Voice of the People: Columbus Day

Monday, Sept. 13, was Columbus Day. I have often wondered why we don't have that day off. Remembering my history books, it marked the coming together of two nations and the beginning of the Americas. I heard an argument on the radio yesterday. They were arguing about changing Columbus Day to Native American Day. This argument set me out on a search for the original intention of Columbus Day. In a country of diverse religious faiths and national origins like the United States, it made sense to develop a holiday system that was not entirely tied to a religion or nationality. Even though Columbus was Spanish, this was to be the new America. The first parade was in New York. The idea, lost on present-day, was that this would be a national holiday that would be special for recognizing both Native Americans, who were here before Columbus, and the many immigrants who were just then coming into the country in astounding numbers. It was to be about our land and all of its people. Harrison, the 9th President of the United States, and the President at that time, especially designated the schools as centers of the Columbus celebration because universal public schooling, which had only recently taken hold, was seen as essential to democracy that was seriously aiming to include everyone and not just preserve a governing elite. All schools of New York; boys and girls from public schools, Catholic schools, Hebrew Orphan Asylum, Barnard School Military Corps, Italian and American Colonial Schools and Native Americans from Carlisle Indian School of Pennsylvania marched in the parade that day. The sight of these children spoke loudly to the spirit of the original Columbus Day.