Columbus Day has become a hot button topic in America that has polarized the nation. It is critical to understand the history behind Columbus Day and what it represents to the interested parties in this debate.
Columbus Day was first celebrated in America at the 300th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ landing in the new world in New York City and in Boston. After the 1891 lynching of Italian-Americans in New Orleans, President Benjamin Harrison tried to thaw tense relations with Italy by declaring the 1892 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landing a one time holiday.
By 1937 The United States and Italy had entered very friendly relations and in order to celebrate that relationship, President Franklin Roosevelt was heavily lobbied by the Knights of Columbus to make it a national holiday. October 12 became Columbus Day and was a celebration of Italian-American heritage and good will. Eventually the Federal government streamlined their official holiday policies and Columbus Day is now observed on the second Monday of October.
Even during World War II, Columbus Day continued to represent the celebration of Italian-American heritage. October 12, 1942 was the day that President Roosevelt announced he was removing Italian-Americans from the enemy aliens list and the restrictions on travel and contraband were lifted to garner support for a planned Allied invasion of Italy. Columbus Day continues to be a celebration of Italian-American heritage to many Americans to this day.
However, many Americans do not know about this connection from the Italian born Christopher Columbus who was sailing for the Spanish monarchy. As a result, they view Columbus Day as a celebration for its namesake. Given the brutal treatment of Native Americans at the hands of the Europeans that occurred throughout history, it should be understandable that many Americans do not feel Christopher Columbus is a person to be celebrated. Columbus’ own maltreatment of the Taino people is well documented by both Columbus and Bartolomé de Las Casas in addition to the continued oppression by most European nations.
In the end, is Christopher Columbus someone Americans want to celebrate? The answer should be no. He did not discover America nor was he the first European to land here. He brought enslavement and disease to an entire group of people. He was a horrible administrator and leader. If the intention is to honor Italian-Americans, another day and person should be found that is not going to create such controversy. Further, what other nation specific holidays do we celebrate in America with a Federal holiday? There are none. Why should we celebrate Italian-American heritage when we do not celebrate any other country’s heritage?
The time to retire Columbus Day has arrived. Local municipalities and individual states should feel free to celebrate their Italian-American communities with parades much like they have for decades. However, Americans should not be giving a favored status to Christopher Columbus or to Italy with a Federal holiday. If we need another holiday to replace Columbus Day with, it should not take much imagination to find a suitable replacement.