Columbus Day itself was created partly as an act of political correctness, namely in response to anti-Italian discrimination in the United States. The man was Italian and it was looked upon as a good move to bring a famous Italian to the forefront to help resolve the problem, much in the same way one could say the creation of Black History Month was done in part to help overcome black discrimination in the US.
How Columbus Sailed Into U.S. History, Thanks To Italians : Code Switch : NPR
I knew that. Thank you for letting everyone else know though. I'm sure that many didn't have a clue.
The following is not directed at you. I'm just taking this opportunity to rant a little:
I don't celebrate Columbus Day. I really don't care. What I was describing was the ridiculous attempt by many in this country to "not offend." You can't show deference to one group without offending another group.
Which is also why I liked James' post #3. If we're going to start changing everything's name in this country because some group, no matter who they are, is offended by the name then we'll not have anything named after anyone at all. Just as James most correctly pointed out.
Do I think that the Native American's need a holiday named after them? Again, I don't care. If they want one, then give them one. If any group of Americans deserves a holiday named after them, it would be the Native Americans.
The Irish have one, that we all get drunk on that day, which should be very offensive to many Irish since the derogatory image of the Irish is that they are all drunks. But nobody cares about that. Including the Irish.
Christmas was given the date to be celebrated on of a pagan holiday. And it's an official national holiday in a country where lately we see the courts mandating no government approved or supported religious observance at all. Nobody cares about that.
Thanksgiving is also an official national holiday in America that marks the story of how the Europeans tricked the Native Americans into welcoming us in so we could take all their stuff. Nobody is trying to take that holiday off the calendar.
See, it really is political correctness gone amok.
Where do we stop? Why start? Are the Italian-Americans offended at this? Do their feelings not matter? They were, and in many places in the northeast still, discriminated against. Ever seen "The Soprano's"??? Ever watched a mobster movie? What a depiction of Italians that is.
Again, where do we stop? Should we destroy almost every 'cowboy' movie made? Those depict the Native American in bad light some times.
Where do we stop? I'll tell you where. Here. This action taken by this city. It's ridiculous.
This is nothing more than a group of politicians and their supporters attempting to make an outward statement that they are "tolerant" and "caring of others feelings." But as I've shown above about the Italians, this is just another example of picking one group over another.
A blatant example of dividing America against itself into classes.
There are no African-Americans, or Italian-Americans or any other type of hyphenated Americans (except those that have dual citizenship), or at least there shouldn't be. We are all Americans. Well, at least I feel that way.
Maybe dividing us by race and class is what the tolerant left wants, but not me. I would prefer that we all be equal - Americans. Equal citizens in an equal country.
But actions like this only serve to further divide.
/rant
