Columbus Day is a bank holiday and no-one gives away holidays so throwing out the date altogether is no good. All Power to the Worker ... even in banks! Yah!
Not likely any need to recite the history. Columbus didn't discover America and he was a worthless bastard.
Since we don't want to chuck the holiday, it needs another name.
Columbus Day represents discovering the whole country so whatever entity takes the day must have had that kind of impact.
Earlier explorers got to America but not all that much came of the landings and there's a good chance Chinese came in earlier on the other coast so that history is too vague to give the day to one or another.
We don't want any political or jingoistic vibe to it when there's so much already. Columbus Day had no politics so there shouldn't be any in whatever replaces it.
Jonas Salk - probably no contest the man was a saint and he didn't discover America but he gave back a generation to the world. It's a day to celebrate the goodness of giving without expectation.
Harriet Tubman - another American saint who resolved to rescue as many slaves as she could from the Southern plantations. She is a model of sacrifice for the greater good.
Sitting Bull - one of the most famous native Americans and maybe it's time for a day to show respect for the people who actually owned the country ... and own it still.
Mark Twain - a day of reflection on country wisdom, one of America's finest products. He was never fooled by the suits downtown.
There's a sampler of standout characters from whose lives came something hugely important and beneficial to America. It doesn't seem like it should be such a huge thing to change the name of the holiday as not too many seem to be leaping to their feet to defend it ... but no-one is going to give up a day off work and why should they ... even if they're bankers.
Not likely any need to recite the history. Columbus didn't discover America and he was a worthless bastard.
Since we don't want to chuck the holiday, it needs another name.
Columbus Day represents discovering the whole country so whatever entity takes the day must have had that kind of impact.
Earlier explorers got to America but not all that much came of the landings and there's a good chance Chinese came in earlier on the other coast so that history is too vague to give the day to one or another.
We don't want any political or jingoistic vibe to it when there's so much already. Columbus Day had no politics so there shouldn't be any in whatever replaces it.
Jonas Salk - probably no contest the man was a saint and he didn't discover America but he gave back a generation to the world. It's a day to celebrate the goodness of giving without expectation.
Harriet Tubman - another American saint who resolved to rescue as many slaves as she could from the Southern plantations. She is a model of sacrifice for the greater good.
Sitting Bull - one of the most famous native Americans and maybe it's time for a day to show respect for the people who actually owned the country ... and own it still.
Mark Twain - a day of reflection on country wisdom, one of America's finest products. He was never fooled by the suits downtown.
There's a sampler of standout characters from whose lives came something hugely important and beneficial to America. It doesn't seem like it should be such a huge thing to change the name of the holiday as not too many seem to be leaping to their feet to defend it ... but no-one is going to give up a day off work and why should they ... even if they're bankers.
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