So it is sort of de rigueur that one post something about that great
fifteenth century mariner, Cristobal Colon, on this date. It is marked on your
calendar as “Columbus Day,” presumably because we Anglo-types cannot correctly
pronounce “Colon.” Well, yes. Chris did not find what he set out to find, did
not know what it was he did find, and is remembered in the annals of history as
a great explorer. Works for me.
Image courtesy University of South Florida
Yes, I am aware that the Federal Uniform Holiday Act has changed
Columbus Day from October 12 to some Monday in October, but you
know what foot-draggers some old guys can be. Stuck in the past,
we are.
6 comments:
He certainly fell into greatness while others who did much greater things fell into obscurity.
Shelly, another case of "who you know?" perhaps?
Cristoforo Columbo was a cruel, nasty, money-grubbing, glory seeking SOB - He never set foot on the North American continent. He was a slaver and mass murderer and I have never understood why people in the Bahamas celebrate Columbus Day. They should take the day to hang or burn him in effigy!
Just sayin'...
Grace, a sentiment which is widely held, and yet. . .
It's really tabu to celebrate old Chris around here any more. You are very brave. And yet, a lot of people who did great things were not very nice.
Sharkey, yes, he has gotten a lot of bad press in recent years. I was mostly just hoping someone would take up my cause-- I want some recognition, too!
Quite possibly had everyone been "nice people," we would all be plucking berries and grains of wild grasses to this day.
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