Should America get rid of Columbus Day?

The Six · October 16, 2009, 07:32:49 AM

Quote from: O Mensch on October 15, 2009, 06:06:22 PM
Exactly. Do we cemebrate "Death Day" perhaps?

Halloween?

MN Dave · October 16, 2009, 07:33:41 AM

El Dia De Los Muertos!

Todd · October 16, 2009, 08:20:40 AM

Quote from: O Mensch on October 15, 2009, 05:28:05 PMYou do realize that the former sentence completely undermines the latter, right?

No it doesn't, that's just silly. Had Amerigo Vespucci been the first of the expansionist Europeans to discover America, it could be called America day. (Presuming one believes America was named after him.) The individual person isn't as important as what followed, but that doesn't mean the day shouldn't be named after the person who got here first. If people are for more accurate labels, then European Colonization day, or European Expansion day, or something similar would be the way to go. As it is, it's eminently sensible to name the day after the man.

MishaK · October 16, 2009, 10:11:29 AM

Quote from: drogulus on October 16, 2009, 12:34:53 AM
The best course is to criticize or debunk, if you will, and keep the holiday, remembering all of the consequence of the discovery of the New World, not just those that fit one agenda or another. That's what a great civilization does, and in the process inspiring people around the world to likewise criticize their own cultures. Actually, I think we should all feel free to make judgments about other cultures. Judge, and prepare to be judged (which will happen anyway). Then we can compare notes.

I can agree with that.

Quote from: drogulus on October 16, 2009, 12:34:53 AM
If you want to eliminate all offensive holidays you won't have many left. Let's not eliminate any, I say. The reasons for elimination are paltry, and suspect.

I don't care whether someone considers Columbus Day offensive. I just find the holiday silly. There are greater achievements that could be celebrated and Columbus' significance to North America and the US specifically is rather limited. A "Mayflower Day" would indeed be more appropriate.

Quote from: The Six on October 16, 2009, 07:32:49 AM
Halloween?

That's a religious holiday. Columbus Day isn't a religious holiday. It doesn't make an argument that we should have holidays for obvious and inevitable things.

Quote from: Todd on October 16, 2009, 08:20:40 AM
No it doesn’t, that's just silly.

Well, yes it does. If the individual achievement is not significant and if it would have happened anyway, then there is nothing special to celebrate and there certainly is no reason to name it for the one individual who happened to do it.

flyingdutchman · October 17, 2009, 02:26:06 AM

Most definitely it should be scrapped.

WI Dan · October 17, 2009, 07:59:19 AM

Hell, no! We need more holidays, not fewer. Things are falling apart around here. Families need more quality fishing time. Everybody knows that!

By my estimation, we need to add at least three more 3-day week-ends to the calendar, if we are to mend the social fabric of this great nation. I would personally like to nominate the following gentlemen as worthy honorees:

1.) John Chapman (AKA "Johnny Appleseed")
2.) Curly Lambeau (founder of the Green Bay Packers)
3.) Karl Eisner (the foreigner who invented the Swiss Army Knife)

Szykneij · October 17, 2009, 09:33:13 AM

Quote from: Dan on October 17, 2009, 07:59:19 AM
Hell, no! We need more holidays, not fewer. Things are falling apart around here. Families need more quality fishing time. Everybody knows that!

By my estimation, we need to add at least three more 3-day week-ends to the calendar, if we are to mend the social fabric of this great nation. I would personally like to nominate the following gentlemen as worthy honorees:

1.) John Chapman (AKA "Johnny Appleseed")
2.) Curly Lambeau (founder of the Green Bay Packers)
3.) Karl Eisner (the foreigner who invented the Swiss Army Knife)

Whoever invented duct tape should get two holidays.

WI Dan · October 17, 2009, 10:33:55 AM

Quote from: Szykniej on October 17, 2009, 09:33:13 AM
Whoever invented duct tape should get two holidays.

Sounds fair. One for each Johnson.

MishaK · October 17, 2009, 07:53:27 PM

Quote from: Dan on October 17, 2009, 07:59:19 AM
By my estimation, we need to add at least three more 3-day week-ends to the calendar, if we are to mend the social fabric of this great nation...

... and the financial situation of the airline industry.

WI Dan · October 18, 2009, 04:58:29 AM

Quote from: DanBy my estimation, we need to add at least three more 3-day week-ends to the calendar, if we are to mend the social fabric of this great nation...

Quote from: O Mensch on October 17, 2009, 07:53:27 PM
... and the financial situation of the airline industry.

Sure! Holidays will cure whatever ails us. We don't need no stinking bailout!
Hey! ... How about "Wright Brothers Day" ?!

MishaK · October 18, 2009, 02:04:15 PM

Quote from: Dan on October 18, 2009, 04:58:29 AM
Hey! ... How about "Wright Brothers Day" ?!

I'm cool with that.

karlhenning · October 19, 2009, 03:24:46 AM

There'll be increased tourist traffic to Dayton, of course.

david johnson · October 20, 2009, 01:40:51 AM

do we have doughnut day? columbus loved doughnuts. a d-nut stand was his first stop in the new world.

dj

Szykneij · October 20, 2009, 02:39:36 AM

Quote from: david johnson on October 20, 2009, 01:40:51 AM
do we have doughnut day? columbus loved doughnuts. a d-nut stand was his first stop in the new world.

dj

Whoever invented doughnuts should get three holidays.

Brahmsian · October 08, 2015, 07:45:30 AM

bump

Karl Henning · October 08, 2015, 07:51:56 AM

A six-year bump!

Ken B · October 08, 2015, 07:52:55 AM

364 days a year is not enough, we can't afford to lose any.

Should America get rid of Columbus Day?

Should Columbus Day be rid of?

MN Dave

WI Dan

WI Dan

WI Dan

karlhenning

Brahmsian

Ken B