Columbus Day vs. Indigenous People’s Day

Isaiah Ramirez 10/5/18 Across the country, more and more cities are adopting Indigenous People’s Day in replace of Columbus Day. This is done in the name of “justice” to make amends the wrongs that the Europeans have done. This has sparked controversy in the eyes of many. Columbus Day has been an official federal holiday since the 18th century. The reason for Columbus Day being enacted a holiday to recognize our history and our past. The opposers to Columbus Day ridicule the celebrations of the holiday as a means to celebrate violence and the wrongdoings that Columbus and his people did. Supporters for Indigenous People’s Day want to recognize native and aboriginal cultures. However, Columbus Day is to be celebrated because our country needs to understand its history and cultural roots. We shouldn’t celebrate Indigenous People’s Day because it is not representative of our culture. Our culture is not based on native ideals and morals. Our culture is based on European ideals and morals. Even though the natives were here in America first, they have no impact on who we are as a people whatsoever. Furthermore, it is through conquest that the Europeans won our land and the winners write history. We may not like it, but it is our shared heritage; European. Now, arguers against Columbus Day would point out the atrocities that he brought to the native peoples and to this I say read a history book. History in itself is the story of conquest. Every civilization in the history of the entire world conquered. It is a set rule. Our shared heritage as humans is conquering, whether we accept the fact or not. The point is to not excuse of what he did but to understand it. Let’s all not forget how horribly they killed each other long before anyone set foot on “their land.