Columbus Day the annual celebration where conservatives engage in revisionist histrionics to celebrate the villain of the story. It's a day when historical revisionism reaches its peak, and the inconvenient truths about Christopher Columbus are conveniently swept under the rug.
Currently, 30 states and three U.S. territories recognize Columbus Day in some form and only 20 states and grant state workers a paid day off for the holiday. Yet, conservatives continue to champion this day, ignoring the fact that Columbus's voyages led to the colonization and decimation of Indigenous populations across the Americas.
But why let pesky details like genocide and cultural erasure get in the way of a good celebration? After all, Columbus was Italian American, and what better way to honor Italian heritage than by celebrating a man who paved the way for centuries of oppression?
States need to take a more enlightened approach like New Mexico that have replaced their paid Columbus Day holidays with Indigenous Peoples Day. This state acknowledges the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples and seek to honor their history and culture. But such progressive moves are evidently lost on conservatives, who prefer to cling to outdated narratives that glorify colonialism.
Conservatives' unwavering support for Columbus Day is a testament to their commitment to historical ignorance. It's a day that celebrates a man who symbolizes the oppression and exploitation of Indigenous peoples, and yet, conservatives continue to uphold it. Perhaps it's time for them to open a history book and confront the uncomfortable truths they've been avoiding.
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