Ilana M
“Let’s Spread the Fun Around” by Ward Churchill, and “Confronting Columbus Day”, provide some very interesting food for thought. The first article sets the premise for the larger one on why exactly it is unethical to celebrate Columbus Day. “Spreading the fun around” is a phrase that poses a challenge to those who engage in acts of mindless racism. Churchill describes the “mascots” and “war paint” smeared onto the faces of fans of teams such as “The Redskins” as an act of openly degrading Native American Indians and their culture. Although some fans may respond, as stated in the reading, that they are merely having “good, clean fun,” the author strongly disagrees. Having read “Confronting Columbus Day” you realize how horrific the whole issue really is.
In American History we are taught about how our continent was discovered, and a great nation came into existence. We sat there listening placidly about Columbus’s conquest of the New World. And yet as we hear the story of his landing it is merely a textbook reading. We never seriously pause to think about the vast terror which took place on the territories of present day East Coast. We almost never speak of the Native-American Indians who were slaughtered for their land so shamelessly, enslaved and suffering similarly to African-Americans. The results of this tragedy are seen today: the remaining Native-Americans live in shanty reservations in oppression. On top of it all, we march with “brass bands” (as stated in the brief) celebrating the man who extinguished an entire population. Somehow, even though we posses this knowledge, it gets lost in the minds of people during the celebratory proceedings of the Columbus Day Parade. People continue to engage in this act of mindless racism year after year, naming it a national holiday. They may argue that after all, this day marks the discovery of America, and the majority of the population likes to think of themselves as patriots. However the argument fails to address the “genocide” which goes along with the day. “Confronting Columbus Day” gives serious insight as to why Columbus fits the bill, putting forth various definitions of genocide and why it is punishable. What only goes on to support the argument, is the part of the text which mentions how the United States refused to ratify the Genocide Convention, and only did so with adapting a “special package.”
Yet many still live in denial of the facts. The four Native-Americans who were arrested for “confronting” the parade are viewed as criminals, accused of impeding a celebration. But it is those who are ignorant to the facts, those who engage in acts of mindless racism, the sports fans who “smear the war paint” and produce the feathers as Ward Churchill says, after only a couple hundred years down the road of a great tragedy, – are the moral criminals.
After reading these two texts and watching a video clip of Ward Churchill’s speech on this topic, what I was aware of already had become reinforced in my mind. I never really felt that Columbus Day was sort of holiday worth celebrating, nor did I think that anyone could do so with an open heart, knowing what historical events were attached to it. I understand those who feel that the crimes of the past shouldn’t shadow the future, yet it still seems very unethical to dismiss an entire portion of history just to march in a parade, while remaining completely ignorant to how hurtful it may be to those whose ancestors were killed in connection to the event.
*The link which I have included with this post is to a small article on Columbus Day. Look closely at the picture- yes, those are children in the boat. It all goes back to what we’re taught at an early age…
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/12/11522/959/travel/Morally+Ambiguous+Travel:+Just+Relax+and+Enjoy+New+York’s+Columbus+Day+Parade
