Columbus Day

And Also: I caught up on The Orville via video on demand. Overall, enjoyed the series.  There are a few jokes and references that remind you that the guy from The Family Guy (yes, he also plays the captain) is behind this, but it is basically largely a straight sci-fi series. Some good ideas: the young officer thrusted in command subplot was handed nicely. The single sex race with a female baby had a few rough patches; overall good episode though. The Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer reference amusing and fitting.

Today, following second Monday rules, is Canadian Thanksgiving.

More controversially, it is also Columbus Day.  Other than being a day to honor origins (though not so much as a moment of regret), it is also a somewhat poorly chosen Italian heritage day.  St. Joseph's Day not being enough in that respect.  There is a push to call it "Indigenous Peoples Day" or some such term.  It is useful to note that everyone was at some point a newcomer here. The "Native Americans" just came a long time ago.  They crossed the land bridge and over a span of centuries populated the Americas.

Others want to call it "Genocide Day."  A person on that thread said they were glad there is an America, but not supportive of how we got here in a variety of ways. I replied:

Generally speaking, over history, civilizations were messy & major powers crowded out others in nasty ways. I think some examples of Native Americans doing that (Aztecs?) might be found too. The issue here for me would be having a holiday that honors a fictional view of someone who isn't worth honoring much at all.

Anyway, the level taken here -- including enslaving -- wasn't even necessary for U.S. to exist. Military action, disease, alcohol and pushing them into smaller and smaller areas likely would have happened in some fashion given the state of 19th Century affairs. Some at the time didn't like the extent it was taken. And, it was possible to have the U.S. we have today with more respect for Native American interests.

Today we surely can bemoan how things gone & realize we can't remake the past while fully understanding it. The lessons will do us well for the future.

I guess if looked at in the right point of view, Columbus Day can work.  An American holiday with such a mixed message would be a tad novel. Also, when you name a day for someone, it is generally to honor them.  As many note, Columbus (even among explorers in general) left something to be desired. Amerigo Vespucci might even be a better subject, including as someone for Italians to honor.  But, this date isn't really just about "Indigenous People" and is a tad selective for that purpose. Such a day should honor all sides there, not just a tragic day in their history.

The Italians might want to find another patron though.* 

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* Another group, perhaps not: "So, based on confused information and a mixed of drive of money/Christian rhetoric, he blundered into the "West Indies" and while there f-ed things up. He is a man of the Trump/Pence era, maybe." [Another comment.]