Should Columbus Day still be a federal holiday?
By Suzieqmom
@Suzieqmom (2755)
United States
October 8, 2010 9:17pm CST
It's Columbus Day weekend, and Monday is a federal holiday here in the U.S. Banks, post offices, and government agencies are all closed, and schools all used to be closed on this holiday too. Now it is considered to be an "optional" holiday, many schools and businesses stay open, and many people believe it should not be a holiday at all. Some people believe that Columbus Day honors someone who engaged int he oppression of others, and, since history now teaches that Columbus was not the first person to discover America, the whole premise is no longer valid. However, Columbus Day was actually made a holiday to recognize the many contributions made to the U.S. by its immigrant communities (at the time, the government was interested in pleasing Italian Americans in particular, but was attempting to reach out to all immigrant communities).
What do you think? Should Columbus Day continue to be a federal holiday or has it become obsolete?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@ElicBxn (64171)
• United States
9 Oct 10
In Texas, Columbus Day isn't even "optional" with the State Slaves. They took it away for "Confederate Hero's Day" that lands in January, around MLK's Day.
Sometimes it even SHARES the day with MLK.
Excuse me?
Now, I don't mind MLK's day, and "Juneteeth" or June 19th is a nice way to get a holiday in June, but CONFEDERATE HERO'S DAY???
I would rather have Columbus Day, then we at least have a holiday in October!!! its a LONG run between Labor Day and Veteran's Day...
Now, I don't mind MLK's day, and "Juneteeth" or June 19th is a nice way to get a holiday in June, but CONFEDERATE HERO'S DAY???
I would rather have Columbus Day, then we at least have a holiday in October!!! its a LONG run between Labor Day and Veteran's Day...@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
11 Oct 10
Is that the same as Jefferson Davis/Robert Lee/Stonewall Jackson day that we "celebrated" in Virginia? I agree that October is a GREAT month to have a holiday--helps you get ready for the big ones coming just around the corner. Personally I think the worst stretch is between President's Day in February and Memorial Day in May. Unless you can take time for a Spring Break or a Easter or Passover Break, you are stuck without a day off for months!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64171)
• United States
11 Oct 10
probably, but we had Texas Independence Day, March 1st I think, and there was something in April... I'd probably have to look it up now, it has been 5 years after all...
Now, when I first started working they might give us the full day off on a Presidential Election day, then it was half a day, then it was a few hours... then - none - not that it was that big a deal, after all, the polls were open until 7 p.m. tho there was the year we were in at 6 and because everyone that came before 7 was allowed to vote, and there were LONG lines, we didn't vote until 8 and the people who came after us!!! well, I think it was 9 before they voted - AND I didn't work the counting then - Praise the Lord, I think they didn't get done until after 4 a.m.!!!
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I remember getting the day off for election day several years ago, then it was just for a Presidential election, then just a couple of hours to leave early to vote--now, like you, we get nothing. It's amazing how they can "call" an election 5 minutes after the polls close when it takes so many hours to count the votes, isn't it? 
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14889)
• United States
9 Oct 10
Christopher Columbus is honored with the discovery of the New World. It is fitting that a holiday should be named for him. i think this day deserves to be a federal holiday. We owe that much in his memory.@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
11 Oct 10
I agree with you--for hundreds of years he was considered to be the one to discover America, and, even if he wasn't, I think the point is that we have a holiday that celebrates the many explorers and travelers that have made the U.S. what it is today.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
9 Oct 10
I think it should continue to be a national holiday. Christopher Columbus did discover the new land, even if he wasn't the first. And it wasn't all his fault that the white man oppressed the red man. If anyone is feeling guilty over that, they just could give their homes and jobs to Native Americans. Probably no one feels quite that guilty, though. :)
@ElicBxn (64171)
• United States
9 Oct 10
In Texas, Columbus Day isn't even "optional" with the State Slaves. They took it away for "Confederate Hero's Day" that lands in January, around MLK's Day.
Sometimes it even SHARES the day with MLK.
Excuse me?
Now, I don't mind MLK's day, and "Juneteeth" or June 19th is a nice way to get a holiday in June, but CONFEDERATE HERO'S DAY???
I would rather have Columbus Day, then we at least have a holiday in October!!! its a LONG run between Labor Day and Veteran's Day...
Now, I don't mind MLK's day, and "Juneteeth" or June 19th is a nice way to get a holiday in June, but CONFEDERATE HERO'S DAY???
I would rather have Columbus Day, then we at least have a holiday in October!!! its a LONG run between Labor Day and Veteran's Day...
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
11 Oct 10
That is a great idea--I actually think 9/11 should be a federal holiday anyway, even if we don't replace one of the others with it.
