Observer-Reporter forum

OR Guy · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:11 am Post subject: Columbus Day

Given 500-plus years of historical perspective, should we continue to celebrate Columbus Day?
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Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Don't care. Wasn't really worth celebrating in the first place but its more about the concept than the person and as long as Americans are hyper-nationalistic, we will probably continue to celebrate it.
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Amphikalein · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:28 am Post subject:

Observing Columbus Day here, in a state where a third of the population are Native Americans, is usually accompanied by grumbling and bad feelings. Government offices, banks, and other businesses still close for the day, since hardly anyone is willing to turn down a paid day off. But there are certainly no celebrations or parades.
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dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

I never understood that there was a controversy until the Soprano's episode where Tony has to make everyone chill out and stop bashing in the faces of the protesters. That was a good season.

I'm really indifferent, but I say keep it. Maybe someday I'll have a good enough job that gives me that day off.
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Amphikalein · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:

i don't miss having to calm down the angst over observing Columbus Day in a company that employed a couple hundred Native Americans. This year is the first in 13 years that it's not an issue i have to handle.

Though i didn't care for the PC-ness of the approach, the only thing that seemed to work at the company i worked for was to rename the holiday in the company's policies and handbooks as "Italian Heritage Day." Leaving out any reference to Christopher Columbus reduced the rumblings, but there were still some complaints. Still, like i said earlier, hardly anyone is willing to turn down a paid day off.
_________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

"May we, in our dealings with all the peoples of the earth, ever speak the truth and serve justice." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

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dazes · Professional Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1422

I am not sure why we celebrate a day were a man got lost anyway!

busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497

[quote="Amphikalein"]i don't miss having to calm down the angst over observing Columbus Day in a company that employed a couple hundred Native Americans. This year is the first in 13 years that it's not an issue i have to handle.

In your case, why didn't your company just call it "Indian Day"? I'm guessing they were living here before Columbus landed.

Anyone know where the Indians came from or what they called this land, before it was named after Amerigo Vespucci, or did God just put them here?

Amphikalein · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

[quote="busdriver"]

busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497

[quote="Amphikalein"]

Amphikalein · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

Most folks just generally refer to them as "the Casinos." If someone's referring to a specific one, they'll use the name of the pueblo - "I'm going down to Isleta tonight," or "Guess who's working over at Sandia Casino?"

i never said that the term "Indian" isn't used. i said that not all Native Americans like it, and that's certainly true. The self-referential terms used by varying tribes/pueblos vary, but again, around here it's generally tribal. For example, most Navajos i know simply refer to themselves as "Diné", while folks from differing pueblos will say, "I'm Jemez," or "We're Santa Ana" or "She's Acoma," "He's Laguna," etc. Then again, the joint tourist/cultural venture of 19 of the New Mexico pueblos is named the "Indian Pueblo Cultural Center." As an Anglo, i try to defer to whatever label individuals apply to themselves and their cultures, rather than what i'm naturally inclined to call them.

To each his own, i guess. Cool

_________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

"May we, in our dealings with all the peoples of the earth, ever speak the truth and serve justice." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

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