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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 10/13/2003 9:16:48 AM PDT by yankeedame
Monday October 13, 2003
Christopher Columbus must have had a really good press agent
By JACK HYDE
Special to The Sentinel
I really do not mean to show any disrespect, but I think Christopher Columbus must have had a really good press agent.
It has long been disputed that he was the first one from across the Atlantic to set foot in the western hemisphere, Columbus, Ohio, to be exact, paving the way for the granting of casino rights to Native Americans.
For we also know that groups of Vikings preceded him by many years, first landing in Minneapolis, Minn. Of course, history has taught us that this group evolved into a single team of large men who wear purple who beat the Chicago Bears twice a year.
But getting back to Columbus (the person, not the city), the proof this all is true is the fact there are so many places that carry a form of his name and we even get a day off from school to celebrate his contribution to our current state of being.
Since he originated in Italy, Italian Americans have adopted this day to be one of pride for their national heritage. Why couldn't they have picked someone else such as Michelangelo or Galileo or even Joe Pesci?
We all remember that chant from grade school, "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, blah de blah."
Usually, kids are only taught the first verse or two but if one is inclined to delve into the archives of song lyrics, verses 47-49 tell us how he never really set foot on the western continent and how he and his band of merry men brought the European gift that keeps on giving, of a certain group of social diseases, to the residents of the Bahamian Island of Guanahani.
Other than the maps he created for further exploration, this was apparently enough to give this guy a "day."
To reward ol' Chris for discrediting the Flat Earth Society, the Spanish Monarch (not really a butterfly) also granted him "The Book of Privileges" in 1502. This was the first-ever entertainment coupon book whereby Columbus could travel and dine in style, paying discounted prices at some of the finest theatres, restaurants, resorts and time shares in the Caribbean and Turk Islands.
Understandably, he was banned from returning to Guanahani until the invention of penicillin.
Every day is special and the older one gets, the more precious each one becomes. We are in the era of celebrating the uniqueness of all groups of people, sharing their culture, learning about their values and accepting them as equals -- yet many are still left out of mainstream celebration.
Some of these precious days should be used to lift up more of this heritage.
Some diverse groups in the tapestry of our nation have special days commemorating their heritage, but there remain many groups who continue to be ignored.
Asian Americans have no nationally recognized "day" as far as I can tell; Hispanic Americans have no national holiday that has become common to our collective American culture.
Most interestingly, Native Americans have no holiday celebrating all they have contributed to this same American culture that showed its appreciation by chasing and pillaging them into near oblivion.
There are about 355 chances (days remaining in each year) left to make this right. Hallmark would love this opportunity.
It would not take too long to come up with enough days to duly recognize and celebrate all the wonderful and diverse groups that make up America.
The only problem that would remain is when would the kids ever get to go to school?
Jack Hyde is a resident of Park Township. He can be reached at jack@wmol.com.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Cacique, didn't most of the Genoese wind up in Buenos Aires, where they literally painted the town rainbow (La Boca)?
FMCDH
FMCDH
Harley-Davidson Bump!
MLK day, held within the African-American heritage month of February. The GLBTCPP community has hijacked another month for their education propaganda. October is fire safety month. And on it goes.
The only problem that would remain is when would the kids ever get to go to school?
Homeschool.
I'm sticking with Christopher Columbus, who opened the doors of America to the civilized world, and whose voyages ultimately led to the founding of the greatest nation the world has ever known.
You forgot the Baresi another major group in Bensohurst who also celebrate Columbus. The wtriter also forgot one little fact. Cristobal Colon sailed for Spain and most hispanics view him as one of their own (unless you are indian of course). Columbus day is also a Hispanic holiday.
Cacique, didn't most of the Genoese wind up in Buenos Aires, where they literally painted the town rainbow (La Boca)?
One of the great ironies is that most Northern Italians went to Argentina, whereas most Southern Italians emmigrated to North America. Cristobal Colon day is a national holiday there as it is in most South American countries.
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