Sorry, Lefties. Yesterday Was Columbus Day.
On Monday, politicians across the country performed their annual second Monday in October ritual.
Some took to social media to wish everyone a happy Columbus Day. Others sent wishes for a happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
On the other side of the aisle we had this:
But the best of all? This, from J.D. Vance:
And just like that, a federal holiday became another opportunity to sort Americans into opposing camps.
But wait. Only one of these two days IS a federal holiday. That would be Columbus Day. Established by Congress in 1934.
Columbus has fallen out of favor in recent years, with revisionist historians portraying the brave Italian explorer as an exploiter. He wasn’t perfect, but this valiant navigator ventured across uncharted seas eventually bringing Christianity and Western Civilization to Stone Age tribesmen.
While North America was populated by scores of warring tribes still using stone, bone and wood tools, in Europe Botticelli had painted The Birth Of Venus, Irish monks had illustrated The Book of Kells and Donatello had created the still-stunning bronze statue of “David.”
Columbus brought the New World the gift of Jesus and civilization.
Yet, in the past few years statues of Columbus had been torn down and the one day a year we honor the man has become a battle in the culture wars.
I have a modest suggestion for those on the left who would rather celebrate Indigenous peoples than Christopher Columbus: Why not pick another day?
The calendar has 365 of them. Well, 364 if you count Columbus Day. Surely they can find an available Monday in February or August.
The indigenous peoples could have their own holiday, Columbus could keep his and we could find something else to fight about.
I know. I’m being hopelessly optimistic. But imagine a country where we can celebrate one group of people without feeling compelled to take something away from another.
Nah, won’t happen.
