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Do you think it’s inappropriate to celebrate Columbus Day?

Asked at Massachusetts Street on October 14, 2008

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Photo of Shelly Hampton

“I think it’s fine to celebrate Columbus Day, because it happened and it’s history. And I got the day off.”

— Shelly Hampton, banker, Lawrence

Photo of Regis Vialle

“Well, it’s not my favorite holiday. I think it needs to be re-evaluated and changed. I used to live in South Dakota, where it was known as Native American Day, which I think is much more appropriate.”

— Regis Vialle, retired, Topeka

Photo of Emily Kurtz

“Yes I do. It’s basically celebrating the beginning of a genocide. It’s not something we should be proud of. Columbus was completely disrespectful to the people he encountered here.”

— Emily Kurtz, retail sales, Lawrence

Photo of Zach Stites

“No. I think Columbus Day is appropriate. It’s a national, nonsecular holiday. I don’t find it discriminatory.”

— Zach Stites, Kansas University freshman, Lawrence

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Comments

beatrice 4 years, 8 months ago

Leif Ericson day. Heck, I'll celebrate Leif Garrett day if it gets me a day off.

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TheYetiSpeaks 4 years, 8 months ago

"Columbus didn't have a hand in what happened to the Native Americans." Actually, most historians agree that Columbus was personally responsible for killing thousands of indigenous peoples in what is now Haiti after he declared himself "governor". Seriously, not a good guy, and not deserving of a holiday named for him.

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snap_pop_no_crackle 4 years, 8 months ago

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings!Eat Norman steel, you Saxon dog!

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dminear60 4 years, 8 months ago

Yes. It is wrong to glorify Columbus. I think the good people of South Dakota have the right idea and we should celebrate and honor Native Americans, not Columbus.

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SMe 4 years, 8 months ago

Of course we should. Columbus didn't have a hand in what happened to the Native Americans. Immigrants did.

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT 4 years, 8 months ago

The darn French can just take their really thin pancakes, cheek kisses, and their XXY gene pool and go back home. The Statue of Liberty is bolted down so they can just leave that.

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Pywacket 4 years, 8 months ago

Inappropriate? How about "irrelevant"? Autie, I'll happily celebrate Franco-American Day with you if you promise I don't have to eat any of that nauseating canned macaroni or spaghetti.

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT 4 years, 8 months ago

I want Leif Ericson day off.

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nickhawk 4 years, 8 months ago

Franco-American Day without Spaghetti-O's? Now THAT would be wrong!

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beawolf 4 years, 8 months ago

""Yes I do. It's basically celebrating the beginning of a genocide. It's not something we should be proud of. Columbus was completely disrespectful to the people he encountered here."...Actually many Indian tribes who roamed the continent before Columbus, would often "eliminate" other tribes whom they encountered. Especially in the northern climates, where resources for survival where minimal. Slavery and genocide were prevalent way before Columbus. That said, I believe it is important to understand the relevance of the historical impact of his voyages, but it's time to abandon the celebration of Columbus the man. He was really not a very nice fellow.

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jonas_opines 4 years, 8 months ago

I'm just going to re-paste my response from last year. jonas (Anonymous) says:"I was thinking, myself, that Colonialization and Exploitation Day sounded pretty good. To celebrate, I suggest that we all climb the fence into the neighbors yard, set up a tent and a grill, and eat burgers and drink beer all day. If they have any vegetables growing in a garden, take them as sides for your burgers!"

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sgtwolverine 4 years, 8 months ago

I think Prune has a good point ... nobody really pays attention to Columbus on Columbus Day, so I don't think it's an issue.

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Pywacket 4 years, 8 months ago

Autie~ I am so there!R_I~ Now, now... Don't tell me you wouldn't miss your bicyclette, baked brie, and the occasional chance to mock Jacques Cousteau (or Inspector Clouseau, for that matter), in character!

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fastwalker 4 years, 8 months ago

I agree with Emily. The title of the holiday should be 'Indigenous Peoples Day'

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RETICENT_IRREVERENT 4 years, 8 months ago

Bea,Don't forget about Shaun Cassidy.

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Dejacrew423 4 years, 8 months ago

Beefaroni isn't bad if you add a slice of cheese or some shredded Cheddar to it. Just nothing that contains those little meatballs or hot dogs. Myhusband has a recipe book called, A Man A Can A Plan, but I can't say we've made any of the recipes in it. Something about SpagettiO Stir-Fry just doesn't sound good.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous 4 years, 8 months ago

I'm trying to have an opinion about this... really I am....( Maybe Jonas has another leftover from last year I can borrow... Indian giver that he is. )

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snap_pop_no_crackle 4 years, 8 months ago

Don't get in an uproar, R_I, the Normans were really Vikings wearing berets & smoking unfiltered cigarettes. They weren't really French.

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tonythetiger 4 years, 8 months ago

Indigenius people?

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leadstone 4 years, 8 months ago

That's another disturbing fact. a French/American company making canned Italian food ( if you could call it that) Uh-Oh Spagetti Os! Darn right. Would we go to a rib-joint to get sushi? Or to a skate shop to get our car fixed? Or Lawrence Memorial to get a life saving procedure? Oh, yeah. Columbus was a goof.

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BigPrune 4 years, 8 months ago

Does anyone REALLY celebrate Columbus Day? We should celebrate Columbus Day (we wouldn't be living here in Lawrence if it weren't for him initially spreading the "sprawl"), BUT - please keep the banks open for OUR convenience.

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tonythetiger 4 years, 8 months ago

I am going to go celebrate Columbus Day with the Utes in Arizona. We are all going to go to the Quik Shop there and buy burritos. I can show them how I juggle hula hoops.

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kublackbird 4 years, 8 months ago

I don't think any of the people that have days named after them are entirely good or entirely bad. For example, even Abe Lincoln suspended habeas corpus. Columbus was not good to Native Americans once he got here, but I do feel like we should celebrate his acomplishments in exploration--at the time he lived, with the equipment they had, it was a pretty brave thing to cross the Atlantic Ocean.At the same time, why him? As others have said, why not celebrate all the early explorers, maybe with just "Explorer's Day".

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Corey Keizer 4 years, 8 months ago

I celebrate Columbus day by leaving doody dollars in areas that are heavily traveled by white folks.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiIVEi...

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Corey Keizer 4 years, 8 months ago

Did you seriously just say "The Blacks"... I know that family and they don't have a holiday.

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wagonburner23 4 years, 8 months ago

Columbus Day should be native american day. The blacks, hispanics, presidents, veterans, and even a freaking groundhog has a holiday. At least the Native Americans should have a holiday.

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Pywacket 4 years, 8 months ago

Autie~ That argument hasn't been offered because Sarah is too busy trying to incite lynch mobs to read the comments here. After November 6th, she'll have a lot of time on her hands with which to pontificate on the subject--when she isn't slaughtering wildlife from a chopper.Why not just call the holiday "Pillage & Plunder Day" and have themed parties--dress as your favorite plunderer--steal the host's silver--hole up in the host's bedroom and declare it for Spain (or France)... Sounds like fun to me.

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sunflower_sue 4 years, 8 months ago

Damn, Bea! You took my Leif Garrett comment. (That's what I get for checking in late.)Nobody remembers it's Columbus day unless they need to go to the bank, the post office, or if they meander down the driveway afterdark with a tiny flashlight and a not heavy enough jacket to check the mailbox and then, after peeking inside, wonder "What the...?"

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous 4 years, 8 months ago

Old age isn't for sissies.

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