Perspectives & Reconsidering Columbus Day

The Columbus Day holiday has always been controversial. Observances are not equal across the country. In South Dakota the day is celebrated as "Native American Day." Meanwhile in Denver, Colorado the annual Columbus Day parade is met by protesters decrying the genocide of indigenous peoples.

This video furthers the case for the YouTube generation. At the same time, many Italian-American communities fiercely defend Columbus Day, wanting to preserve the country's most powerful symbol of the enormous contributions successive waves of Italian immigrants have made to the creation and evolution of America.

Despite the 1990 Congressional resolution designating November National American Indian Heritage Month, the US has yet to honor the indigenous peoples of the Americas with a national holiday. Do you think we should honor and respect the first peoples of the Americas?  Why or Why not? If so, on this Columbus Day holiday, maybe you want to join the call for an Indigenous People's Day.