Debate on Columbus Day
To change Columbus Day to no longer be a holiday would be turning a blind eye to a difficult history, yet still turning that eye away from a history with a side to be celebrated. I instead ask of you to celebrate Columbus Day, learn the full history, including the wrong doings of Columbus and his crew, and celebrate the good change brought about by this event that ultimately led to the lifestyle you lead today. If the wrongs of every event in history were to be scrutinized would we have a history left to celebrate? Think of the reasons why we celebrate a moment in history, and then think why we have not excluded that from our celebrations. I believe it is to celebrate the good times and the bad and to never forget why we are here in this specific moment. In 1892 President Benjamin Harris made a commemorative proclamation to celebrate Columbus’ voyage to America. Though I was not there, I would like to believe the reason he made this proclamation was to celebrate the event that led to his life and prosperity in a country that may not have existed without that voyage. Let us keep Columbus Day, celebrate the good and remember the bad, never to make those mistakes in the future. Learn from Columbus day and get a day off from school or work to reflect.
When looking at the date October 12th Columbus Day, Americans tend to remember the history they were taught as children. Once Americans move into higher education they find the shocking truth that lies behind the half-truth they previously knew. Columbus was a reckless and callous man who had a crew who was just as in the wrong as their leader. There is controversy over the details but in large this man in history paved the way for Europeans to settle in America.
There are many reasons why we should celebrate Columbus day and keep it as such. We celebrate days that have far worse histories in my eyes than the history of Columbus Day. Take D-day or the holocaust or Halloween for example, these event have negative