A Strange Holiday...

So sometimes I hear a thought that rejuvenates a thought that you feel needs to repeated due to its significance. So I was listening to Democracy Now! the other day and much of the discussion revolved around a group of people who are protesting Columbus Day. I found the conversation intriguing on how when certain people in society get idolized that it permeates a thought into society that goes unknown since it so linked to national pride. I believe this is the case of Columbus. Why do we celebrate his day, i guess the standard answer would be since he discovered America, right? Well I guess that's how it is told in History..but is that really what happened and what about this man should be idolized. Well, first off Columbus was a slave trader not exactly a trait we should want to emulate, also by putting Columbus on such a Peddlestool in elementary school it gives off an impression that his action were fine. So the actions of Columbus which can't be seen as anything other than genocide and rape.

I don't think Columbus really liberated the land from the demonized/ barbaric Native people, but was more based out of greed and wanting to oppress a people who were the rightful owners of the great country. I think the lie that is at the root of this story is that all progress is good. It seems that the action of Columbus and the people who 'liberated' this paradise we live in from the evils of Native people. The idea of progress seems to tell us that since Columbus and the 'enlightened' European knew what was best for America. Naturally since they knew what was best for the people, even if that meant killing off the people who were living there peacefully before that is fine. Since, it is all in the name of progress. I guess when we see the history like that, we recognize...i hope, that maybe its not something to be celebrated rather requires repentance. That my status as a European and that i am blessed in my culture is due to people being killed.... it strikes me deep that this status I have is because of the blood of others...needs to be used to restore my brothers and sisters to a rightful status along side me. And all I can really say or ask them is for forgiveness. As we American and Canadians celebrate our holidays, Thanksgiving and Columbus Day, may we realize the atrocities that were committed to our fellow humans. Something we need to deal with and not neglect but a reality of anyone who would have status in this country because of the oppression of other......