Picture this: 2012, second
weekend in October, the United States of America, observing the federal
holiday, Columbus Day.
Its that time of year again.
The air feels different, the sun’s heat is just a little gentler. The shadows
are longer, later into the morning.
All indications point toward Mardi Gras. The second weekend in October is just strategic enough to
make preparations, figurative and literal, for the imminent winter. We deserve
a day off between saying goodbye to summer, Labor Day, and being gracious for
our bounty, Thanksgiving.
The federal government
delivers, again! Boom - day off in October, delivered in 1937. Some states currently choose not to celebrate, some renamed
the holiday such as South Dakota’s Native American Day, some choose to
recognize the achievement made by Columbus in being the first European on this
side of the world. Not only can
you choose if you want to observe this one, you can do so while experiencing
the full irony of our situation!
The full irony that I can’t
help but see every October is that our government continues to have a day of
national recognition for a foreign explorer, yet has no day of national
recognition for Indigenous Americans. Reinforcing the perception of institutionalized
racism, the federally recognized holiday is a relic of our government’s less
than friendly attitudes towards Native American populations. Every second
Monday in October symbolizes the country’s unwillingness to progress in dignity
towards an inclusive and progressive society. But it sure is nice to have a day
off in October.
Picture this: 2012, second
weekend in October, the United States of America, observing the federal
holiday, Indigenous American Day and truly enjoying my day off.
