"In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.." so the poem goes.
And since it was proclaimed a national holiday in 1937, Americans have celebrated that voyage to the New World as Columbus Day, observed by most states the second Monday of October.
A celebration of nationalism that gives some lucky ones a three-day weekend, Columbus Day is one of the more controversial holidays in our country.
In fact, it isn't even a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii, according to the website timeanddate.com, which adds that Native Americans' Day is celebrated in South Dakota, while Indigenous People's Day is celebrated in Berkeley, California.
On the Stratford Patch Facebook page, we asked readers to share their general thoughts on Columbus Day and it would seem they side with the Californians, Nevadans and Hawaiians who don't publicly observe the holiday.
"It's been suggested by a friend that we call it 'Massive Apology to Indigenous People of North and South America Day,'" commented a reader. "Given that Columbus only got to Hispaniola and the Vikings had visited North America long before in addition to the fact that the continent was already populated, he didn't 'discover' America."
"I think we should use Columbus Day to acknowledge the atrocities committed against American Indians," commented another reader. "Columbus' 'discovery' is what set off the collision between the 'Old' world and the 'New.' Celebrating Columbus as someone to be admired is way too simplistic when teachers could instead use this day to talk about American Indians and their trials which have much more important implications for modern society than we currently acknowledge. But of course I don't think many people care, unfortunately, and kids just look forward to the day off."
What are your thoughts on Columbus Day? Share them in the comments below.
