position as governor of Hispaniola for excessive brutality. That is, his cruelty was considered too much even by the standards of a society which had the Spanish Inquisition and heretic-burnings. He was certainly an evil man.
ReplyDeleteI'm not buying him as the founder of capitalism, though. People can always invent fine-tuned specious definitions of capitalism designed to exclude whatever they don't want to talk about, but things like sophisticated banking systems and industrial-scale plantation slavery go back centuries before Columbus -- just not in Europe.
Oh, he was horrible. Can you imagine how cruel you have to be if the people who promoted the Inquisition thought you were heavy handed?
DeleteAnd I don't think he was the founder of capitalism, of course. But Spain was in dire straits and needed an injection of capital. They had been all but ruined by the wars they were waging against many countries in Europe and the gold of the 'New World' provided the injection of capital they needed.
And knowledge of banking systems and industrial-scale plantations came in really handy when they found all the raw material ripe for the taking in America, though...
XOXO
I'm Italian from Milan and I can share your point of view. C.C. belongs to history. That's enough.
ReplyDeleteI have always been curious as to how he is regarded in Italy.
DeleteHis dealings with Elizabeth the Catholic and how he came to lead the expedition are fascinating.
XOXO
I think the removal of Columbus as a celebrated historical figure has begun. A lot of his statues have been removed. Growing up I can recall learning in history that he discovered America. I'm glad more light is being shed on the actual truth.
ReplyDeleteYes, some of the statues are gone here in Chicago.
DeleteThey should be in a museum, IMHO. We have all learned the whitewashed version of him 'discovering' America, and that has got to end.
XOXO