Five hundred and eleven years ago, Christopher Columbus discovered the descendants of those who discovered the "New World" thousands of years before. Though I'm not sure of the value of celebrating this fact, especially if you aren't in Spain, but it is useful to be reminded of the fact. Sure, you have the sales and day off (thus, it is "observed" on a Monday). The important thing is to remember the history.
A history that probably is quite relevant these days. Tariq Ali, author of Bush In Babylon: The Recolonization of Iraq. The reclines of Iraq was in town yesterday to have a talk with radio host/activist Laura Flanders. I didn't go to see it, partly because someone was supposed to come over to pick something up, but I'm sure I can imagine the gist. Anyway, his book is a small volume that reminds the reader of Iraq's 20th century history of resistance against occupiers, puppet regimes, and tyrants.
We feel ourselves not of this caliber, which is probably a bit too generous of a reading of events. It might be useful therefore for Americans to reflect on the full story and consequences of the event that we celebrate on Columbus Day. A matter that is complicated by the fact that it almost seems that we are celebrating Columbus' birthday, not a man that not ten years after his big event came back to Spain in disgrace (and chains) for mismanagement of his discovered (and conquered) lands. A warning, perhaps.
We also might skip four or so centuries to the Spanish-American War, a sort of changing of the guard. This war was defended in part with lofty rhetoric of freedom and the iniquities, the latter including an apparent act of sabotage that turned out to be an accident. The core reason for the war, however, was imperialistic, and major strategic thinkers of the era such as Alfred Mahan could honestly tell you that. Oh, some felt our actions also helped the little people (though they couldn't quite be trusted with full power or in the case of Puerto Rico, full rights), but we had bigger things than that in mind.
The war also seemed to be an easy affair, the enemy overmatched, and the prize well worth it. And, then came the aftermath. The struggles in the Philippines. The continual revolutions, support of tyrants, and such in Latin America. Cuba. And, so forth. Ah, the problem of being an imperialistic power, especially when one does not want to admit (or seem to be) one. But, such messiness is not a proper thing to think about now, I guess.
Any good sales around?