Do you think that Columbus Day should be a national holiday?

It is all ready a federal holiday...right? I guess I'm open to it. Don't really care one way or the other, now that I'm retired.

MT

It is, but there is contraversy surrounding it's status as a national holiday, because of the atrocities that were commited by Columbus when he discovered the Carribean Islands.

I'm a fence sitter on this one. I like the idea of Americans getting a few more holidays. We work very hard and play very little, so any extra time off is good time.

However, to celebrate Columbus Day really seems a little silly. If we claim we are celebrating it because it was when "Columbus discovered the new world" we know that is wrong because there are many instances of others crossing the Atlantic (or even the Pacific!) to get here before Columbus.

In some cities, that day is called "Italian-American Day." This is also silly. I don't care if one ethnic group feels they need to be singled out and celebrated. This holiday usually corresponds with Columbus day, though. Columbus was barely Italian. He hated Italy and had few friends there. (Remember from 3rd grade social studies that he had to go to Queen Isabella of Spain to get the cash for the trip because Italy wanted nothing to do with him?).

I say we just need another day or two off. It doesn't matter why. I propose "Office Ditch Day" - it would be like the senior ditch day we had in high school, except there would be no seniority system for taking off. We just do it once a year.

Celebrating Columbus day would be pointless. Would anybody actually be celebrating the discovery of America? It'd probably be just viewed as another holiday with no significance behind it, like practically all the holidays now.

However, I wouldn't mind another floating holiday to be used at my discretion.

"Office Ditch Day" sounds good to me

As far as Columbus day is concerned, I don't think it should be a recognized holiday. I understand the symbolism behind the holiday, but Columbus was not a noble and honest person. That is evidenced in his own journals and the journals of Bartholome Las Casas (sp?). Also, as Jaime said, there were others who came to the new world before Columbus, and when Columbus did come here, he never made it to the mainland as far as I know.

I don't have a problem with patriotic holidays, but I think they should be focused on truly positive events in American history, and the ruthless conquest by our forefathers of an already populated land is not one of them.

Does anyone know when we began "celebrating" Columbus Day?

Just curious

Mike

Columbus Day was first celebrated in 1792. In 1892 Pres. Benjamin Harrison asked that the day be celebrated on the 400th anniversary of the event. Columbus Day has been celebrated annually since 1920.

MT

As for having Columbus Day off go for it. I agree another day off is well received. But In Illinois we have Casmir Pulaski day also. Not as big as Columbus Day, but supposedely Columbus found "America". (not all agree) From my understanding Pulaski was a soldier who was a hero in American History. I cannot think why people in the Great state of Illinois would question Columbus day and having it off when really no one knows that much about Pulaski and why just him. There were many Great soldiers. I am not saying we don't want another day off but why him??? Guess I need to go the web and find out more on this one.

Funny thing is, mom, Casmir Pulaski actually was in my city, Savannah. Illinois wasn't even a state when he General Pulaski was here. (FYI - He was a Polish general who fought the British in the Revolutionary War and incidentally died here in battle near Savannah).

My understanding of why Chicago celebrates Casmir Pulaski day is because Chicago has the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw (or so I've heard).

In Savannah, some businesses and offices close for Columbus Day; very few close for Pulaski; BUT - most take the ENTIRE week of St. Patrick's day off. Ah, yes, the priorities in life