Columbus Day
why tf is this still a thing?
I'm pretty sure everyone, particularly people in government who have the power to disavow National holidays, know what a heinous person Christopher Columbus was... seriously, the guy was arguably worse than Hitler and anyone associated with ISIS. So why are we still (or ever in the first place) dedicating a day to this guy?
Who celebrated it, though? Literally the only things I saw were about what a jackhole he really was. No one had the day off of work, etc. It's basically a non-holiday at this point.
Also, I'm not a huge fan of the Oatmeal, but they did a great job encapsulating all of the bad stuff:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day
Worth a read.
For what it's worth, those who brand him a hero generally just don't know about the bad stuff. And the virtues they do prop are aren't so bad. Granted, knowledge is a good thing and dedicating a day to him is definitely ill-advised. But he's basically just a folk hero at this point. The details don't really matter. So any deification of him, so to speak, is somewhat benign. I have a hard time getting as worked up over it as some do, because it's not like those observing the holiday are into the slave trade or something. It's a reasonable hope to teach about who he really was, but a victimless act to observe a holiday, however ill-advised it may be.
Originally posted by Digiheh, i don't know how victimless it is, though. Maybe to you or I it's not a big deal, but for anyone with a Native American blood line, I'm pretty sure it's a sore spot to be reminded of his "legacy".
For what it's worth, those who brand him a hero generally just don't know about the bad stuff. And the virtues they do prop are aren't so bad. Granted, knowledge is a good thing and dedicating a day to him is definitely ill-advised. But he's basically just a folk hero at this point. The details don't really matter. So any deification of him, so to speak, is somewhat benign. I have a hard time getting as worked up over it as some do, because it's not like those observing the holiday are into the slave trade or something. It's a reasonable hope to teach about who he really was, but a victimless act to observe a holiday, however ill-advised it may be.
I don't think David Duke Day would go over too well. Nor would Gaddafi Day, or Jeffrey Dahmer Day, etc.
Agreed. I just feel like it's one of those non-holidays that would die off if we just let it alone. Instead I get to see my social media feed blow up with how horrible he was, and see the equally vehement backlash of people who somehow need to defend him for who knows what reason.
To me, that's not really better than being like "Oh, Monday happened." Needless outrage is at least 25% of the issues on the internet. The whole thing was born of ignorance, not maliciousness, so there's no one in particular to be mad at even.
That said, if I'm voting, it's for getting rid of it. I get that I'm not in the demographic that could legitimately feel angry at it, so it's worth getting rid of for their sake, especially since there seems to be no other benefit to having it.
Originally posted by Star428
I'm going to enjoy me some turkey today! Praise Columbus! The discoverer of America! The only man who had the guts to prove to the rest of the world that the earth was round instead of flat! Anyone who thinks he wasn't a hero is a communist (or a liberal, of course). 👆
Basically none of that is true. Take a quick gander at the link I posted. Everyone already knew the world was round, others had discovered America before him, and he was responsible for the unjust deaths and enslavement of a bunch of people.
Also, something about false idols, etc. etc. Somewhere, a golden calf is being raised in effigy.
Originally posted by Digi
Basically none of that is true. Take a quick gander at the link I posted. Everyone already knew the world was round, others had discovered America before him, and he was responsible for the unjust deaths and enslavement of a bunch of people.Also, something about false idols, etc. etc. Somewhere, a golden calf is being raised in effigy.
You are my golden calf and Im going to stuff you.
Originally posted by Digi
Basically none of that is true. Take a quick gander at the link I posted. Everyone already knew the world was round, others had discovered America before him, and he was responsible for the unjust deaths and enslavement of a bunch of people.
The last part is actually giving Columbus too much credit. The guy was a merchant salesman without too little influence to impose enslavement to a foreign region. Sure, his actions led the Spanish Crown to an all out invasion, but that's hardly his responsability since we wasn't the king to begin with.
Spain could've been gracious and open to trade with the civilizations in place, theoretically.
Originally posted by Time-Immemorial
You are my golden calf and Im going to stuff you.
I love hearing libs b**** and moan about things that they have no power to change. Anything they don't like, I enjoy that much more than I already did. I already had great respect for the discoverer of America but now I will respect him even more! Think I will buy myself a framed picture or even statue of Columbus. He's now one of my all-time favorite heroes. Thanks, libs! 💃 💃
Originally posted by Bentley
The last part is actually giving Columbus too much credit. The guy was a merchant salesman without too little influence to impose enslavement to a foreign region. Sure, his actions led the Spanish Crown to an all out invasion, but that's hardly his responsability since we wasn't the king to begin with.Spain could've been gracious and open to trade with the civilizations in place, theoretically.
Conceded. Though in fairness, I was just summarizing in very broad strokes so that Star could ignore it and respond to the hyper-liberal bogeymen his mind has turned us into.
Originally posted by Digi
Also, I'm not a huge fan of the Oatmeal, but they did a great job encapsulating all of the bad stuff:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_dayWorth a read.
Dang. I knew he was bad but didn't know he was that terrible.
Re: Columbus Day
Originally posted by marwash22
why tf is this still a thing?I'm pretty sure everyone, particularly people in government who have the power to disavow National holidays, know what a heinous person Christopher Columbus was... seriously, the guy was arguably worse than Hitler and anyone associated with ISIS. So why are we still (or ever in the first place) dedicating a day to this guy?
People like pirates?