Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She’s been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!
I wrote and thought I posted a long answer to your question, Helen, but I don’t see it posted. Just in case it’s my fault, here is a very short summary.
Yes, Columbus “discovered” America for the Europeans. But in doing so, he brought on the destruction of the peoples and cultures of the whole continent. The discovery of America also brought about the slave trade, with a human tall that went into the millions. You can’t celebrate Columbus without celebrating what he brought on – which is, if nothing else, an affront to the native Americans who remain.
Not to make this into a political statement (but I am), but I wish companies would realize that not everyone wants to do business with someone celebrating “Columbus day”.
Ok but the entire country celebrates Columbus day not just businesses. My kids have off school. The banks and post offices are closed. To get away from Columbus day you’d have to boycott the whole country. Even Cuba celebrates Columbus day.
You are right, Megan, that it’s still a federal holiday. But some states and cities have gone away form celebrating it. It’s not a state holiday here in California, and our school district did away with it, instead kids get Cesar Chavez’s day off.
The problem is not celebrating the day, but celebrating it as “Columbus day”. Several cities have started celebrating it as “Indigenous People’s Day”. In Latin America, it’s been usually celebrated as “Dia de la Raza”, but many countries have moved to celebrate it as some sort of multi-cultural day. Cuba does not actually celebrate it at all (they celebrate October 10th, the day when their war for independence began).
I live in PA. My kids have school and my bank is open. Our small town PO is open a couple of hours today to allow for mail pickup not delivery.
I can not change the federal holiday asspect of it, but I can decide where my money goes and to what companies.
Off my soapbox and back to subscription boxes!
Excuse my ignorance, I’m English and not too familiar with this. Wasn’t Columbus the man who discovered America? Why don’t we like him?
I wrote and thought I posted a long answer to your question, Helen, but I don’t see it posted. Just in case it’s my fault, here is a very short summary.
Yes, Columbus “discovered” America for the Europeans. But in doing so, he brought on the destruction of the peoples and cultures of the whole continent. The discovery of America also brought about the slave trade, with a human tall that went into the millions. You can’t celebrate Columbus without celebrating what he brought on – which is, if nothing else, an affront to the native Americans who remain.
Not to make this into a political statement (but I am), but I wish companies would realize that not everyone wants to do business with someone celebrating “Columbus day”.
+1 to your comment Nana. Could not agree more!
Ok but the entire country celebrates Columbus day not just businesses. My kids have off school. The banks and post offices are closed. To get away from Columbus day you’d have to boycott the whole country. Even Cuba celebrates Columbus day.
You are right, Megan, that it’s still a federal holiday. But some states and cities have gone away form celebrating it. It’s not a state holiday here in California, and our school district did away with it, instead kids get Cesar Chavez’s day off.
The problem is not celebrating the day, but celebrating it as “Columbus day”. Several cities have started celebrating it as “Indigenous People’s Day”. In Latin America, it’s been usually celebrated as “Dia de la Raza”, but many countries have moved to celebrate it as some sort of multi-cultural day. Cuba does not actually celebrate it at all (they celebrate October 10th, the day when their war for independence began).
I live in PA. My kids have school and my bank is open. Our small town PO is open a couple of hours today to allow for mail pickup not delivery.
I can not change the federal holiday asspect of it, but I can decide where my money goes and to what companies.
Off my soapbox and back to subscription boxes!