Should Columbus Day Be Erased?

You call for erasing Columbus Day, but what you're really proposing is the erasure of a shared American narrative—and that's a dangerous game. Yes, Columbus was a product of his era, and yes, the treatment of indigenous peoples was tragic. But to single out one figure and demonize him while ignoring the context of 15th-century European expansion is not historical correction; it's historical vandalism. Every nation has a complex past, but we don't tear down our foundations because they contain cracks. We build on them, learn from them, and grow. You claim Columbus was a brutal slaver, but you conveniently ignore that he was acting under the laws and norms of his time. The Spanish Crown sent him to establish trade, and while his methods were harsh, to judge him by 21st-century moral standards is the height of intellectual arrogance. Moreover, you ignore the fact that Columbus never set foot on what is now the United States. The holiday is not about him as a man—it's about the beginning of a new era of global connection. The 'Columbian Exchange' you mock brought crops like potatoes and maize that saved millions from famine in Europe. Is that not worthy of some recognition? You say we should replace the holiday with Indigenous Peoples' Day, but that's not a correction—it's a replacement of one narrative with another. It's a political move that pits groups against each other, turning Italian-Americans—who have faced their own discrimination—into scapegoats for crimes they didn't commit. The holiday is a celebration of their heritage, a symbol of their hard-won acceptance in America. Taking it away won't heal the past; it will only create new wounds. And let's be clear: the indigenous peoples were not innocent angels either. They had their own wars, slavery, and empires. This isn't a simple story of good vs. evil, and pretending it is disrespects everyone. inally, you say we should 'tell the truth'—but the truth is that history is a tapestry of light and shadow. We can acknowledge Columbus's flaws while still honoring the spirit of exploration that led to the creation of this great nation. We can teach our children the full story without erasing the holiday. The push to erase Columbus Day isn't about truth; it's about a culture war that seeks to divide us. You don't heal trauma by removing a name from a calendar—you heal it by understanding, dialogue, and shared progress. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Keep the holiday, but use it as a day to reflect on all of our history, both the proud and the painful.