Chris DeRise
“Lets Spread the Fun Around” and “Confronting Columbus Day” by Ward Churchill were two very moving writings that really inspired thought. They allowed someone who watches football all the time, a different perspective. His article “Confronting Columbus Day” allows us to see the negative reasons for celebrating Columbus day. Although Churchill’s writing can be considered “racy” it is meant to shock and catches your attention. This writing is meant to open our eyes to the racism people are actively promoting and spreading everyday.
“Confronting Columbus Day” deals with the reasons why it is morally unjust to celebrate a holiday for a man who caused the death of millions of people. Although all American children are taught in grade school that our continent was found by a great man named Christopher Columbus. Who made friends with the Native Americans, and did absolutely no wrongs. This is not the case celebrating Columbus Day is celebrating the genocide of millions of Native Americans. Who were in America prior to anyone disturbing their way of life. So instead of Americans remorsing on Columbus day for the people who were trampled on the way to forming this great nation, we have parades and celebrate injustice and racism annually. This is why Ward Churchill’s writing is so moving it shows the people who stood up to this injustice and beat it. These people were unafraid to not go with the masses but instead stand alone for what they knew was right. We need to all seriously think about what we are doing prior to engaging in thoughtless acts of mass racism on Columbus day.
“Lets Spread the Fun Around” is extremely vulgar in its language, but this should not at all take away from Churchill’s message, if not strengthen it. Being a football fan this article gives me a some idea of what Native Americans feel when teams have names that are raciest towards them. Watching football prior to this article, I would never have stopped to think the the Kansas City Chiefs was an example of current day racism, but now I know. This reading has opened my eyes to the racism which is currently going on around us. What is even more shocking, is how completely acceptable it is to the American public. We preach equality and justice when we constantly step on people everyday. As a nation we must open our eyes and see what Churchill is showing us.
These two articles are great food for thought. We must be aware everyday of what is going on around us. We can not always wait for an article to show us what is right or wrong. We must learn to think on our own, but more importantly stand on our own against this injustice and racism.
The link I am adding is from a High School in Massachusetts where the same debate on whether the Tomahawk Chop should be acceptable or not. I chose this article to show how deep the issue really goes into American society. This is not only an issue on a national level with professional sports, but also on a local level in our Schools.
