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Post by Peter on Jul 15, 2019 13:58:12 GMT
Americans are taught that in 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered America. Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2018 occurs on Monday, October 8. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have proposed since the 1970s. There is a movement, started in the past few years, to rename Columbus Day, to Indigenous People's Day, which I whole heartily support. The genocide of over 70 million indigenous people, including the Welsh Indians, is something that should never be forgotten. The Americans even slaughtered millions of buffalo to cause starvation and hardship for the millions of Plains Indians. The Nazi holocaust was a minor event in comparison.
I could write a book, and many have, of all the contact between the Americas, and the rest of the World, for thousands of years before Columbus. But let's concentrate on true history in the periods that are of primary interest to us.
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