I think you're kidding, if so: It not:The real float
American history invented by fictional children's books. Maybe you can move to Hispaniola to spearhead Columbus Day celebrations.Some folks should seriously consider moving to Canada if American history troubles them so much.
Or maybe I'll research history at Columbia University, or take an opinion poll in Columbus, Ohio, or go fishing on the Columbia River, or visit Colombia.American history invented by fictional children's books. Maybe you can move to Hispaniola to spearhead Columbus Day celebrations.
LJSA, I love your posts, and the fact that you went to Sewanhaka HS, a place that boasts of Zendon Hamilton and Vinny Testaverde and a town that may have the best Italian restaurant on LI - King Umbertos.American history invented by fictional children's books. Maybe you can move to Hispaniola to spearhead Columbus Day celebrations.
Then I'm certain as a proud Italian American, you'd agree it would make more sense to celebrate Italian Americans than Indigenous people on Columbus Day.I promise you as an Italian-American myself, my lack of affinity with Christopher Columbus has nothing to do with anti-Italian bias.
I wouldn't mind it being an Italian-American Day, but you're also not providing any nuance to what Columbus Day really represents/represented. I remember growing up, and there's plenty of information out there, of Columbus Day being more about the "discovery of the Americas", not a day to celebrate Italian-American heritage. That is especially true worldwide and nationwide. So, in that, yeah, Indigneous Day would be more representative. In NYC, that context is different so I understand why it would seem like a zero-sum thing.Then I'm certain as a proud Italian American, you'd agree it would make more sense to celebrate Italian Americans than Indigenous people on Columbus Day.
I don't often loose my cool with my daughter(she may tell you otherwise), but the other day she said to me "Dad, no one celebrates Columbus Day anymore". To which I replied "Maybe no one from your generation celebrates Columbus Day anymore, but rest assured that almost all Italian-Americans, and many non-Italian-Americans, of my generation and your Grandparents' generation still celebrate Columbus Day. And with all due respect, I don't frankly give a crap(I used a more vulger word) what your generation does or doesn't do. When my generation is dead and gone, your generation can do what you want".Then I'm certain as a proud Italian American, you'd agree it would make more sense to celebrate Italian Americans than Indigenous people on Columbus Day.
I'm okay with Columbus Day not being a day off. It's not one of the 7 days most businesses give employees off anyway. School hollidays are a different story. In NYC Jewish holidays were always days off, mostly because there were so many Jewish teachers, there wouldn't be enough subs to fill in if teachers took off for the high holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. In other places in the US, not only are schools open, but most people are completely unaware of these holidays. We used to have separate holidays for Lincoln and Washington's birthday. MLK's birthday is a national holiday but not a mandatory day off from work. I'm not arguing for Columbus day to be a day off.So now we have a national holiday for one group of immigrants from one country?
Madone!
Now I want St. Patrick's Day off without having to take a damn PTO day!
Cead Mile Failte!
I'm okay with Columbus Day not being a day off. It's not one of the 7 days most businesses give employees off anyway. School hollidays are a different story. In NYC Jewish holidays were always days off, mostly because there were so many Jewish teachers, there wouldn't be enough subs to fill in if teachers took off for the high holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. In other places in the US, not only are schools open, but most people are completely unaware of these holidays. We used to have separate holidays for Lincoln and Washington's birthday. MLK's birthday is a national holiday but not a mandatory day off from work. I'm not arguing for Columbus day to be a day off.
Really, I would be completely okay with diminishing the name Columbus Day, and replacing it with Italian American day the same way we have a Puerto Rican Day parade. But to somehow point with laser specificity about alleged atrocities committed by Columbus against a tiny number of indigenous people which very well could have been self defense, and in turn rename the holiday for Indigenous people is kind of a joke considered that this country literally went to war against native Americans and a sovereign nation (Mexico) in the name of manifest destiny.
FWIW, too many people who celebrate St. Patrick's Day need the day after off too. Maybe that Day should be replaced by Substance Abuse Day or Twelve Step Program Day.
But, to be clear, my main points were not that these changes were implemented, but bowing to fears of pressure to do so. You are well aware that there are forces at work to remove Christmas as a national holiday, targeted lawsuits that force small towns without legal defense funds to remove WWI and WWII memorials that have religious symbols or biblical verse on monuments, even praying in public places. This is NOT a political discussion in the least. Across Europe in the early 1940s, not enough people stood up to atrocities against Jews, fearing the consequences of doing so. When we lose our resolve to stand up, we've already given up our freedom.
You mean celebrate “Indigenous Day” for a people who were not any more indigenousI wouldn't mind it being an Italian-American Day, but you're also not providing any nuance to what Columbus Day really represents/represented. I remember growing up, and there's plenty of information out there, of Columbus Day being more about the "discovery of the Americas", not a day to celebrate Italian-American heritage. That is especially true worldwide and nationwide. So, in that, yeah, Indigneous Day would be more representative. In NYC, that context is different so I understand why it would seem like a zero-sum thing.
I'd also argue that giving people days (or months) isn't exactly helping them or doing anything substantive, but that's a conversation not for this message board.
Whoa whoa whoa…don’t go taking my time and a half away from me nowI'm okay with Columbus Day not being a day off. It's not one of the 7 days most businesses give employees off anyway. School hollidays are a different story. In NYC Jewish holidays were always days off, mostly because there were so many Jewish teachers, there wouldn't be enough subs to fill in if teachers took off for the high holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. In other places in the US, not only are schools open, but most people are completely unaware of these holidays. We used to have separate holidays for Lincoln and Washington's birthday. MLK's birthday is a national holiday but not a mandatory day off from work. I'm not arguing for Columbus day to be a day off.
Really, I would be completely okay with diminishing the name Columbus Day, and replacing it with Italian American day the same way we have a Puerto Rican Day parade. But to somehow point with laser specificity about alleged atrocities committed by Columbus against a tiny number of indigenous people which very well could have been self defense, and in turn rename the holiday for Indigenous people is kind of a joke considered that this country literally went to war against native Americans and a sovereign nation (Mexico) in the name of manifest destiny.
FWIW, too many people who celebrate St. Patrick's Day need the day after off too. Maybe that Day should be replaced by Substance Abuse Day or Twelve Step Program Day.
But, to be clear, my main points were not that these changes were implemented, but bowing to fears of pressure to do so. You are well aware that there are forces at work to remove Christmas as a national holiday, targeted lawsuits that force small towns without legal defense funds to remove WWI and WWII memorials that have religious symbols or biblical verse on monuments, even praying in public places. This is NOT a political discussion in the least. Across Europe in the early 1940s, not enough people stood up to atrocities against Jews, fearing the consequences of doing so. When we lose our resolve to stand up, we've already given up our freedom.
I thought the one thing we'd all agree on is that we need more days off, not less.Whoa whoa whoa…don’t go taking my time and a half away from me now
Or, more working holidays with built-in OT…I’ll gladly take that too.I thought the one thing we'd all agree on is that we need more days off, not less.