Columbus Day [October 12]
October 12, 2007
Columbus Day: Celebration of diversity or rememberance of genocide?
Columbus Day, commemorated on the second Monday of October, is a national holiday that celebrates the anniversary of Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas back in 1492.
To satiate my curiosity about the celebration of when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, I decided to interview a UW professor that I thought might give some insight and perspective on his thoughts of this so-called holiday.
Columbus Day, also known as ‘El Dia de la Raza’ which means ‘The Day of the Race’ in Spanish, is also celebrated in other parts of the world such as Central and South American countries.
Fortunately, I was able to contact an individual who had some background in Italian history. When asked about the opposition of Columbus Day, professor Giuseppe Leporace of the UW Division of French & Italian Studies, believes that “this holiday should be dropped by our calendar because it perpetuates values which are against many people who suffer and continue to suffer the injustice of the past.” He also felt that Columbus Day helps create awareness about Italy and its people but the wrong side of its rich and relevant culture.
Many view this holiday as a celebration of cultural diversity but others believe it to be an annual reminder of the negative remnants of history.
What do you think?
