On Monday, October 13, which happened to be Columbus Day, recognized as one of the official holidays by the United States federal government and banking industry, most Americans enjoyed a long weekend where they didn’t have to go to work or check their mailboxes since even postal workers were off for the holiday. Local services like banks, trash collection, and libraries might also have been closed for the day.
However, FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and other courier services operated as usual on Monday.
There was one thing that didn’t come to a halt and continued to prompt people to think.
It was one of the battlegrounds of a cultural war, with the debate focusing on how to evaluate Christopher Columbus as a person and his cultural legacy in the United States. Should it be cherished or discarded?
In 2021, President Joe Biden declared the second Monday of October as “Indigenous Peoples Day” instead of Columbus Day. This decision reflected a shift towards honoring Indigenous peoples rather than celebrating Columbus. Advocates emphasized the violence Columbus inflicted on the Native American communities, encouraging Americans to repent, atone, and reject the Western culture symbolized by Columbus.
This move faced strong opposition from conservative figures like former President Donald Trump.
Trump announced in April his intention to “resurrect Columbus Day from the ashes,” accusing Democrats of trying to destroy Columbus and his reputation.
In his announcement last week, Trump didn’t mention Indigenous Peoples Day.
On Thursday, he wrote, “On this Columbus Day, let us reflect on his life with reverence and gratitude, and pledge to reclaim his extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue from the left-wing arsonists attempting to destroy his reputation and tarnish his name.”
Trump further criticized the radical left for targeting Columbus, aiming to erase history, slander heroes, and attack traditions.
He declared, “Under my leadership, those days are over, and our nation will uphold a simple truth: Christopher Columbus is a true American hero, and every citizen should forever appreciate his unwavering determination.”
Currently, the traditional conservatives seem to have a slight edge in this cultural battle.
According to Pew Research Center analysis, out of the 50 states in the US, 30 states recognize Columbus Day in various forms, with 20 states designating it as a paid holiday for state government employees.
In the United States, any president does not have the unilateral authority to cancel or establish federal holidays; it requires approval from Congress. Thus, Columbus Day has effectively been a federal holiday.
The inaugural Columbus Day celebration took place in 1792 on October 12 when the Columbian Order of New York organized events to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Columbus’s historic landing. The Columbus Monument in Baltimore was also built in 1792.
(This article references reporting from The Hill)