Celebrating Columbus Day is like celebrating Hitler's birthday. The stunning truth is: if Columbus were alive today, he'd be put on trial for crimes against humanity. What I say will surely not sway the biased and ignorant minds of today's society; however, if your personal beliefs deny what's objectively true about the world, then they're more accurately called personal delusions. Here's why: 1. Columbus wasn't the first European to "discover" America. But if you think about it, the whole concept about discovering America is, well, arrogant. After all, the Native Americans discovered North America about 14,000 years before Columbus was even born. Surprisingly, DNA evidence even supports the notion that Polynesian adventures settled in South America way before Columbus had "arrived". 2. Columbus was not a hero. In fact, when he had set foot on that sandy beach in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, Columbus discovered that the islands were inhabited by peaceful people called the Lucayans, Taínos and Arawaks. He immediately seized their land for Spain and enslaved them to work. Within only two years, 125,000 of the original natives on the island were dead. 3. Columbus supervised the selling of native girls into sexual slavery. (Between the ages of 9 and 10). 4. Ultimately, for something to be discovered it must first be "lost", and the people already living in the New World certainly didn't need to be "discovered". For many people, October 12th should be honored for all Indigenous people. This shift is part of broader attempt to clarify the explorer's role in American history and connect Indigenous culture to something other than sports teams, Halloween costumes and pop culture. We are not asking for the removal of any statues, relics, and monuments. However, we are only asking for acknowledgement of our people and culture. Many cities have already begun this historic movement by dropping Columbus Day. This day is controversial because it celebrates and honors a man, who launched a large-scale genocide and European colonization. But instead of celebrating Columbus, more cities than ever are choosing to commemorate Indigenous People's Day. We should celebrate this day by remembering the native peoples, that still feel Columbus' impact, centuries after his arrival. “Reclaiming the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day makes a powerful statement,” said Chair Deborah Kafoury of Multnomah County, Oregon. “It says, ‘We are no longer going to celebrate a time of genocide, but instead we will honor the land we live on and the people who have been here since the beginning.” While the celebration of Indigenous People’s Day marks a significant victory, Native Americans are still negatively impacted by Columbus’ legacy. Today, 25 percent of Native Americans live in poverty, and economic conditions on reservations are even more dire. Due in large part to slashed federal education funding on reservations, native students have not yet closed the achievement gap the way other people of color have with their white peers. Native Americans have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of the population. They are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. And they are still treated as mascots and called derogatory names by major public figures. We certainly don't celebrate the KKK. We don't celebrate Hitler. So why is it okay to celebrate and honor Columbus? Altering or abolishing this event will not damage Philadelphia. We have accepted change in the past before. Change is good.