The Debate of Columbus Day

Kenacee Potter | Reporter 

Some argue that Columbus Day shouldn’t be celebrated but others think it should be. It is celebrated as a federal holiday, commemorating Christopher Columbus’s landing in the New World on October 12, 1492. It is also celebrated for the cultural heritage of Italian Americans. Some people don’t think Columbus Day should not be celebrated because of the Native Americans. Other groups have protested that it shouldn’t be a holiday because of the beginning of the transatlantic, the slave trade, and the deaths of millions from murder and diseases.

Many people believe Columbus Day is the “Arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas.” Columbus Day’s good reputation has decreased in recent years as scholars have been focusing more on the killing and other things he has committed against the indigenous people of the Caribbean. In 2020, a national reckoning on racial injustice, protests flooded the cities with why we shouldn’t have Columbus Day and the racial parts. Jaidyn Probst and Robert Anderson all have firm opinions on why we shouldn’t have Columbus Day.  Jaidyn Probst says “There should be no reason to celebrate a man who only brought disease, genocide, and various assaults to native Americans.” Robert Anderson said, “It’s time for Columbus Day to go away and be replaced by Indigenous Peoples Day as a national holiday.” Jaidyn and Robert both agree that Columbus Day shouldn’t be celebrated since Christopher Columbus did many terrible things. 

Many people think Columbus Day should be celebrated as a reward to great discovery of the “New World ” and it also celebrates the italian heritage because scholars believe Columbus was Italian and was born in Italy. Why it’s so important is because Itaians take it into their heritage and the “New World ” beginning with Christopher Columbus who was born and is Italian. Some say that’s why it’s important, Heritage. Others might say it’s just respectful to keep on October 12, 1492.