Indigenous Peoples Day vs. Columbus Day

[Llamas]

Minneapolis will now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day the same day as Columbus Day. I think this is long overdue for the entire country. Columbus Day is the dumbest holiday. I hope that within my lifetime, Columbus will no longer be celebrated... but that would require people to be educated as to who he actually was and what he actually did. Discover the US? Not even close.

http://time.com/78205/minneapolis-in...-columbus-day/

[OC HAU]

Oh yeah, I hate Columbus Blue Jackets too.

Will you make an indigenous celebrative dance for me, llamas?

[Paint_It_Black]

How is calling it "Indigenous Peoples Day" any better? It's still essentially commemorating their extinction as a civilization. I'd call it "White Power Day" because honesty is something.

Discover the US? Not even close.

"Viking Day" would be pretty dandy.

[wheelchairman]

I avoid people who have strong opinions on this non-issue. Its up there with "why should i pay taxes" and "the price of gas these days" on 'conversations clueless people think are fascinating.

[Paint_It_Black]

^ resentful viking

[Llamas]

How is calling it "Indigenous Peoples Day" any better? It's still essentially commemorating their extinction as a civilization. I'd call it "White Power Day" because honesty is something.

From what I understand, the day is not to commemorate the sort-of-genocide, but rather to attempt to celebrate solidarity and promote native American culture instead of celebrating someone who was totally all about treating them like shit. I do oppose what schools teach in the US regarding Columbus... it's full of false information and straight-up lies. I've found Columbus day to be a bunch of crap for about 8 years now, and while I've never protested its existence, I'd be more than happy to see it go away. I like the idea of having a day promote indigenous culture - it's a lot nicer in my mind than celebrating Columbus.

[Paint_It_Black]

it's a lot nicer in my mind than celebrating Columbus.

Oh, it's a really nice idea, certainly. But how can you really promote a culture that doesn't exist anymore?

I'm all for teaching history honestly but with this particular issue I always get the feeling that people who want to celebrate native American culture and demonize Columbus somehow think this is going to benefit native Americans. It's not. They don't exist anymore. All we have are a few lingering remnants who look sort of right but aren't really any more native American than Per is a Viking or I am a Saxon.

Again, I'm all for teaching history honestly. I think it would be awesome if the tale of white migration to America was told with brutal honesty. I would also love to see a greater awareness of true native American culture within the context of history. Particularly this sort of thing. And if we really must name a day after someone maybe Squanto would be a good candidate.

I really enjoy this Cracked article though some of the claims sourced from Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me are shaky at best.

[Llamas]

Oh, it's a really nice idea, certainly. But how can you really promote a culture that doesn't exist anymore?

I'm all for teaching history honestly but with this particular issue I always get the feeling that people who want to celebrate native American culture and demonize Columbus somehow think this is going to benefit native Americans. It's not. They don't exist anymore. All we have are a few lingering remnants who look sort of right but aren't really any more native American than Per is a Viking or I am a Saxon.

Sure, I see your point there, but we do still have festivals to celebrate what still resides. And I tend to see this holiday as more of a replacement for Columbus Day more than anything. I agree that it won't benefit anyone at all, and it's misguided to think otherwise.

Again, I'm all for teaching history honestly. I think it would be awesome if the tale of white migration to America was told with brutal honesty. I would also love to see a greater awareness of true native American culture within the context of history. Particularly this sort of thing. And if we really must name a day after someone maybe Squanto would be a good candidate.

I really enjoy this Cracked article though some of the claims sourced from Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me are shaky at best.

I fully agree with everything you said here.

[AllIn All It's Not So Bad]

I like the idea of having a day promote indigenous culture - it's a lot nicer in my mind than celebrating Columbus.

You can always celebrate by moving out of the country as I see you have done. Too bad the rest of your countrymen are still sippin contributing to illegal immigration while blaming it on Mexicans.

[WebDudette]

Richard, what do you mean by 'doesn't exist anymore'?

I live in Arizona and there are certainly people who strongly identify with American Indian culture. Sure, it's not as prominent as it once was, but I don't think that makes it any less important to remaining American Indians.