Should we Celebrate Columbus Day?

Question

Please give a detailed answer and sources please!! I need to know the truth!

Answer 1

It is somewhat perplexing that we celebrate Columbus Day and not Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer for whom America was named. Historical traditions are good though, and it is always nice to have a reason for a holiday, so I am for celebrating Columbus Day.

I can't go into better detail than that provided by the following two sources. The one on Columbus day gives reasons why some think we should not celebrate it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day

The following site mentions comparison between Columbus and Vespucci,
on Amerigo Vespucci:
http://geography.about.com/cs/historicalgeog/a/amerigo.htm

Answer 2

Columbus Day is celebrated, but not with the closing of schools and federal institutions. If I remember my history right, Christopher did not make it to the United States on his first sailing. Instead he landed at San Salvador. Later, he and his brother made the voyage again and landed at one of the Florida Keys. I don't remember which one. There is dispute on who discovered America first, between the Norsmen or the Spanish.

Answer 3

No more than we should "celebrate" the containment, near genocide, theft of land and destruction of the "People's" culture that was the ensuing result of Columbus' discovery.

Answer 4

It makes no difference to me. My job took that holiday away so everyone has to work on that day.