Quote:
Originally Posted by Bay Kid
As of this past week we no longer celebrate Columbus Day in Virginia. BUT it will still remain a state PAID holiday. Why? Why be paid not to work in the middle of October?
Now Indigenous People's Day....
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But it’s not just Virginia. The university where I taught in Pennsylvania got rid of Columbus Day five or six years ago. I think a lot of states that used to have Columbus Day Have gotten rid of it.
From Wikipedia: “Actual observance varies in different parts of the United States, ranging from large-scale parades and events to complete non-observance. Most states do not celebrate Columbus Day as an official state holiday.Some mark it as a "Day of Observance" or "Recognition.” Most states that celebrate Columbus Day will close state services, while others operate as normal.”
Columbus Day is more vigorously observed in areas with a lot of descendants of Italian immigrants, but even they are less interested these days. There are large parts of the U.S. where Italian-Americans are uncommon.
I think Columbus was a horrible person, a butcher, whose actions led to partial genocide, but I also revere him for his role in the discovery and conquest of the Americas, both north and south, and the islands nearby.