Through The Looking Glass

This week we celebrated Columbus Day in the United States. According to the history books it is generally accepted that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.  Other key facts children are taught include that he was born in Genoa, Italy although later become a Portuguese citizen.  Having been turned down by King John II of Portugal, he approached King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain for money to finance an expedition to the west. The Queen said yes and there it all began - Columbus set sail for the Indies.

In 1937 United States President Franklin Roosevelt declared October 12 a federal holiday in recognition of Columbus and the first European settlements in the "New World." That has since changed to the second Monday in October.  Many cities and streets in America bear Columbus' name.  Over time the subject of who actually discovered America has been questioned since many believe Viking explorers from Scandinavia arrived before Columbus' expedition.  There is also the Native American perspective that raises questions about events that led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous people in the Americas.    The first native Americans followed their food source [animals] over the Bering Strait from Siberia to Alaska.  They separated over time into different groups. The tribe that met Columbus was called the Tainos which eventually became extinct.  Several sources indicate that the Tainos were peaceable people that took care of one another.

Columbus Day as an American holiday is not uniformly celebrated in modern times.  Many large cities still hold a parade and other events organized by Italian-American societies or clubs.  More often it is a day to be off school or work to go shopping or to the movies. Do you think the cartoon to the right is clever, funny, mean spirited, or shows disrespect to Italian Americans?

Do you have a holiday or festival you are celebrating during the fall months to share? 

Smiles,
Marilyn
Sister Cities Association of Wilmington (USA)